In many parts of the country pet ownership is at an all time high. As pet owners increase in number, however, it might come as a surprise that there is an increased awareness in making sure that the people who own cats and dogs are as responsible as ever. In fact, there is a continuing effort to make sure that neutering a dog or spaying a cat is an item that is a priority.
As veterinarian offices across the country continue to spread the word about their spay and neuter clinics, there are also many long time pet owners who are doing their best to make sure that new owners take a responsible approach to having a cat or a dog.
Pet Safety and Health Is a Growing Concern in a Nation That Sees an Increasing Number of Pets
Most pet owners realize that spaying and neutering is the only 100% effective form of birth control for cats and dogs. Neglecting this responsibility can affect the health of a pet and lead to over population. What many new pet owners may not know is that even cats and dogs as young as five months old can get pregnant, so SpayUSA.org recommends spaying before a first litter.
Neutering a dog or cat continues to be one of the most responsible things that a pet owner can do. Most dog and cat owners are not breeders, so it is important to remember the importance of spaying or neutering your pet. Did you know, for instance, that one unspayed female cat can produce up to 4,948 kittens in seven years and that one fertile dog can have an average of two litters a year? The fact that the average number of puppies in a litter is between six and ten, two litters a year can lead to a significant number of animals.
Fortunately, spaying and neutering a pet is fairly easy and quick. For instance, kittens and puppies can be spayed or neutered as soon as they reach two months old. Although there are some pet owners who are not responsible, 86% of pet dogs and 90% of pet cats were spayed or neutered between the years 2015 and 2016, according to a survey from the American Pet Products Association.
