By Lindsay Pollard-Post
The PETA Foundation
February 22 is Spay Day, when many veterinarians offer reduced-cost spaying and neutering. If you haven’t yet had your animals sterilized, here are some great reasons to “spay the day!”
• Animal shelters across the country are overflowing with homeless cats and dogs. Up to 4 million animals must be euthanized for lack of homes every year.
• Spaying and neutering prevent thousands upon thousands of animals from being born only to struggle to survive on the streets, suffer at the hands of cruel or neglectful people, or be euthanized in shelters.
• Spaying and neutering eliminate animals’ chances of contracting several cancers that are expensive to treat and often fatal, including uterine, ovarian, and testicular cancer.
• Sterilization reduces or eliminates mating urges, aggression, and excessive territoriality, making sterilized dogs three times less likely to bite.
• Sterilized animals are much less likely to “mark their territory” on your favorite armchair or embarrass you by mounting objects— or your guests’ legs.
For the nearest low-cost spay/neuter clinics, call 1-800-248-SPAY. To learn more, visit PETA.org.
