Humane Society

launches spay

and neuter campaign
By Caroline Monday
cmonday@mountaintimes.com

The Watauga Humane Society is launching its 2008 Prevent a Litter…Fix Your Critter campaign, an informational campaign encouraging area residents to have their pets spayed or neutered.

In Watauga County and across the nation, the large population of stray cats and dogs is a problem. Kathy Copley, the coordinator for the Humane Society’s Prevent A Litter campaign, said spay/neuter is the only sure-fire method of population control.

Another benefit of having pets “fixed” is the positive effect that it can have on an animal’s health and safety. Sterilized animals are less likely to roam, looking for a mate, so they are less likely to run away or be injured in traffic.

Male dogs that have been neutered are less aggressive, and removal of reproductive organs safeguards animals from certain types of cancer.

In general, Copley said, “Your pet will be healthier, live longer and be better behaved if it has been fixed.”

Copley noted that many pet owners do not realize how early in life a kitten or puppy can begin having litters.

Many pet owners believe they should wait until the animal is six months old. However, that animal may begin having litters as early as five months old and should be sterilized before they reach that age.

Some pet owners want to let their pets have a litter before getting them spayed or neutered, planning to give the animals away. However, finding homes for new kittens and puppies is not always easy. Copley and the Humane Society urge pet owners to have their pet spayed or neutered unless they are willing to care for a litter of kittens or puppies for those animals’ entire lives.

Copley said that the Humane Society realizes that a big reason people do not get their pets spayed and neutered is cost.

To counteract this problem, the organization offers low-cost spay and neuters and is offering some financial assistance to pet owners who would like to have their pet sterilized.

“This is the beginning of the cat-and-dog breeding season, and we know that many pet owners would like to spay or neuter their pets,” Copley said. “The Humane Society has a modest amount of grant money available to provide financial assistance to people who live in Watauga County who use our spay/neuter clinic.”

Those interested in learning more about the clinic and about available assistance should call the Humane Society shelter at (828) 264-7865.