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Spay/Neuter |
Issues/Opportunities | Adoption
| Shelters | Adoption
Rates
Facts about Spaying and Neutering
your Pets
MYTH: Animals become fat and lazy after being spayed or neutered.
FACT: Sterilization does not cause an animal to become fat or lazy. Fat
animals are usually overfed and under-exercised.
MYTH: It's better to spay a female animal after her first heat or after
one Litter.
FACT: Early spaying reduces the incidence of mammary (breast) cancer and
eliminates diseases of the ovaries and uterus. Most veterinarians prefer
to wait until 5-6 months to spay an animal, but those as young as 8-10
weeks of age can safely be spayed.
MYTH: Neutering my dog will make him less protective.
FACT: Neutering your dog may make him more protective of your family,
since he is less likely to roam. Neutering eliminates enlarged testicles
and prevents testicular tumors, decreases the possibility of perianal
tumors and hernias, and prevents prostate problems later in life.
MYTH: Spaying or Neutering will change a pet's personality and behavior.
FACT: Neutering can produce positive behavior changes. Neutering can
reduce or even eliminate annoying spraying behavior in male cats. Neutered
animals are less likely to roam and be hit by cars or be attacked by other
animals or cruel humans. Neutered cats fight less and are less likely to
get abscesses or become infected with diseases like Feline Leukemia or
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.
MYTH: My pet is getting older, and I want another one just like him/her.
FACT: Every animal is unique. There will never be another animal exactly
like Fido or Fluffy, so breeding will not accomplish your desire to have
another “Fido”.
MYTH: I can find homes for the entire litter, and make some money, too!
FACT: There are already far too many animals for sale to count on finding
a buyer. For every animal that is placed, another dies somewhere else
unwanted and abandoned. Add in the expense of raising a litter - food,
vaccinations, stud fees, etc.- and the time involved, and any profits you
may have imagined quickly disappear.
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SPCA-BC's Biggest Opportunities
Q: What is the most pressing issue facing SPCA-BC?
A: Reducing the number of homeless animals in Brazoria County. We have
recently implemented a more focused direction and strategy to address this
issue at its source and not simply at the “sheltering stage.”
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Q: Why is it so important to reduce the number of homeless animals?
A: The key to alleviating the suffering and horror experienced by homeless
animals is to first stop the senseless and tragic problem we have with
companion-animal overpopulation and unplanned pregnancy among that group.
To achieve 100% adoption rates at SPCA-BC shelters by 2012 requires an
aggressive education campaign. SPCA-BC has a goal to be in every 7th grade
classroom in Brazoria County within the next year. We also are conducting
a feasibility study to determine where a spay/neuter clinic will be the
most beneficial and how to raise the $100,000+ to open such a facility.
Long-term funding of such a clinic will require even more fundraising and
contributions from the community.
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Q: Wouldn’t it be best to focus on opening more and more shelters?
A: Opening more and more shelters is like putting a band-aid on a broken
leg. Addressing the first two priorities: education and spay/neuter
programs will help reduce the number of puppies and kittens born without a
home. Responsible pet ownership means among other things: NO ANIMAL IS
BORN WITHOUT A HOME.
SPCA-BC is attacking those first two priorities and then intends to
rebuild a first-class shelter in the mid-county area where we believe the
need is greatest.
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Q: Do you work with other animal protection organizations?
A: Yes, SPCA-BC works very closely with qualified and proven rescue
groups. If after 10 days of holding an animal at one of our facilities it
is not adopted, we work to locate a rescue group that has space. Approved
rescue groups must be TARPA certified and show other proof of viability
and credibility.
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Adopting from Southern Brazoria County Animal Shelter
-- The Biggest
Bargain in Town!
Q: I understand the adoption fee for animals at SPCA-BC is $75. Why don’t
you give animals to people instead of charging? What if a person can’t
afford the fee?
A: The average cost to the Southern Brazoria County Animal Shelter for
animals that come into the shelter is more than $110 each. That includes
all the medical treatment, care and spay/neuter of the animal. The $75 fee
helps the Shelter pay for some of the costs. With no revenue, the Shelter
would cease to exist and the hundreds of animals that find loving homes
would no longer find those homes.
