Every year 100’s of healthy dogs and cats in the UAE are euthanised simply because there are not enough homes to go around and too many strays walking the streets, industrial areas and deserts.
Many different rescues services in and around the emirates work tirelessly every week picking up strays and trying to adopt them out, some of these organisations are self-funded and rely on donations to save as many furries as they can each week.
There is a solution to a lot of the issues and that is to spay or neuter your cat or your dog and to educate people on the procedures to try and reduce the number of stray animals.
Some people may believe that spaying or neutering in a bad thing for there pet, so let's take a look at some of them.
Q - Spaying and Neutering will cause my pet to gain weight?
A - Overfeeding and lack of exercise are more likely to be the cause, not spaying or neutering. Your pet will continue to be healthy after surgery.
Q - Does it cause a change in behaviour?
A - Unneutered dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory with a cat in heat in the breeding season at least 3 - 4 times a week, causing them to meow loudly and spray all over the house, an unneutered dog is likely to urinate in the house to dominate the space and will be the one trying to escape or run off to find a potential mate. Once sterilised you can see a huge change in this behaviour cats will no longer do this and dogs providing they have not become custom to there ritual becomes more laid back when the testosterone levels are not so high. The effects of neutering are dependant on your pets physiology, history and personality.
8 out of 10 see significant changes in behaviour.
Q - Spaying & Neutering operations are expensive?
A - The cost of your pet’s spay/neuter surgery is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter! Plus, and if going through a rescue organisation many clinics offer discounts in special cases.
Prices in general start around 850 AED for the procedure and then costs in addition to any tests that your vet recommends prior to surgery.
Q - Does the surgery make my dog/cat feel less like a male?
A - Pets do not have any concept of sexual identity or ego and neutering do not change that fact. What may change, however, is that your male pet will be less likely to roam away from home.
Spay/neuter operations will help curb these behaviours and keep your pet where he or she belongs: in your safe and loving home.
Q - Indoor pets don’t need to be spayed or neutered.
A - There’s no guarantee that your pet won’t get pregnant or impregnate another animal because they’re indoor pets. Your pet could get out, especially if they’re searching for a mate.
Q - My pet is a purebred and I want to breed from him or her?
A - There are more pets available than there are families able to adopt them. This is true of purebred pets as well. Plus we need to look at the issues within the UAE and the overpopulation there is at the moment. We don’t want to be adding to the fact of selling animals into the wrong family because we just want to breed from our beloved pets. There’s also no guarantee you’ll be able to find homes for all of your pet’s puppies or kittens. If you can’t find homes for your pet’s litter, many of them could end up in animal shelters if you’re not prepared to care for them. Remember that there’s always a chance, too, that someone willing to take a puppy or kitten could change their mind.
For more information about spaying or neutering, you can call the clinic for advice or to speak to the veterinarian.
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