Spay & Neuter

About 10 million "excess" dogs and cats will be killed in shelters this year. At the same time, millions of homeless animals live short, hard, hungry lives on the streets, only to die miserably from disease, injury, or predation. By being a responsible caregiver and spaying/neutering your companion animals, you avoid contributing to this terrible problem of pet overpopulation.

Spaying your female pets and neutering your male pets is the answer to the overpopulation problem. There is a tremendous overpopulation of dogs and cats in the USA. Since homes cannot be found for all of them, animal shelters are forced to euthanize these animals.

Many people are reluctant to have their pets altered. Often, it is because they think of altering a pet in terms of "humans" rather than "animals". Animals are not logical but rather instinctive. When a pet is altered, it simply wanes the instinctive urge. The male does not rue the situation nor reflect on previous conquests like a human may do.

The answer to the overpopulation problem is simple. Spay and Neuter the animals. Please take a look at common Myths vs. Facts.

Here are the definitions to the terms "Spay" and "Neuter":

Spaying refers to the surgical removal of a female companion animal's uterus and ovaries. The human equivalent is an ovariohysterectomy. Females who have been spayed cannot have babies. They no longer secrete the hormones that regulate their reproductive readiness. Heat cycles bring hormonal changes that can lead to personality changes.

Neutering refers to the surgical removal of a male companion animal's testicles. Castration is another term for the same thing. (The word "neuter" is sometimes used as a gender-free term. So are the words "fixed," "sterilized," and "altered.") Males who have been neutered cannot manufacture sperm. If the cost of Spaying or Neutering is a deterrent, please contact:

The Lurie Family Spay and Neuter Clinic
3516 W. 26th Street
Chicago, IL 60623
(The Little Village Neighborhood)

773-521-SPAY (7729)
Refer to website www.pawschicago.org