Spay or Neuter Animals
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The other night on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, he introduced possible new characters, including one which was called “The Evil Puppy.” The band started playing menacing, ominous music. A dark red light lit up the stage, spotlighting a black throne with skulls all around and on top of it. In the throne was a Labrador Retriever puppy, no more than 8 weeks old, with fluffy white fur and beautiful, big brown eyes. He started in a sitting position, but quickly laid down — his adorable little face with the “puppy dog look” setting on his front paws. There was a collective “Awww” from the crowd, implying there was nothing evil about this puppy.
The majority of people in the United States believe puppies, and kittens, are some of the sweetest, most lovable things ever. Even more adorable is an entire litter of puppies or kittens. However, most people do not want to keep an entire litter, they just want one. The rest usually get sent to shelters, so someone else is responsible for finding homes. The problem is every year, “around 15 million” cats and dogs are given to shelters. “Only 25 to 30 percent” are claimed by an owner or adopted by a new owner (“Benefits”). The rest must be euthanized, or put to death. Overpopulation of these animals is one of the many reasons to spay (for females) or neuter (for males) a pet, which is a surgery to remove reproductive organs.
A single female in-door cat and her offspring can produce up to 370,192 kittens in seven years. A male cat can produce exponentially more, as he can impregnate as many females as he possibly can. Dogs are not quite so prolific, but can still produce 324 offspring in five years (“Myths about Spaying”). Even with our human population growing tremendously, it still pales in comparison. “Each day 10,000 humans are born in the U.S. — and each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born” (“Reasons to Spay”).
Female cats and dogs in heat go through an intense phase of hormonal ups and downs. Cats can be very annoying with loud, unrelenting yowling, at any time of day or night. They writhe on the floor with such intensity, it looks like it hurts. Males do not go through heat, but are much more aggressive if not neutered.
In males, the androgen hormones, of which testosterone is the most important, are responsible for the development of many negative behavioral patterns, including aggression. Testosterone is produced within the testicles, which are removed during the neutering procedure (“Behavioral”).
In fact, “80% of all bites are from intact male dogs” (“Reasons you should”). Males are much more territorial and are much more likely to fight if not neutered. Unaltered dogs are well-known for mounting humans’ legs. As the animal gets older, the more ornery he gets and more possessive of his territory, often expanding it. This increases the chances of other males invading their territory. Despite how sweet the dog may be, he will fight, viciously if must be, to defend it. Once spayed or neutered, they are much “more affectionate, reliable companions. They become more kitten- and puppy-like in their behavior because they are not driven by hormones to reproduce and protect their territory” (“Behavioral”).
“Research shows that of all the positive behavior changes neutering ensures, roaming shows the greatest degree of change” (“Behavioral”). Roaming is how dogs and cats try to find mates. Female pets release pheromones, an airborne chemical that can attract males from miles away. Many males may arrive for the same female, often gathering in one yard causing much ruckus and a lot of fights. Even inside animals find a way to get outside to seek out the opposite sex, running risks of getting lost, getting hit by cars or more seriously bringing a disease back to the home. Getting a license for a dog or cat can help bring them home if lost, but they can be more expensive if animal is unaltered. “Statistics show that 90% of the millions of cats and 80% of the dogs hit and killed by vehicles on the road are not sterilized” (“Behavioral”). Having pets spayed or neutered does not guarantee they will not roam, but it does greatly diminish the risks.
Since spayed and neutered dogs are less concerned with their sexual desires, they can stay focused on other necessary tasks. They are easier to train, more reliable and more receptive of the family. All of these factors help make them better watch dogs and hunting dogs. Not to mention, “(female un-spayed) hunting dogs have heat cycles 6 weeks during the year, and females in heat are not physically up to hunting” (“Behavioral”).
One of the more disgusting habits of pets that have not been spayed or neutered is “spraying,” urinating, to mark their territory. The more animals are around, the greater the frequency of spraying. Mostly this occurs outside, but can sometimes can come as close as doorsteps, windows, flowerbeds, and sometimes at neighbor’s houses, too. “Male cat urine has an obnoxious, potent, musky ammonia smell that will permeate the air in and around your home” (“Behavioral”). While this is mostly practiced by males, some females do it, too. However, most females in heat that urinate outside the litter box are slipping out of their housebreaking. Females in heat can bleed, which if the proper precautions are not made, can cause stains on any household surface. Again, sterilizing does not help all animals with all their urinating problems, but it does reduce the urge.
Another good reason to spay or neuter pets is for their health. Many infections and diseases are caused by repeated surges of hormones. The fights they engage in can leave scars and open sores or cause infections. It also “eliminates or reduces many types of cancer, tumors and other serious health complications” (“Health”). In most female pets, spaying before their first heat significantly decreases their risk of breast cancer. There is also a potentially fatal infection of the uterus that only affects un-spayed females called Pyometra. Even if caught in time, “treatment requires either the use of expensive hormonal and IV fluid therapy, or an extremely difficult and expensive (spay)—which can easily cost $600 to $1,000, depending on complications”