Ten's of Thousands of Puppies From One Dog; Spay Neuter Awareness

February has been a busy month in terms of pet awareness and action.  We've been communicating about several things throughout the month including Dog Training Education, Pet Dental Health, Spay/Neuter Awareness and Responsible Pet Ownership:

Me with just one of the hoards of puppies the shelter takes in every year

These are all important things to remind people about.  As a shelter volunteer, the one I probably communicate about the most is Spay/Neuter Awareness.  February is designated Spay/Neuter Awareness Month by the Humane Society of the Unites States (HSUS).

According to the Humane Society:

> The average female dog produces 2 litters per year, each litter containing 6 – 10 puppies. 

> If that one dog remains UNspayed and breeds for six years, that’s 72 to 120 puppies born! 

> If that dog’s offspring also remain UNspayed they could produce tens of thousands of puppies over a 6 year period! 

It's astounding to me that so many people still refuse to spay and neuter their pets.  Even though most shelters offer low cost, free, and mobile spay/neuter services, many people don't do it.  Is it culture, religion, fear, greed (breeding revenue) or just plain foolishness and disregard for animals that causes this resistance?  I wish I had the answer.

Recently, I was talking to my hairdresser about a camping trip she had been on with relatives.  They each brought their dogs on the trip, 3 dogs in total.  She told me that her dog, the only male, had been misbehaving while playing with the females and they had to lock him in the camper. 


We were discussing various reasons why her dog may have been misbehaving when she said one of the dogs was "on her period" and maybe that was the reason.  Seriously?!  One of them brought a dog in heat on a camping trip and let her off leash?! 


So many unwanted puppies & kittens can be avoided by spaying & neutering

I proceed to ask her why on earth they haven't spayed her.  She doesn't know.  "I think they want to breed her one day" she says.    At that point my nails are digging into the cheap leather armchair as I struggle to maintain my composure.   My lecture begins.  It's one she's heard from me before and one I've given far too many times to way too many people over the years. 

My hairdresser gets it but isn't willing to go up against her ignorant relative to explain why spaying and neutering your pet is so critical and how irresponsible it is to bring a dog in heat on a camping trip with other dogs! 

This is many people's reaction.  They spay/neuter their own pets and know it's important but aren't willing to spread the word to the extent that it could alienate friends or relatives who don't get it.



3 of the many pups that enter the shelter daily.  The majority seem to be un-neutered males.

This is why it's so important for us to have continued awareness about the importance of spay/neuter and why we need to keep communicating the message and sharing the facts:

** Spaying and neutering will prevent the enormous number of unwanted puppies and kittens that end up in shelters every day.  People think they will find homes for all the puppies in all the litters their unspayed dog has.  They don’t.  They end up dumping the remaining unadopted  (or unsold) puppies at a shelter, or worse.  Even if they find homes for all the puppies or kittens in one litter, what about all those subsequently born to all their offspring?   

** Neutering reduces the desire to roam, in search of a female in heat.  Roaming contributes to dogs getting lost, hit by cars, or attacked by strange dogs they may encounter.

** Neutering will reduce or eliminate the desire to urine mark and claim territory.  We can all appreciate that!

** Neutering reduces unwarranted aggression in males.  Without the compelling desire to mark, roam, and mate, there is less need to compete with other males.   Dogs will still be protective of their home and family, don't worry about the dog turning into a pussy cat!

** According to the Humane Society, spaying and neutering can reduce several kinds of canine and feline cancers.  A healthier pet means longer life for your beloved pet and fewer vet bills for you.

Sharing these facts with family, friends, on social media, and in other forums is critical in bringing about change.  There are many myths around spay/neuter; see the Humane Society’s web site for a list of myth-busters.

My girl Phoebe arrived at the shelter Un-Spayed, terrified, and in bad shape

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Share your thoughts on this topic in the comments, we always love hearing from you!!