Paws and Prayers Rescue Blog

Remember Bob Barker’s sign-off at the end of every show?  “Spay or neuter your pets!”  What d’ya know, Mr. Barker was absolutely correct!

Today, February 26, 2013, is the 19th Annual World Spay Day, sponsored by the Humane Society of the UnitedStates (HSUS) and Humane Society International (HSI).  HSUS heralds this special date as “a day to shine the spotlight on spay/neuter as a proven means of saving lives of companion animals, feral cats, and street dogs who might otherwise be put down in a shelter or killed on the street.”  World Spay Day is also co-sponsored by national groups such as ASPCA, PetSmartCharities, and PetFinder, as well as many local animal welfare organizations.

A sad fact is that, according to HSUS, 6-8 MILLION pets are put into shelters every year.  Only half of these are adopted—the other half, sadly, are euthanized because of overpopulation.  Many of these euthanized pets were healthy and adoptable.  Where do all these pets come from?  HSUS states that usually, these are not the result of stray animals breeding on the street; rather, they are companion animals—pets—who owners have allowed to breed, either purposely or accidentally.  By performing spay or neuter, you can 100% prevent unwanted or unintended breeding.  Not only that, but by spaying/neutering your pet, you will help ensure you won’t contribute to already overpopulated shelters.  “The message of World Spay Day is that by spaying or neutering your pet, by supporting spay/neuter efforts in the United States and abroad, and by informing others of the importance of spay/neuter, you become an important part of the solution!”


One of the primary reasons spay/neuter surgery is not performed timely (or at all) is cost.  During the month of February, many national and local organizations are striving to make sterilization affordable for all pet owners.  To find an event near you, click here.   For those in the Akron area, check out this event at One of a Kind Pets.



How much do YOU know about spay or neuter? Quick facts:

• Kittens can (and should!) be spayed or neutered once they reach 2 pounds; dogs can have the procedure completed as soon as 8 weeks of age. 
• One unaltered cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in seven years!! 
• Spaying females corrects many undesirable behaviors associated with heat cycles; neutering males helps correct things like urine marking, roaming, and humping. 
• Spay/neuter lowers the chance of many health problems later in life, including certain types of cancer.
• Purebred dogs make up approximately 25% of shelter populations—don’t let your purebred’s puppies become a statistic!  A litter of purebred puppies is still a litter that has the potential to end up in shelters.   

As always, we have included a list of our sources AND resources for the savvy, knowledgeable pet parent.  Make sure you take full advantage of this month’s spay and neuter deals—your pet will thank you!! 

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Content By:  Jocelyn Alexander

Jocelyn Alexander is a rescue foster for dogs and cats, as well as a Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS).  She has a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever named Dixie, who is a registered Pet Partners therapy dog and Canine Good Citizen; and Chloe, a 10-year-old tuxedo cat who rules the house with a velvet glove.

Images:  1, 2, 3