By spaying your female pets and neutering your male pets, you are working toward reducing the number of homeless and unwanted pets in our area. A pregnant dog or cat may have as many as four to eight, or even more, puppies or kittens in one litter. Many of these babies end up in overcrowded animal shelters or organizations such as the Front Street Shelter in Sacramento, the Yolo County SPCA, or the UC Davis Orphan Kitten Project. When there are several babies to every litter born, despite how cute these puppies or kittens are, there are just not enough homes for the thousands of abandoned animals that pass through shelters, rescues, and veterinary hospitals every year. In fact, the Sacramento Area Animal Coalition gives the following facts on dog and cat reproduction numbers:
- Two unaltered cats and their offspring can produce 370,000 kittens in seven years, and more than two million in eight years.
- Two unaltered dogs and their offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in six years.
Not only does spaying and neutering pets reduce the unwanted pet population, it can also be beneficial to your pet's health and well-being.
Spayed female pets, as opposed to intact females, are less prone to develop breast cancer (especially when spayed before their first heat), will not develop ovarian and uterine cancer, will not experience health complications from pregnancy or birthing, spayed dogs will not spot or bleed because they will no longer experience heat cycles, and they will not be affected by the behavioral changes a female pet in heat experiences.
Neutered male pets, as opposed to intact males, are more docile and less likely to wander in search of females in heat, less likely to exhibit urine marking or mounting behavior, will not develop testicular cancer, are less likely to develop benign perianal tumors, prostate infections, or feline FIV disease (in cats), and greatly reduces aggression levels that may lead to fighting with other males.
Spaying and neutering can be a costly procedure and the cost is often the reason pet owners avoid the responsibility. However, there are affordable options available to pet owners facing financial hardship.
The Sacramento Area Animal Coalition provides more information on spaying and neutering, as well as offering a list of clinics all over Northern California that provide affordable or low-cost spay and neuter options. Their website also includes options for feral cats, senior citizens, and pitbulls.
Options available to Davis area pet owners include:
- Spay Day - Yolo County residents may apply for Spay Day appointments if they recieve public assistance or have an annual household income of $35,000 or less. Spay Day is an annual event where local pets are spayed and neutered by participating vets in one day. Spay Day 2013 just occured on March 3, 2013 and over 700 pets were spayed or neutered. Check the website often for details about next year's event and how to apply. Pets are not only altered for this event, but also receive vaccinations, flea prevenative medicine, and a microchip. It is $20 for dogs and $15 for cats.
- SAAC Vouchers - Yolo County residents are eligiable if they recieve public assistance or have an annual household income of $35,000 or less. Vouchers are redeemable at participating veterinary clinics and are $15 for dogs and $10 for cats typically, although the co-pay could vary. This option is going to be the easiest option if you qualify.
- Solano Feral Cat Task Force - Accepts Solano and Yolo County residents pet and feral cats. You must make appointments beforehand because clinic spots are limited to 80-90 cats every Sunday. There is a suggested $20 donation for each cat.
