Why Spay or Neuter?

Your pet decreases the likelihood of getting cancer during its lifetime. Neutering males eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease. Spaying females eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed before her first heat cycle.

Your dog or cat will most likely not develop annoying and/or dangerous behaviors. If neutered before six months of age, most male dogs will never develop embarrassing "humping" behaviors. Neutered male cats are less likely to spray (mark territory). If your female cat or dog is spayed, you don't have to worry about cleaning up, nor about her crying and nervous behavior while she's "in heat," and you won't have potential "suitors" in your backyard. And because they are no longer ruled by raging hormones after being spayed/neutered, your dog or cat will be calmer and not have the burning desire to roam or run away from home in search of a mate, running the risk of being hit by a car or encountering another animal in a fight.

Dog license fees are cheaper. Most jurisdictions offer a discount when you apply for your annual dog license if your dog is spayed or neutered.

You will not be faced with an unplanned or unwanted litter. Although people think it's easy and even a fast way to make some money selling their litter, finding good, loving and responsible homes for kittens or puppies takes time, research and money. If you take the easy route and take them to a shelter, they will most likely be euthanized because there simply aren't enough people to adopt all the animals that are surrendered to shelters.

And last, but not least:

You will not be contributing to pet overpopulation. An estimated 3 to 4 million animals are euthanized every year in shelters across the country, about 40 thousand right here in the Greater Philadelphia area. By spaying and neutering your pet, you are doing your part to end pet overpopulation!