spay & neuter your pets

At the Humane Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, we believe in the spaying and neutering of all pets in order to control the population of stray and unwanted animals we see in our shelter every day. It is our practice to spay and neuter all cats and dogs 6 months of age and older before they are available for adoption. This may also apply to puppies and kittens of appropriate weight and development.

Only 35% of the animals that come through our shelter are spayed and neutered.
Dr. Gerald Ramsdell; VMD of North East Animal Hospital performs all spay and neuter surgeries for the other percentage of adoptable animals. Surgeries are performed in our operating room which contains all of the necessary equipment and sterilized surgical instruments. Animals with pending surgeries in our shelter are not available for viewing or adoption until after their surgery is completed. We do NOT accept deposits for adoption on animals on hold for surgery–we ask that interested adopters stop back in the shelter AFTER the animal is spayed or neutered. As long as there are no surgery complications, the animals can generally go home the next day. Any questions or problems regarding spay/neuter complications can be handled with North East Animal Hospital at (814) 725-8836 or 9280 West Main Road, North East, PA 16428.

Spaying and neutering your pets makes them more trainable, manageable and less prone to destructive behavior. Your pet will be happier and have more focused attention, making you a happier owner!

Animal Shelter Overflow

When you choose not to spay or neuter your pet, you are directly contributing to the overflow of stray and unwanted animals in shelters. Even if you find "good homes" for your puppies or kittens, that is one less home that is available to an unwanted pet in an animal shelter.

Shelter Statistics:

• At this shelter in 2006, 91.5% of all stray cats and 79% of all stray dogs were NOT spayed or neutered–intact animals will stray and possibly become pregnant or impregnate animals along the way.

• One female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in 6 years. One female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in 7 years.

• More than 12 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters each year. Millions more are abandoned in rural and urban areas.

• There are more animals born each day than there are good homes for them. The responsibility falls on every pet owner to do their part to help with this problem by spaying or neutering their animals.

What's in it for you?

Spaying and Neutering not only helps control unwanted animals from overpopulating animal shelters, it can also be of benefit to you, your home, and your family.

• Neutered male and spayed female dogs and cats are much less likely to run away. When an animal is intact, its instinct is to find a mate which could cause it to be hit by a car, become lost, stolen or injured.

• Spayed and neutered dogs and cats are less likely to be aggressive towards humans and other animals.

• Neutered male dogs and cats are less likely to mark their territory (and your furniture) with urine.

• Unfulfilled sexual energy can cause frustration which can lead intact animals to exhibit destructive behavior.

• Intact female dogs will menstruate for 10 days straight, twice a year–which means blood on your carpet, furniture, clothing, etc.

• Spaying and neutering makes pets more affectionate companions, and less likely to bite. Unsterilized animals often show more behavior and temperament problems than those who have been spayed/neutered.

• Unsterilized dogs or cats may experience a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat.

Spay/Neuter For the Health of Your Pet

• Spaying and neutering can improve your animal's quality of life and increase their lifespan.

• Spaying females not only eliminates their heat cycle, but also eliminates the chance of uterine infection, ovarian or uterine cancers, and greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer. 1 in 4 intact female dogs and cats will develop breast tumors.

• Prostate enlargement occurs in at least 60% of all un-neutered male animals which can lead to prostate tumors and infections.

• Neutering males eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer and greatly reduces the risk of tumors of the penis and anal areas, as well as reducing the risk of perineal hernia.

• Intact male/female cats and dogs will have more of an urge to roam which greatly increases their chances of injury, poisoning, or abuse.

Common Questions & Misunderstandings

Q: Will spaying or neutering my pet make them overweight?
A: Spaying and neutering has no effect on your animal's energy level or intelligence. If your dog is overweight it is because they are overfed, fed the wrong diet, or not exercised enough.

Q: Doesn't spaying or neutering change an animal's personality?
A: Any change in personality will be a positive one: spayed and neutered animals will be less aggressive, less distracted, less likely to run away.

Q: Should I allow my animal to go through a heat cycle before spaying?
A: It is actually healthier for your animal to never go into heat. Without allowing your animal to go into heat, you lower her risk of breast cancer and possible accidental pregnancy.

"It's too expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered"
The cost of spaying or neutering depends on the sex, size, and age of the pet, your veterinarian's fees, and other variables. But regardless, the spay or neuter surgery is only a ONE-TIME cost–and a relatively low cost when compared to all the benefits. Compare the surgery to the cost of having a litter and ensuring the health of the mother and every puppy or kitten in the litter. Two months of pregnancy and another two months until the litter is weaned can add up to significant veterinary bills and food costs if complications develop.

"But my pet is purebred!"
Guess what, at least one out of every four pets brought to animal shelters around the country is also purebred. There are just too many dogs and cats, whether they be mixed breed or purebred.