Do the Math! SPAY or NEUTER

In many cooler climates, private and public animal rescue organizations, veterinary hospitals and animal lovers are gearing up for “kitten season.” As snow melts and temperatures rise, cats in cold weather climates will soon be scratching at the door to go out. Unfortunately, many of these cats (and dogs) remain un-neutered and that means there will be a pet population explosion. In addition to all these stray animals posing a health hazard to humans and other animals, consider the numbers:

4 to 10 months      at which a female cat can produce a litter

7 to 9 months        at which a female dog can produce a litter

4 to 6 million         dogs and cats are euthanized in America's animal

                              shelters each year. There are not enough loving

                              homes to place them in.

45 dollars              to care for one dog for three days in a shelter

45 dollars              to sterilize one animal and prevent thousands

                              of unwanted animals

2 billion dollars     to capture, care for and euthanize unwanted dogs and cats

                              every year

2 billion dollars     to sterilize 40 million animals

Links to information on lost cost spay and neuter programs for most states can be accessed at: http://neuterspayoregon.blogspot.com/.