Spay/Neuter

Pet Overpopulation:

A mind-boggling number of animals must be put to death each year.  Approximately 12 million cats and dogs will end up in animal shelters this year.  Only 30 percent will be reclaimed by their owners or find new homes.  The other 8 million will be put to death.  These 8 million are the luckiest of the unwanted ones.  It is worse to die on the roadside.  Unwanted pets that are dumped by the side of the road, in the woods, or even in nice neighborhoods are much worse off than those who are taken to shelters.  Most people imagine that the pets they cast off have a good chance for survival, but these pets do not know how to fend for themselves.  When pets are abandoned, they are sentenced to a slow, agonizing death from disease, starvation, cold, or, in many cases, being hit by a car.  They must struggle just to feed themselves and most will give birth to unwanted animals.  Just one female cat can be the source of 400,000 cats within seven years. One female dog can be the source of 67,000 puppies within six years.  There are no excuses.  The results of pet overpopulation is suffering, starvation, abuse, diseases, injuries, fear, neglect, homelessness and finally the deaths of millions of adoptable, healthy dogs, cats puppies and kittens.  Only 1 out of 10 in shelters get adopted.  The other 9 will die because there are not enough homes for them all.


Solutions:

  • Limit the number being born until there are homes for all.
  • Encourage friends, family, neighbors, co-workers,...anyone with unaltered pets to have them sterilized.
  • Provide affordable spay and neuter services by caring veterinarians.

Benefits of Spay/Neuter:

  • Happier Pets
           More content family members
           More gentle and affectionate pets
  • Healthier Pets
           Less likely to get cancer
           Sexual desire removed
           No messy heat cycle for females
           Males less likely to wander
           Territorial behavior subdued
            Less likely to be aggressive
  • Harmony With Neighbors
  • No accidental litters adding to the problem
  • Savings to taxpayers, fewer animals captured, sheltered, fed, given medical attention and then often killed because no one wants them.

Please have your pet spayed or neutered and help stop the KILLING.  If you would like information on low or no-cost spay/neuter, please contact one of the organizations below.

PetFix Coalition                                 RICHMOND HERO
P.O. Box 35998                                          788-HERO
Richmond, VA 23235
804-739-7868                                  FRIENDS OF ANIMALS
1-888-PETFIX1                                     1-800-321-PETS

Prevent A Litter (PAL)                             SPAY USA
3421 W. Cary St.                                    1-800-248-SPAY
Richmond, VA 23221
804-359-MEOW                                        SPAY, INC.
                                                             Arlington, VA 22203
Richmond Spay Neuter Found.             703-521-2677
501 Hospital St.
Richmond, VA 23219                           Richmond SPCA
804-344-7001                                            804-521-1300

Education Page

Home Page | About Us | Dog Gallery | Cat Gallery | Paws Program | Happy Endings | Volunteer | Education | Directory of Related Links | E-mail Us

Pg. 12