“I’m calling to remind you of the appointment you have tomorrow for your two cats to be spayed.”

            “Oh ... I meant to call you about that.  I’m going to have to cancel those appointments.”

            “Oh.  Why?”

            “Well, my husband has decided that he wants them to have kittens.”

            The above phone conversation took place at our Spay & Neuter Clinic last week.  My uncensored, knee-jerk response is to want to invite that woman and her husband to come to the shelter and allow them to choose any handful of kittens or cats here at the shelter for us to put to sleep.  This is necessary in order to allow her two cats to have kittens.  I say let’s just cut to the chase and get it over with.  Why should we waste precious funds to house, feed, and care for animals that are ultimately going to be put to sleep because no one wants them?  When people carelessly choose or idly allow their dog or cat to reproduce, animals die.  It’s that plain and simple.  I’m at a point where I prefer that my staff be relieved of having to kill innocent animals, and instead we’ll let the people who are truly responsible for this shameful act to endure the guilt and sadness of performing it.  Sounds like a plan to me.

            Do we not have enough abandoned, neglected, abused, and ignored animals in existence?  Have we not met and exceeded that quota yet?  Why in the world would you want more kittens and puppies when there are millions being put to sleep every year because there are not enough homes for the ones already born?

            Never mind the heartbreak suffered daily by the animal-loving people at the shelter who have to put animals to sleep every day.  The little calico kitten and fluffy Chow mix puppy that they were caring for that morning are now being taken to a room to be killed by lethal injection.  It astounds me when someone is aghast because we put animals to sleep at our shelter.  Believe me.  We’d prefer not to.  The blame for this disgraceful act falls squarely on the shoulders of the people who bring us the fruit of their ignorance, procrastination, or flat-out poor choice.  Ultimately it’s the animals that pay the price.

            In this day and age when the awareness of pet overpopulation and the necessity to spay or neuter pets is being sung from the housetops, it seems like the obvious and wise choice.  There are health, financial, behavioral, and stress-relieving reasons for having the procedure done.

• Communities spend millions of dollars to control unwanted animals.

• Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of dog bites and attacks.

• Animal shelters are overburdened with surplus animals.

• Stray pets and homeless animals get into trash containers, defecate in public areas or on private lawns, and frighten or anger people who have no understanding of their misery or needs.

• Spaying and neutering helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.

• Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat.

• Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed before her first estrous cycle.

• Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease.

• Spaying and neutering makes pets better, more affectionate companions.

• Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and mark territory.

• Spaying a dog or cat eliminates her heat cycle. Estrous lasts an average of six to 12 days, often twice a year, in dogs and an average of six to seven days, three or more times a year, in cats. Females in heat can cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male animals.

• Unsterilized animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than do those who have been spayed or neutered.

• Spaying and neutering can make pets less likely to bite.

• Neutering makes pets less likely to roam, run away, or get into fights.

           It’s almost spring and the warmer weather triggers animals  to reproduce.  Now is the time to act.  The American Humane Association reports that on average, more than 52,000 kittens are born each day.  But from spring to summer the population explosion peaks, and shelters start overflowing with cats, kittens, dogs and puppies.  The fortunate ones will eventually find safe, loving homes.  However, most will not simply because there are too many animals and not nearly enough homes.  Those left behind will suffer and die without ever knowing the joy of human companionship.

            If you were not aware of the severity of the problem, that’s okay.  But now you are.  You have been provided with information and knowledge and are held accountable for knowing the truth.  Act now and arrange to have your pet spayed or neutered with your regular vet, or call our Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic at (864) 223-2498.  To help with your decision to spay or neuter your pet we have added an additional day of surgeries at our spay/neuter clinic.  We are taking action to stop the problem.  Won’t you meet us half-way?  Don’t let even one litter be born to your pet.  

            If you did know about the problem, but chose not to do the responsible thing, then my earlier mentioned invitation is offered to you as well.