If you adopt a cat, dog or rabbit from BCAS, the animal will already be spayed or neutered.  Spaying refers to the removal of the reproductive organs of female dogs and cats, while neutering is the removal of the testicles in male dogs and cats. Spaying or neutering your pet is essential for many reasons.  In addition to the health and behavioral benefits, it will help control the overpopulation of animals, which results in many dogs and cats living in shelters or rescues being euthanized each year.

Medical benefits to spaying or neutering your pets include:

• Spaying (for females) helps prevent uterine infections (pyometra) and cancers and breast cancer, which can be malignant in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats according to the ASPCA. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.
• Female animals with diabetes or epilepsy that are spayed have fewer hormonal imbalances which helps to control these diseases.
• Neutering your male pet prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems.
• Spaying or neutering will NOT make your pet fat. Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds-not neutering. Your pet will remain fit as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor food intake.

Behavioral benefits include:

• Your spayed female pet won't go into heat. While cycles can vary, female cats and kittens usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season, and can start their first cycle as young as 4 months. In an effort to advertise for mates, they will yowl and urinate more frequently, which can be a persistent behavior that is often troublesome to pets and owners.
• Your male dog or cat will be less likely to roam away from home when they reach puberty. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate, including finding creative ways escape from the house. Once he is free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other male animals.
• Your neutered male may be better behaved as intact male dogs and cats display more aggressive behaviors. Unneutered cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine. An unneutered dog might be less likely to mount other dogs, people and inanimate objects after he is neutered.
• Unneutered male cats, especially those outdoors, are more prone to fighting for territory, which can spread FIV and FeLV, or cause injuries with severe infections and abscesses.

Low Cost Spay and Neuter

The shelter does not provide spay/neuter services for owned animals.  For information on low cost spay/neuter of owned animals, you can contact:

• People for Animals  https://www.pfaonline.org/
• Friends of Animals   https://www.friendsofanimals.org/