Males:

• Neutering a male before he’s sexually mature (cats 4-6 month; dogs before 8 months) will inhibit territorial behaviors such as urine-marking and aggressive posturing
• Unneutered males have much higher probability of prostate enlargement/cancer, testicular cancer and related infections. The urge to mate leads to fighting, aggression, excessive barking, howling, and other unwelcome behaviors
• Unneutered male cats spray floors and furniture. They rarely develop this habit if neutered early
• Neutered male cats usually stop territorial spraying. Neutered cats and dogs fight less and are less likely to become lost due to straying from home in search of a mate
• Altering doesn’t adversely affect the personality of the animal or make them fat (over eating and lack of exercise does)

Females:

• Unspayed females have higher incidences of mammary tumors, uterine infections and cancer
• There is no truth to the myth that it’s best to let a female pet give birth to a litter before getting her spayed. It’s best to spay before a female goes into heat the first time (cats months; dogs   months)

Did you know…

• One unaltered female cat, her mate and all of their offspring (two litters per year with 2.8 surviving kittens per year) will produce 11,606,707 cats in 9 years!  Source: Spay USA
• In 6 years, one unsprayed female dog and her offspring can reproduce 67,000 dogs   Source: Spay USA
• Neutered pets get along much better with each other
• That  25% of the dogs brought to The Center during a given year are purebred

All you need to do is:

• Call Everisto Castro Rosas, Center manager, for an appointment at (624)129-8346.  Arrive at 8 a.m. with your pet.  Your pet should have nothing to eat or drink from midnight (12 a.m.) the night before the surgery.
• Your animal will be ready for pick up by 4 p.m.
• Evaristo will give post-surgery care instructions.  Your pet must be kept still and protected for that first evening until the anesthesia has completely worn off.
• The service is available to everyone and is free of charge to low-income families. Donations in cash or supplies are always welcomed and appreciated.