Spay and Neuter Rationale
While it is of course, very important for all shelters to emphasize adoption programs animal caretakers can not "adopt our way" out of the terrible problem of pet overpopulation and the pain, suffering, and premature death that often comes with it. Spaying and neutering is not only very good for the dogs, it also makes dogs less aggressive and cuts down on the number of strays. This means that it is less likely for people to be bit by stray dogs and less likely for humans to contract a disease from a dog.
Spay and neuter (S&N) programs are becoming quite numerous around the entire country because when implemented in a reasonable fashion, they work and they work very well. A spay and neuter program in New Hampshire has worked extremely well and they have been very effective for other Ohio counties. One county cut their intake roughly in half with an S&N program and now euthanize about one quarter of the dogs they did before the start of their program! This S&N program prevented the deaths of about 500 dogs a year!!
While it is of course, very important for all shelters to emphasize adoption programs animal caretakers can not "adopt our way" out of the terrible problem of pet overpopulation and the pain, suffering, and premature death that often comes with it. Spaying and neutering is not only very good for the dogs, it also makes dogs less aggressive and cuts down on the number of strays. This means that it is less likely for people to be bit by stray dogs and less likely for humans to contract a disease from a dog.
| New Hampshire Intake And Euthanasia Statistics |
| Year |
Shelter Intake |
% Shelter Intake (1994 Baseline) |
Dog Euthanasia |
% Euthanasia (1994 Baseline) |
88 |
21,159 |
114% |
10,434 |
101% |
89 |
21,712 |
116% |
11,868 |
115% |
90 |
20,997 |
113% |
12,450 |
121% |
91 |
20,159 |
108% |
12423 |
120% |
92 |
20,530 |
110% |
11,509 |
112% |
93 |
19,275 |
106% |
11,494 |
111% |
started in 94 |
18,642 |
100% |
10,321 |
100% |
95 |
16,145 |
87% |
7,114 |
69% |
96 |
16,766 |
90% |
6,057 |
59% |
97 |
15,063 |
81% |
6,057 |
59% |
98 |
13,862 |
74% |
4,816 |
47% |
99 |
12,369 |
66% |
3,366 |
33% |
00 |
12,800 |
69% |
2,575 |
25% |
| Source: "Spay Maine Fact Sheet" from NH Federation of Humane Organizations |
National Animal Groups Speak Out About Spay and Neuter Programs
Operation PetFix - Northeast Ohio
Their literature states that 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year because "there simply are not enough homes." They also state that stray dogs and cats are "threatening the health and safety of human populations." Finding homes for homeless pets is "clearly a losing battle."
"If we are to create a world in which every companion animal has a companion, we know we must focus on aggressive spay/neuter programs targeted toward those populations consistently generating the bulk of the pet overpopulation. After years of applying Band-Aid solutions, we see an opportunity to join in a national effort to end, once and for all, pet overpopulation, with all of its attendant public health, moral, emotional, and financial issues."
Stray Pet Advocacy
"Your community is spending unnecessary tax dollars if it does not have a low-cost spay/neuter program in place."
"Spaying and neutering lie at the foundation of any effective animal control program."
"Intact males (dogs and cats) roam in search of mates."
"Unspayed females (dogs and cats) also roam if they smell an unneutered male nearby."
The state of New Hampshire launched a statewide spay/neuter assistance program in 1994 only for pet owners on public assistance. In the six years from 1994 to 2000, the euthanasia rate dropped from around 10 per 1000 people to 2.4 per 1000 people. Therefore, it dropped about 74%!
The state of New Hampshire program cost just over a $1 million and was estimated to have saved the state $3.2 million. Therefore, the program was said to be very cost effective.
Animal People
"Low-cost neutering doubles the number of poor people who get their pets fixed - and cuts animal shelter intakes in half."
