By Linda Manderson
Anderson resident
Tuesday, Feb. 23, is the Humane Society of the United State’s Annual Spay Day USA.
About one cat or dog every eight seconds — almost 4 million — are put down in U.S. shelters each year. These are frequently the offspring of family pets, including purebreds. Maybe the family cat or dog got out just once or maybe the litter was intended, but enough good homes couldn’t be found. Whatever the reasons, the results are the same — unwanted animals end up in shelters and rescues and on the streets all over our communities.
Spaying/neutering is the only 100 percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats. It’s a proven way to reduce the numbers of stray animals who get into trash, defecate in neighborhoods, and bite or attack people and pets. Spaying/neutering your pet means that your pet won’t have offspring to contribute to the huge population of unwanted, unloved cats and dogs who must be euthanized in overcrowded city shelters or sit in cages at overflowing rescues, endlessly waiting to be adopted.
Spayed/neutered pets make better, happier pets and may live longer, too. Spayed female pets don’t go into heat, so you don’t have the mess or aggressive, noisy male suitors. Neutered male pets are less aggressive and more content at home. Spaying/neutering reduces the risk of certain health problems in dogs or cats. If you have a new puppy or kitten, don’t wait! Pets can reproduce sooner than you think. Check with your vet or call Anderson Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic.
If you can’t afford to spay/neuter your pet, the Madison County SPCA Humane Society has a grant program to provide financial aid for spay/neuter surgeries to Madison County pet-owners with monthly household incomes of $3,500 or less. A completed application form and copy of proof of monthly household income must be submitted to the Humane Society for approval. Application forms are available at the Madison County Humane Society, 2219 Crystal St., Anderson.
Please show you love your pet (and your community) by responsibly spaying or neutering before that first litter just “happens.”
Linda Manderson is assistant director of the Madison County SPCA Humane Society in Anderson.
