Mississippi is in a crisis with a cat and dog overpopulation.
Animal shelters, rescues and pounds are overflowing with stray animals. There are not enough homes for all of the strays in Mississippi, so in many cases cats, kittens, dogs and puppies are needlessly killed or left to try to survive. You can be part of the solution by spaying and neutering your pets. There are many low cost spay and neuter options in the state (Find Low Cost Provider tab above)
The Truth Behind Spaying and Neutering Myths
Myth: Female dogs and cats should have at least one litter before having them spayed.
Truth: There is no medical evidence to justify allowing a dog or cat to have a litter before spaying. In fact, spaying female dogs and cats eliminates the possibility of developing uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the threat of mammary cancer.
Myth: Animals become less active and overweight as a result of spaying or neutering.
Truth: Animals become overweight only when they are fed too much and not exercised properly. Spaying or neutering your pet does not adversely affect weight.
Myth: Behavior is adversely affected by sterilization.
Truth: The only changes in dog and cat behavior after spaying or neutering are positive changes. Male cats tend to reduce territorial spraying, depending on their age at neutering. Neutered dogs and cats fight less, resulting in fewer bite and scratch wounds and lessening the spread of contagious diseases. Male dogs and cats tend to stay home more after neutering because they no longer wander in search of a mate.
Myth: Spaying and neutering is painful to my dog or cat.
Truth: Surgical sterilization is performed under general anesthesia by a doctor of veterinary medicine. The procedure itself is not felt by the patient. There may be mild discomfort after the surgery, but most animals return to normal activity within 24 to 72 hours.
Myth: Children should be able to witness the miracle of birth.
Truth: Most dogs and cats have their litters at night in quiet, dark places far out of anyone’s sight. Your local shelter may have a pregnant dog or cat that you could temporarily foster instead. You can save many lives by not adding to the thousands of unwanted puppies and kittens born.
Myth: My pet is an indoor pet or is in a fenced in yard, there is no way they can get pregnant.
Truth: Unaltered males are highly motivated to seek out females in heat. They will climb, dig and jump to complete their mission to impregnate a female.
Myth: Neutering will make my pet feel like less of a male.
Truth: Pets do not have any concept of ego or sexual identity and do not have sex for pleasure, their mission is to procreate and produce puppies and kittens. However, your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate, including finding creative ways to escape from the house. Once he’s free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other male animals. Unaltered female cats usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they’ll yowl and urinate more frequently. Spayed female pets don’t go into heat. Spay/neuter operations will help curb these behaviors and keep your pet at home.
