Every year, countless stray animals and unwanted pets end up in shelters due to overpopulation, and sadly, many of them never find a loving home.
It’s a heartbreaking reality that could be prevented through spaying and neutering.
This World Spay Day (28 February), the Cape of Good Hope SPCA is encouraging pet owners and animal lovers alike to consider the importance of pet sterilisation.
Spaying and neutering are crucial procedures that can prevent the birth of unwanted litters and contribute to significantly reducing the drastic number of strays and animals living in shelters.
The benefits of sterilisation go beyond population control. Spaying female pets can help reduce the risk of several health issues, including uterine infections (pyometra) and breast cancer, which can be fatal if left untreated in around 50% of dogs and 90% of cats.
Neutering male pets can reduce the risk of testicular cancer, which is a common and often fatal condition in unneutered male pets. It also helps to prevent behavioural problems such as aggression and roaming, which can lead to injuries, accidents and even death.
This means that, in addition to addressing the issue of unwanted litters and shelter overpopulation, pet sterilisation helps to reduce the risk of euthanasia, which can be a traumatic experience for both animals and their owners.
Despite this, many pet owners still hesitate to have their pets spayed or neutered. Some feel that the procedure is too expensive or too risky for their pets, while others simply do not see its importance.
But the truth is that sterilisation is a safe and relatively cheap procedure that can save pet owners the cost and stress of taking care of unplanned litters and stop unwanted and shelter animals from suffering.
This is where the SPCA comes in. The organisation is committed to promoting the importance of sterilisation as well as providing affordable spaying and neutering services to pet owners in need.
It understands that not everyone can afford the full cost of the procedure, which is why it offers subsidies and discounts to eligible pet owners.
This is where we, the public, come in too. The SPCA also relies on the support of the public to help fund its spaying and neutering programme.
See if you qualify and book your pet’s sterilisation here.
This World Spay Day, the SPCA is urging pet owners to take the responsible step of having their pets sterilised.
And to those who are able to, the SPCA asks for your support in its efforts to make spaying and neutering accessible and affordable to all pet owners. Each sterilisation costs R600 and includes vaccination (R100) and microchipping (R100).
Donate here.
By donating to the SPCA’s “Sponsor a Spay” campaign, we can help provide life-saving services to pets in need and reduce the number of unwanted animals in our communities.
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Picture: Unsplash