Is Spaying /Neutering Really A Big Deal? 

Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put to death in U.S. shelters each year. According to The Humane Society of The United States, the number of homeless animals varies by state—in some states there are as many as 300,000 homeless animals euthanized annually in animal shelters. Thousands were euthanized last year in Indiana. These are not the offspring of homeless "street" animals—these are the puppies and kittens of cherished family pets and purebreds. Spaying/neutering is a relatively easy and inexpensive way to reduce pet overpopulation, ensuring every pet has a chance to live with a family that loves them.  In 2018, 1,100 cats and dogs were spayed or neutered through C.A.R.E.'s low cost spay/neuter clinics. In 2019, over 1,400 cats and dogs were spayed or neutered through C.A.R.E.'s low cost clinic!

After 2020 resources for C.A.R.E's low cost clinic were provided back to local municipalities. Scroll to the bottom to find information for local to you low cost clinics. Do you run one that is missing or needs the contact information updated? Please message us at ColumbusCARE@gmail.com

Why Should I Care?

Spaying or neutering a pet is an important topic for all of us. We all need to understand the impact of this decision. Large numbers of abandoned pets means a high cost to taxpayers and non-profit donors to gather, evaluate, provide treatment, and house or euthanize animals. Abandoned, unvaccinated animals also provide a health risk to our community.

What Can I Do?

Millions of pet deaths across the United States each year are a needless tragedy.  By spaying and neutering your pet, you can be an important part of the solution. Contact your veterinarian or a clinic below to make an appointment to spay or neuter your pet.  Be sure to let your family and friends know they should do the same. To further help stop pet overpopulation, consider giving an abandoned pet a forever home. Volunteer your time or donate funds to facilitate humane treatment of abandoned animals. Through collaboration, we can all make a difference!


Facts about S&N
  • Myth: My female cat or dog should have a litter before she is spayed.
  • Fact: The sooner you spay your female, the better her health will be in the future. As long as a puppy or kitten weighs 2 pounds and is 2 months old he or she can be spayed or neutered (at Pets ALIVE or Neuterscooter). Many veterinarians practice safe early sterilization.  The longer a female goes unspayed, the greater the likelihood of developing mammary tumors or uterine infections.
  • Myth: Spaying or neutering will alter my pet’s personality.
  • Fact: Regardless of the age when spayed or neutered, your pet will remain a caring, loving and protective companion. Any slight changes will be positive. Neutering will reduce the need to breed, which has a calming effect on many animals. Both neutered male canines and felines tend to stop roaming and fighting, and they also lose the desire to mark their territory with urine.
  • Myth: Companion animals will become fat and lazy if they are neutered.
  • Fact: Absolutely not! Your pet will not gain weight if you provide exercise and monitor food intake. Also, sterilized pets tend to live an average of two to three years longer than unsterilized pets.
  • Myth: Sterilization is a dangerous and painful surgery for my pet.
  • Fact: Spaying and neutering are the most common surgeries performed on animals. With a minimal amount of home care, your pet will resume normal behavior in a couple of days.


Benefits of EARLY SPAY/NEUTER
Dogs spayed before 1st heat cycle:
-risk of mammary tumors eliminated

Other benefits:
-decrease risk of prostate disease
-eliminate risk of ovarian, uterine and testicular cancers
-decrease fighting, marking and roaming behaviors
-faster recovery time for younger animals (less stress) 

Common Misconceptions about age to spay/neuter:
-Must have litter first
-Must have a heat cycle first
-Must be 6 months of age 

When do animals become sexually mature?         
-Cats can become pregnant as early as 5 months!         
-Dogs: Toy Breeds can become pregnant at 6 months!         
-Dogs: Large Breeds can become pregnant at 10-12 months! 

Research has found that most commonly feral cats are pregnant by 6 months of age! 

Early spay/neuter has been endorsed by:    
American Humane Association    
American Veterinary Association    
Humane Society of the United States     
AmericanAnimalHospital Association    
American Kennel Club    
Cat Fanciers Association 

Low Cost Clinics:

Pets Alive 
https://petsaliveindiana.org/spayneuter/

FACE Clinic
Low-cost Spay/Neuter Clinic

Northeast of downtown Indy
www.facespayneuter.org

Indy Feral
"A resource for caretakers and friends of stray & feral cats in Central Indiana"
(Trap-Neuter-Release Program)
www.indyferal.org

Spay / Neuter Assistance provided by Spay/Neuter League Inc.

This group based in Terre Haute, IN will provide a limited number of coupons each month to help defray the cost of spaying or neutering dogs and cats. These coupons are each worth $30 toward the spay or neuter of an animal.

If you need a coupon to be able to afford to spay or neuter a dog or cat, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope along with a short letter about the animal the coupon is for (something personal--male or female, puppy or kitten, etc.), and put your name, address and phone number on the bottom of the letter. Send a picture if you have one. They have several albums now and enjoy sharing pet pictures and success stories.

For more info and their mailing address please visit:
www.terrehautespayneuter.org.

Spay-Neuter Services of Indiana (SNSI)

Spay-Neuter Services of Indiana (SNSI) is dedicated to ending pet overpopulation by educating the public about the benefits of spaying and neutering pets.   Visit their website: www.spayneuterservices.org for more information!

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