OUR MISSION: To rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home abandoned
and neglected dogs, saving them from certain death in the local shelters.

Separating the Myths from the Facts of Spaying/Neutering

MYTH

FACT

1. "Preventing animals from having litters is unnatural and causes them harm"

1. We've already interfered with nature by domesticating dogs and cats. In doing so we helped create dog and cat overpopulation. We must now take responsibility for solving it.

2. "It is better to allow your female dog to have at least one litter before she is spayed"

2. The best time to spay your female is before her estrous cycle. Early spaying (as young as 8 weeks) greatly reduces the incidence of mammary tumors and prevents other health problems.

3. "A female dog only comes into heat only once a year and I'll watch her to make sure she's not allowed to mate with any male dogs"

3. Female dogs come into heat twice a year and it is possible to have multiple fathers to any one litter... the drive to breed is that intensive.  It has been estimated from comments made at shelters when turning in females, their litters or a combination of the two, that this myth is the primary reason for the unwanted litters 67% of the time.  Unless completely crated and confined for the entire duration of the heat cycle, every female will attempt to escape and find a mate.

4. "My dog's behavior will be adversely affected by surgery"

4. This is true - your dog's behavior will change, but only for the positive.  Neutered dogs fight less, resulting in fewer battle scars, contagious diseases and abscesses.  In intact male has a six times greater chance of biting a child or human than a neutered one does (AVMA).  Males also wander less because they aren't as interested in pursuing females in heat. Also, freed of the urge to mate, dogs and cats tend to be more content and calmer. Neutered pets are MUCH easier to live with, whether in same sex family homes or opposed sex genders.

5. "My dog will become fat and lazy after being spayed or neutered"

5. After neutering, most male dogs are up and showing little signs of the surgery within a few hours.  A female dog will take a day or two to recuperate.  However, many dog guardians over-feed their dogs afterwards in sympathy (or guilt) gestures, causing a bit of weight gain --- and fail to provide then with enough exercise afterwards.  Freed from the sexual drive to mate, dogs tend to mellow out and slow down without the excessive high levels of testosterone and stress-related sexual anxiety.

6. "I don't need to neuter my male dog because they're not the ones having litters"

6. It takes two to tango. In fact, an unaltered male can be responsible for impregnating dozens of females.   In Ventura County, over 60% of the strays picked up are intact males.

7. "Female dogs that are pregnant or in heat cannot be safely spayed, so it's too late for my dog"

7. Many dogs spayed while pregnant to prevent the birth of unwanted puppies.  Depending on your vet, some will spay female dogs while in heat.

8. "It costs too much... I can't afford it!"

8. Spaying/neutering actually saves you money!  The cost is generally less than most major surgeries, such as the vet care required to repair animal fight injuries, or preventable cancers. This is especially true of young healthy animals. Many areas have low-cost spay/neuter clinics or programs in which vets perform spaying/neutering at a reduced fee... some even for free!

---------- and the bottom line is ----------

Altering your male and female pets will decrease roaming, running away and help prevent unwanted pregnancies.   The temperament of your male dog will generally improve with neutering --- neutering (and spaying for some females) will prevent the marking of territory with urine.  You'll greatly reduce the risk of dog bites/attacks.  Finally, the incidence of cancer (breast in females and prostrate males) is decreased when you spay/neuter your pets.