World Spay Day is highlighted on the last Tuesday of each February to bring awareness to our growing pet population. World Spay Day is also a day to bring attention to the needs of affordable vet altering services. To highlight the importance of spaying or neutering, consider the following statistics from the ASPCA:
- Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats.
- Each year, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized (1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats).
- The average number of litters a fertile dog produces is one a year; the average number of puppies is four to six.
- Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered, while 83% of pet dogs and 91% of pet cats are spayed or neutered.
- The cost of spaying or neutering a pet is less than the cost of raising puppies or kittens for a year. https://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics
Of course, puppies are cute. They have that sweet puppy breath, cute wagging tails and pure innocence. They make us feel warm and fuzzy inside! We always do everything in our power to accommodate a momma and her new litter. It's amazing how many fosters will step up and volunteer to foster puppies. We appreciate everyone who fosters for ITV. Many of our recent litters were at such a young age that they could not be separated from their nursing momma. Removing young puppies from their lactating momma is not only cruel, its also careless.Fostering a momma and her litter is very admirable. Until the puppies are weaned and can eat soft or hard food on their own, the momma mainly takes care of her litter. Still, our fosters must be certain momma is getting proper nutrition, potty breaks and time away from her ever nursing litter.
Once puppies are weaned, the responsibility shifts more to the foster than the momma. Yes, puppies are super cute, but lets be honest. Anyone who has any experience with young puppies knows that puppies basically eat, poop, pee, sleep, repeat over and over. Yes, again, they are cute. But, is "cuteness" really worth it?
A momma should be monitored and be in good health during the 2 month pregnancy. If there are complications, the momma and her litter could be at risk during the birthing process. If the pregnancy was not properly monitored, genetic issues can arise in any puppy. Medical issues can pop up if sufficient care isn't given to the momma. Veterinary bills and food costs can quickly add up while a litter is growing old enough and going through the vetting protocol to find a home. It's pretty obvious that the cost of a spay is a small price to pay compared to ensuring a healthy momma and taking responsibility for the complete welfare of each puppy.
Another apparent fact that comes to mind: puppies grow into adult dogs! We find that puppies are very easy to adopt. We have a very extensive adoption application. We take the application process very seriously. A pup taken into a rescue should never be homeless ever again. Unfortunately, we have found-through experience- that in some instances, once a puppy grows and isn't that super cute puppy anymore, the adopter's interest in the dog lags. ITV always takes back any rescue that has been adopted. It's in our contract. We do our best to scour the application, but sometimes it just doesn't matter. The perfect looking application and adopter can return later renege on their responsibilities and surrender that once sweet puppy that is now an adult.
A female dog will go into heat every six months. Many of the dogs coming into ITV with a litter of puppies are unfortunately young pups. How sad that a dog under one year old has to go through the painful process of pregnancy, birth, nursing and then torn away from her beloved litter. She should be in a loving home where her biggest worry is which flavor her rawhide will be when she gets a treat.
It's seems so very simple. The easiest way to start controlling the pet population is to SPAY YOUR DOG! Like I said before, puppies normally adopt quickly. Sadly, most of the momma's will be sitting in a kennel well after her litter was taken away and adopted to a loving family. Sophia is our most recent example of that - her puppies have been adopted, but she waits for her home. ITV does NOT leave mom behind - ever. If we rescue the puppies, we will rescue the mom also.
The pet overpopulation can be corrected. It's simple. Be a responsible pet owner. Please have your pet spayed or neutered. Don't risk an unwanted litter. A male dog WILL find a way to get to a female in heat. It's nature. Humane societies offer low cost spay and neuter clinics. It's up to us to care for our dogs and protect them. Educate yourself about all the responsibilities of a pet owner and consult your vet for the ideal time to spay or neuter your fur baby. Overpopulation continues to add up one litter at a time. Every spay and neuter WILL make a difference.
World Spay Day has recently passed. However, the message and information is relevant for every single day of the year. ITV will always rescue litters if fosters continue to step up or if there is space in our shelter. A shelter is really no place for a puppy or a nursing momma, so in a perfect world, we would love to never see another unplanned litter of puppies. We agree with Bob Barker and Betty White. "Control the pet population. Have you're pet spayed or neutered." What a wonderful place this world could be if puppies weren't born out in the elements without medical care and human interaction. ITV Canine Rescue will continue working hard and smart. We are dedicated to place our rescues into the best matched home. "Until All Paws Have A Home", this animal advocate will volunteer blood sweat and tears. I will stand next to my fellow volunteers and our Villagers until every kennel is empty. We will never give up.
Sincerely,
Lori Martin