Additionally, we believe that if a person can’t afford the $75 fee, there
is little chance that they can afford to be a responsible pet owner. Pet
ownership is not cheap; in fact it’s quite costly. When people can’t
afford the expenses related to pet ownership, neglecting basic care items
such as annual check ups, vaccinations, heartworm preventive, flea
preventive and a balanced diet are very likely to occur.
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Q: I could easily find a free cat or dog and save the $75. Why should I
adopt from the Shelter?
A: By the time you go to your vet and have all of the procedures done that
are paid for by the Shelter, you will spend an average of more than $220.
Not free after all.
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Q: You say adopting from the Shelter is a bargain. What do I get for my
$75?
A: Every animal that is adopted has been vaccinated and is current on its
vaccinations*. They have all been wormed and sprayed with Frontline® flea
preventative. At adoption, an appropriate sized vial of Frontline is
applied to each animal. Each adoptable animal is given a heartworm
preventative after being tested. Adopters are strongly urged to continue
monthly treatments of flea and heartworm prevention. Once adopted, the
animal will be spayed or neutered within 30 days of adoption or when it
reaches an appropriate age. A well-animal check up also is paid for by the
Shelter within 72 hours of adoption.
*Rabies vaccinations are not given because the State of Texas Department
of Health requires a veterinarian to administer the vaccination
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Open Door Shelters vs. No Kill Shelters
Q: How can you be proud of working at a facility that euthanizes animals
when other shelters are able to call themselves “no kill?” Wouldn’t it be
better just to leave the animals on the street where they will be free to
run and not risk euthanasia?
A: The Southern Brazoria County Animal Shelter is an Open Door Shelter.
That means no animal is turned away at the door. When a “no kill” shelter
is full, it must close its doors to needy animals. Where do you think the
animals go that are turned away? Many are likely dumped back on the
street. Others may make their way to a pound, while the fortunate few will
come to a shelter like ours.
Animals that live on the street live an average of 2-4 years. Their lives
are filled with horrific suffering as they spend most days hungry or
dealing with stomach issues from eating rotten or spoiled “food” that they
forage. They don’t always have clean water to drink and must tolerate
every extreme weather condition such as excruciating summer heat, freezing
winter temperatures, torrential rain, and every other kind of weather
condition.
They dodge vehicles and often are hit resulting in death or terrible
suffering. Stray, “free” dogs and cats must avoid attacks by other animals
as well as from abusive people. They live with and harbor disease, flea
infestation, mosquito and other insect bites along with so many other
maladies that cause them to suffer.
When animals arrive at the Southern Brazoria County Animal Shelter they
are cared for by employees and volunteers who love animals. They are kept
comfortable, cared for, fed, medicated and loved. Their days at the
Shelter whether 10 or sixty are usually the best they’ve ever had if they
grew up “free.”
So, no, it’s not better to leave an animal running “free” on the street;
the second chance they get at the Shelter is far and away a better option
than remaining homeless.
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Achieving 100% Adoption Rates
Q: How does SPCA-BC intend to achieve its vision of 100% adoption rates
and alleviate the senseless suffering of homeless animals?
A: The key to alleviating the suffering and horror experienced by homeless
animals is to first stop the senseless and tragic problem we have with
companion-animal overpopulation and unplanned pregnancy among that group.
To achieve 100% adoption rates at SPCA-BC shelters by 2012 requires an
aggressive education campaign. SPCA-BC has a goal to be in every 7th grade
classroom in Brazoria County and targeted community groups within the next
year. We also plan to provide low-income families with spay/neuter
procedures by mid-2005. Successfully focusing on these two priorities will
ultimately result in fewer stray and homeless animals being born.
Aggressive fundraising and planning is currently underway to raise the
$100,000+ to open such a spay/neuter facility. Long-term funding of the
clinic will require even more fundraising and contributions from the
community.
By focusing on those first two priorities, education and spay/neuter
programs, the last two priorities of SPCA-BC, Sheltering and Adoptions,
will drive us to our vision to have 100% adoption rates of adoptable
animals at our shelters by 2012.
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