Benefits of having your pet spayed or neutered:
For the pet:
- Decreases the chance for several types of fatal cancers and infections
- The pet is more likely to stay at home which:
1. Decreases the chance of getting hit by a car
2. Decreases the chance of being injured in a fight
3. Decreases the chance of catching fatal diseases from other animals
For the owner:
- No more messy heat seasons
- No more stray animals hanging around the house
- Creates a much better pet who is easier to keep at home
- Pet is much less likely to bite or be aggressive
- No expensive puppies or kittens to raise and find homes for
The problem with not having your pet spayed or neutered
- Most accidental breeding of pets occur in spite of the watchful eye of the owner.
- A vast majority of these pets end up loose on the streets or in local shelters.
- Placing all of the puppies or kittens from a litter in another home is not the answer. These animals may end up making more puppies or kittens if the new owner does not have them spayed or neutered.
- Pet overpopulation is expensive for taxpayers.
The facts about having your pet spayed or neutered
It is best to have a pet spayed or neutered before 6 months of age, however it can be done after 6 months. Both of these procedures are preformed while the animal is completely asleep - there is no pain during the surgery. Most animals are completely recovered within a day or two after the surgery. It does cost money to get a pet spayed or neutered. The cost is part of being a responsible pet owner, just like buying food and getting vaccinations.
Financial assistance is available to help qualifying pet owners spay or neuter their pets.
Bernalillo County offers a financial assistance program for qualifying pet owners to help with the cost of having their dog or cat spayed or neutered. This program is called the Spay/Neuter Assistance Program or SNAP. The program provides financial assistance that covers most of the cost of having a pet sterilized at one of six participating veterinarians. Call 314-0280 to obtain more information about SNAP, or to make an appointment to fill out an application. You must qualify for the program before making an appointment with a veterinarian.
If you have additional questions about responsible pet ownership please call
Bernalillo County Animal Control and Protection at 314-0280.
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