| The Galveston County area has a serious pet over-population problem
that results in the euthanasia (humane destruction) of many unwanted
but otherwise healthy dogs and cats. Spaying or neutering animals
before they have puppies or kittens is an effective method of
controlling animal population. Your veterinarian can perform this
simple medical procedure which promotes animal health and prevents the
birth of additional animals for which good homes may not be available.
All animals adopted from the shelter are to be spayed or neutered
within two (2) weeks of being adopted. The shelter does not perform
spaying or neutering procedures on adopted animals. The adoptor will
be required to sign a contract whereby he/she promises to have the
animal spayed/neutered by the selected date.
Why
should pets be spayed or neutered?
Since there are many more dogs and cats in our community than
available homes to care for them, hundreds of orphaned pets
are temporarily housed in local animal shelters each year.
Spaying female or neutering male pets can help control pet
population growth, and reduce the number of orphaned pets that
enter animal shelters.
Spaying or neutering can eliminate or
decrease the incidence of various forms of cancer and other serious
medical conditions, and enable your pet to live a healthier and longer
life. To obtain all the health benefits, have your female pet spayed
before her first heat cycle.
Female kittens can come into heat and
get pregnant as early as four months of age. Furthermore, a female cat
can come into heat and get pregnant again while she is still nursing a
litter! Female dogs can come into heat and get pregnant as early as
six months. Cats and dogs can be spayed or neutered as early as eight
weeks of age.
Spayed or neutered pets are less likely
to roam, fight, or bite. Spaying a female cat eliminates the heat
(estrus) cycle, which can cause frequent crying and nervous behavior,
and the unwelcome attraction of male cats. A neutered male cat is
less likely to spray, mark territory and fight with other male cats.
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