Avy Straker

Part of our mission statement includes both educating people on the importance of spaying a female dog and neutering a male dog and, practicing what we preach.

Typically we have the spay/neuter completed BEFORE adoption.  However there are exceptions like the age of a puppy or very senior dog and sometimes the overall condition of the dog that may require a period of waiting until the dog is strong enough to undergo the surgery.

In instances like these we instruct adopters to enroll in the NJ state funded program where we’re a member.  The process is explained at the time of adoption.   Or we provide information on other low-cost program such as People for Animals.

It’s important to understand the overall reason to spay or neuter your pet and here is a brief summary:

Reasons to SPAY a female dog:

  • Population control is the absolute #1 reason to spay. This will prevent unwanted pregnancies and litters small or large and some dogs can have more than a dozen pups!  Sure nearly everyone loves a puppy until it isn’t a puppy any longer and the number of dogs dumped and killed inside shelters is proof. Once you hand over a puppy there is absolutely no guarantee the pup will stay in that home and ultimately you’ve contributed to the suffering.
  • Health – Spaying increases your female dogs chances of better health. Spaying before her first heat (best between age 6-8 MONTHS) reduces your female dog’s chances of uterine infections and yes breast cancer (malignant mammary tumors)
  • Heat Cycle – You’ll avoid the messy heat cycle inside your home and the annoyance of a male dogs persistent pestering or hanging on your doorstep.

 

Reasons to NEUTER a male dog:

  • Population Control 
 Millions of unwanted pets are euthanized each year many of which are puppies. In essence, sterilizing your dog keeps him from contributing to the serious problem of over population and not enough homes.
  • Behavior
Unneutered males can have many behavioral problems the most common is an aggressive temper.  Neutering, can reduce aggressiveness and improve behavior overall.

  • Roaming and getting in trouble or lost 
 Neutering decreases the urge to roam or run away from home searching for a female partner or looking for trouble. In addition, neutering decreases the risk of getting into fights with other dogs and causing injury

  • Prostate disease and Testicular Tumors:
 male dogs can have a number of diseases of the prostate including cysts, abscesses and enlargement or testicular tumors.  Neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer – no testicles, no testicular cancer.