The simple fact is that more dogs and cats are born every single day than can ever be adopted into loving homes.  While there are many approaches to address this sad truth, Tidewater Humane believes that only one choice will immediately impact the numbers of animals that are euthanized in our pounds and shelters:  Lowering the birth rate.  Our Spay/Neuter Assistance Program is dedicated to helping pet owners accomplish this simple task.  Presently, our program is provided through the cooperation of participating veterinary hospitals and is administered based on household income of the pet caretaker.  While our services are not provided free, we are able to arrange payment plans so that costs are not incurred all at once and payments can be made over a period of time.  If you'd like to get information on our current program, just download our forms here and send them to us.  At the present time, we are not able to process on-line applications.

Each year in South Hampton Roads, our pounds and shelters are forced to kill thousands of animals -- healthy, adoptable dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens -- simply because they were unlucky enough to be born unwanted.  The tragic waste of innocent creatures destroyed extracts a heavy toll on the shelter workers who must look into the eyes of these animals one last time.  The vicious cycle of pet over-population can only come to an end by decreasing the numbers of puppies and kittens born.  It's that simple.  And we're here to help if cost is keeping you from having that spay or neuter done.

What's the benefit of spaying or neutering for my dog or cat?

The most obvious benefit is that you'll have a more contented companion animal who is no longer prone to the hormonal cycles associated with reproduction.  The medical benefits are equally impressive.  Neutering male cats or dogs can eliminate many medical problems experienced later in life, such as cancers and other diseases of the prostate and testicles (testicular cancer is a frequently diagnosed cancer in intact male dogs!).  Spaying female cats or dogs eliminates diseases of the uterus and ovaries (these are removed during the surgery), and significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer (which occurs frequently in older, unspayed females and all too often spreads to the lungs).  Finally, the hormonal instinct to stray in search of mating partners is eliminated once a dog or cat is spayed or neutered.  Having your male cat or dog neutered will greatly lessen the occurrence (and veterinary treatment cost) of injuries like bite wounds and their resultant infections, since he will no longer be driven to roam and fight.  (Of course, your cat or dog should not be running at large anyway, but that is a completely different subject to be addressed elsewhere soon on this web site! )
 

Send mail to cfaivre.tidewaterhumane@verizon.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2004 Tidewater Humane, Inc.
Last modified: 09/22/04