Photo: Flea, an adult spayed female Terrier mix who has been at BCHS over a year.
Each summer animal shelters across the country are stressed to the limit with many dogs and cats entering their doors. The Bradford County Humane Society has been close to or at full capacity already this season. "Nearly every animal that comes into our shelter is a stray. The summer months can be extremely busy with more than normal dogs and cats being brought to BCHS," states Jennifer L. Spencer, BCHS Executive Director. "I always urge those that have lost their pet to please contact us first - their dog could have gotten loose and ended up being picked up by the dog warden and brought to BCHS," she adds.
Photo: Macho, an adult neutered male Rottweiler who has been at BCHS since December. BCHS does not euthanize for space, therefore when they are at full capacity they work with local animal shelters to assist by taking some of their dogs to their facilities to be placed for adoption. Local rescues are also contacted for specific breeds or even special needs animals.
Because overpopulation of pets is an issue in nearly every community, spaying and neutering your animal is of the utmost importance.
Many well-intentioned pet owners still find making the choice to spay or neuter their pet a difficult one. This is largely due to the many misconceptions associated with this very basic surgery. However the reality is pets that are spayed or neutered typically live much longer, healthier, and happier lives and are also helping to solve the serious problem of pet overpopulation. For these reasons, and many more, nearly all animals adopted from BCHS have already been spayed or neutered. However, you may have a pet at home or have a friend with a dog or cat that has not yet had this simple surgery. Here are some of the reasons that spaying or neutering is one of the best things you can do for your pet, yourself, and your community:
Making the decision to spay or neuter your pet means fewer pets—pets as sweet, loving, healthy, and deserving of companionship as your own end up in animal shelters every day.
The Humane Society of the United States explains some commonly spread myths about spaying and neutering below:
MYTH: It's better to have one litter before spaying a female pet.
FACT: Every litter counts.
Medical evidence indicates just the opposite. In fact, the evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier. Many veterinarians now sterilize dogs and cats as young as eight weeks of age. Check with your veterinarian about the appropriate time for these procedures.
MYTH: But my pet is a purebred.
FACT: So is at least one out of every four pets brought to animal shelters around the country. There are just too many dogs and cats—mixed breed and purebred.
MYTH: I want my dog to be protective.
FACT: It is a dog's natural instinct to protect home and family. A dog's personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones.
MYTH: I don't want my male dog or cat to feel like less of a male.
FACT: Pets don't have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pet's basic personality. He doesn't suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.
MYTH: My pet will get fat and lazy.
FACT: The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their owners feed them too much and don't give them enough exercise.
MYTH: But my dog (or cat) is so special, I want a puppy (or kitten) just like her.
FACT: Your pet's puppies or kittens have an unlikely chance of being a carbon copy of your pet. Even professional breeders cannot make this guarantee. There are shelter pets waiting for homes who are just as cute, smart, sweet, and loving as your own.
MYTH: It's expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered.
FACT: Many low-cost options exist for spay/neuter services. Most regions of the U.S. have at least one spay/neuter clinic within driving distance that charge $100 or less for the procedure. Low-cost spay/neuter is more and more widely available all the time.
MYTH: I'll find good homes for all the puppies and kittens.
FACT: You may find homes for your pet's puppies and kittens. But you can only control what decisions you make with your own pet, not the decisions other people make with theirs. Your pet’s puppies and kittens, or their puppies or kittens, could end up in an animal shelter, as one of the many homeless pets in every community competing for a home. If you have been thinking of getting a dog or cat, puppy or kitten, stop in to the shelter on Route 220. "We have so many nice animals just waiting for their forever home," states Spencer.
Also for the month of August any cat that has been spayed or neutered is only $25 to adopt.
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