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World Spay Day 2015

World Spay Day
WorldSpayDay.Org
World Spay Day

If you want to help reduce the problem of pet overpopulation, begin by having your own pet spayed or neutered . Once you have done that, perhaps you might be willing to support efforts in your community to spay and neuter strays and feral animals.

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This week saw the 21st annual World Spay Day, observed on the last Tuesday of February. It’s a campaign, really, to focus attention on spaying and neutering as a way to save the lives of pet dogs and cats, stray or feral cats and what are commonly called “street dogs” which, like cats, may be stray or feral. It is sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International, and the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Associationbut there are a number of other organizations who support World Spay Day as partners, such as the ASPCA and PetSmart Charities.

Forty years ago, only about ten percent of household pets were spayed or neutered. The good news is that now eighty percent of owned pets in American homes are surgically altered. The bad news? More than two million dogs and cats are euthanized in animal shelters in the U.S. every year. In the time it takes to listen to this radio spot, nine animals will lose their lives because there are just too many of them and not enough homes. Each one has the potential to be a great pet, but they will never get the chance.

Spaying (for female animals) and neutering (for males) are surgical procedures performed by a veterinarian. There is now a non-surgical alternative calledzinc neutering, which has been approved by the FDA for use in sterilizing male dogs. It is administered by a veterinarian trained in the procedure, which has proven safe and effective. It has the added benefit of a rapid recovery time, usually a few hours to a day or two, as compared to a much longer time for traditional surgery.

While Spay Day 2015 may be history, its message is current and vital. Owners must make sure their dogs and cats are not adding to the problem of pet overpopulation.  Every time you spay a female, you prevent potentially hundreds of puppies or kittens from being born into a world where nine animals must be euthanized every two minutes. You can make a life-saving difference when you’re speaking of pets.

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Mindy Norton has been “Speaking of Pets” on Alabama Public Radio since 1995.
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