BringYourPet.com

The devastating effects of pet overpopulation are putting a great strain on our communities. Everyday, animal caretakers are forced to put over 20,000 animals to sleep; and everyday 70,000 more puppies and kittens are born. Because there will never be enough loving homes available for all of these animals, prevention is the only humane option.

The primary cause of the 6 to 10 million dogs and cats euthanized every year in the United States is the failure of owners to spay or neuter their pets. Because of the behavioral and obedience problems of unaltered animals, these pets are usually abandoned to suffer injury and illness or relinquished to animal shelters where 55% of dogs and 71% of cats are killed.

Spaying and neutering is now considered a preventative procedure that can be done on animals as young as two months old. Recent studies have even found that these young animals actually handle the surgery and anesthesia better than adult animals. However, the most common age that veterinarians do the surgery is around six months.

Your female pet does not need to go through one heat cycle or have one litter before getting her spayed. In fact, spaying your pet before her first heat will greatly lower her risk of developing ovarian, uterine, and breast cancer. Surprisingly, breast cancer is the second most common malignancy found in pets. Your pet will also not develop pyometra, a life-threatening infection of the uterus commonly found in older unsprayed animals that require an emergency spay operation.

Neutering your male dog will not change his masculine appearance, affect his ability to hunt, or be a good watch dog. However, neutered pets do tend to be less aggressive, especially towards other males. The risk of developing prostate, perianal, and testicular tumors and cancers is greatly reduced. Also, the usual territorial urine marking will stop and male cats will no longer spray or yowl.

Obviously, this procedure will prevent unwanted and unplanned pregnancies; however, there are other, less obvious, benefits. An unsprayed female in heat can have numerous behavioral problems. They will often urine mark the house or even try to runaway in search of a mate. If unable to escape your house to do so, you may find many male dogs loitering on your front porch trying to get to your female dog. These male dogs will often fight each other - sometimes to the death - to be the dominant male. Female cats usually cry or howl like they are in pain, but in actuality they are merely searching for a mate.

Males tend to be overprotective of their family and territory. Unaltered males must patrol their boundaries while trying to constantly expand them. These dogs are often hit by cars or injured in a fight with another male dog while trying to get to a female. Once he finds a receptive female, he will stay near her house for days on end and may never be able to find his way home again.

The only drawback to this procedure is that spayed and neutered pets can be more prone to obesity. However, if you don't over-feed your pet and you make sure she gets plenty of regular exercise; the weight gain will be minimal to none.

The cost to spay or neuter an animal is a bargain compared to the nearly 2 billion dollars spent annually by U.S. local governments for animal shelters. If you would like more information on low-cost spay or neuter procedures, please use the following links:
Spay USA: http://www.spayusa.org/
Friends of Animals: http://www.friendsofanimals.org/

The only reason not to spay or neuter your animals is if they are going to be professionally bred and shown; but remember, purebreds account for nearly 30% of the animals now in shelters.

If you are even considering breeding your animal, ask yourself the following questions: Do you have a five-generation pedigree for the animal? Is there a minimum of eight titles (AKC/UKC: Champions, Obedience CD, CDX, etc.) in the last three generations? Does the animal have a stable temperament? Does the animal fit the breed standard? Are the animal and prospective mate both healthy? Is the animal certified free of genetic diseases? Do you have the time it takes to breed? Do you want to invest the money it takes to properly feed and house these animals? Do you want to pay the sometimes exorbitant veterinarian costs?

New Book Helps Hotels Increase Profits by Becoming Pet Friendly

Due to the demand for accurate, actionable information about becoming a pet friendly hotel, BringYourPet.com recently released the book, "Making Your Property Pet Friendly: A How-To Guide."

"Making Your Property Pet Friendly: A How-To Guide" escorts readers through the process of becoming pet friendly from beginning to end. Months of research, hours of interviews and miles of fieldwork with current pet friendly properties helped to shape this essential how-to guide that is the backbone of any pet friendly program...

Follow this link:
http://www.bringyourpet.com/pfguide.htm

"Making Your Property Pet Friendly: A How-To Guide" is available in hardcopy and downloadable version.

Property Spotlight - Jewel of The Smokies

Jewel of the Smokies is a gorgeous 3 bedroom (loft-style), 3 bath cabin, in Pigeon Forge, TN. This incredible cabin is comfortably furnished to accommodate a large group including those who wish to bring their favorite family members, their beloved pets, with them.

Pet Network Animal Friends of Nevada is a recognized leader in animal rescue, adoption, and education. Through compassion, respect, and responsibility we provide professional programs and services that benefit animals and people in our community. Pet Network rescues adoptable animals from euthanasia, connects abandoned animals with loving families, instills respect for animals through education and promotes quality of life through animal companionship.

Contact Information:
Email: info@petnetwork.org
Website: www.petnetwork.org
Phone: 775-832-4404
Address: 401 Village Blvd., Incline Village, NV 89451

Help BringYourPet.com serve you better by completing our one page questionnaire. All of your responses are completely anonymous.

Pause for Paws!

BringYourPet.com Affiliated Animal Welfare Charities