By having your pet spayed or neutered, you will do your part to prevent the birth of unwanted animals. Spaying and neutering are vitally important for preventing unplanned or unwanted litters, and reducing pet overpopulation. You could also be setting your pet up for a longer, healthier life. 

SPAY & NEUTER BENEFITS

Health benefits:

• Spaying female cats and dogs prevents serious infections, such as pyometra.
• Spaying also reduces the risk of mammary cancers. 
• Neutering males can eliminate their risk of testicular cancer and reduce their risk of developing enlarged prostate glands.

Behavioral benefits:

• Removing a female dog or cat's ovaries eliminates their messy heat cycles.
• Spaying a female dog or cat will reduce their need to escape and roam to mate.
• Neutering a male dog and cat can reduce aggression 
• Neutering a male dog or cat reduces roaming and stinky urine-marking behavior.

MYTHS & FACTS ABOUT SPAY/NEUTER

Myth: Female pets should have one litter before spay surgery
Truth: There is no evidence that allowing female pets to have one litter helps them in any way. Spaying female dogs and cats before their first heat cycle eliminates their risk of ovarian or uterine cancer, and it also greatly reduces their risk of mammary cancer. 

Myth: Spaying or neutering pets causes them to get fat or lazy.
Truth: Spaying or neutering pets removes sex hormones, which in turn can decrease metabolism. However, pets generally become overweight due to diet and insufficient exercise, not from being spayed or neutered. As your animals age, it is important to adjust their diet and exercise regimen accordingly, so they remain healthy later in life.

MYTH: Spay/neuter operations are expensive.
FACT: The cost of your pet’s spay/neuter surgery is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. SPCA Monterey County offers low-cost and free spay/neuter services. 

Myth: Children should experience the miracle of life
Fact: Even if children are able to see a pet give birth, which is unlikely, since it usually occurs at night and in seclusion, the lesson they will really learn is that animals can just be created and discarded. And without proper vet care, some kittens and puppies do not survive. Instead, you can teach your children responsibility of pet ownership. You can also sign up for Animal Camp to let them learn about animals. 

Myth: Spaying or neutering my animal will make him or her feel less male or female.
Truth: Animals have no concept of their sexuality, and spaying or neutering will not cause your pet any emotional stress or change your pet’s natural disposition. In fact, it does just the opposite. Usually, pets who have been spayed or neutered have less aggression and a more even temperament because of the hormone changes that occur following the surgery.