Animal
Birth Control
Our #1 Problem
YOU must make the decision whether
your pets should add their litters to the already over-populated
dog and cat world. Please make that decision on the basis of
fact, not sentiment.
Do you have a registered purebred
animal? Are you willing to study carefully everything you can
find on genetics, dominant and recessive genes, inbreeding and
line breeding? Will you do scientific research so that you can
IMPROVE the breed, not just increase its numbers? Have you enough
money to support yourself AND your animal families? You aren't
likely to make a profit; few breeders do so consistently.
If your pet is a female mixed breed
animal, DO NOT BREED HER. She is a charming accident herself
and lucky to have a good home with you. Her offspring might not
be so fortunate. If you have a male, remember he can impregnate
as many females as he chances to meet, so HAVE HIM NEUTERED.
The importance of finding GOOD
HOMES for all the puppies and kittens cannot be overemphasized.
Apart from the natural revulsion we all feel at the thought of
any living creature being cruelly treated or neglected, there
is the very real danger that neglected animals roaming the streets,
without vaccinations or veterinary care, serve as a disease pool
which can bring illness to your own pets or children.
Why is neutering necessary? The
numbers speak for themselves: in the United States about 30 million
puppies and 40 million kittens are born each year while only
about 1.5 million homes and apartment units are constructed in
that period.
Consequently, humane societies
are FLOODED with these animals. The responsibility rests squarely
with those people who permit their pets to have litters which
they cannot or will not keep and properly maintain. Suppose your
cat or dog had a litter. Perhaps you carefully and conscientiously
found good homes for each infant animal. Your conscience is at
rest .... but should it be? Your litter found homes, while others
had to be destroyed. So long as there are more healthy dogs and
cats than there are good homes, any litter is surplus. If you
permit your male animal to roam and sire uncounted litters (even
though these creatures are not your personal worry) you must
share equal blame.
What does "neuter" mean? For the female is means surgically
removing the entire reproductive system. The operation is known
as an ovarian-hysterectomy. Neutering a male means castrating
it, removing his testicles. Both operations are performed by
veterinarians while the animal is anesthetized. The surgery is
routine and the animal recovers very quickly, especially males,
who usually are running around a few hours after the operation.
It might be a few days before the female completely recovers
from the soreness around her abdominal incision, but any discomfort
is mild.
The neutering operation can be performed at any time after the
puppy or kitten is five months old, but discuss the proper timing
with your vet. It is usually not recommended that a female be
spayed during estrus (her heat period) or while she is pregnant.
Is there an alternative to surgery?
Abstinence is the only other way, but few fences can keep a female
in heat from unwanted suitors. Unaltered males tend to roam,
sometimes in packs, chasing females in heat. The "pill"
for pets has yet to be perfected. Scientists working on the problem
say that any hormonal solution to the problem is still years
away. There are powders and sprays available which help to mask
the mating scent, but they don't inhibit conception.
Neutered animals make more satisfactory
house pets. They remain alert and protective. They won't get
fat unless YOU overfeed them. They are less prone to developing
tumors. They generally live longer.
Love and responsibility go hand
in hand. You pets give you pleasure and companionship. You give
them good care. Neutering should be included in that good care. |
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