Spay And Neuter Awareness Month

Discussing The Importance Of Spaying/Neutering And The Holiday That Promotes It

February is widely known for being the month of love thanks to the holiday Valentine’s Day. However, February is also known for its month-long pet themed holiday called Spay And Neuter Awareness Month. This article will cover everything you need to know about this wonderful and educational holiday including ways you can get involved. 

The History Of Spay & Neutering

Spaying and neutering wasn’t available for dogs and cats until the 1930’s, following the Great Depression. But, it was expensive and few veterinarians were willing to do it. It wasn’t until 1969 that the first low-cost spay and neuter clinic opened in Los Angeles, California. There was a 4 month waiting list! Finally, in 1972, the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) began spaying and neutering all of the animals they adopted out. They still do so to this day. 

The Meaning Behind The Holiday

Like most pet themed holidays, there is a message to be heard. Animals don’t have a voice, so it’s up to animal lovers like us to give them one. The purpose of Spay And Neuter Awareness Month is to promote and educate people on the importance of having your pets spayed or neutered. It is not only beneficial to your pets’ health, but it helps control the problem of cat and dog overpopulation. 

The Sad Truth About Cat & Dog Overpopulation

According to the ASPCA, exactly 6.3 million companion animals enter animal shelters every year in the U.S. Of those 6.3 million, 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. But, animal shelters have limited space, staff and resources and can’t house these animals indefinitely. Sadly, 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized every year (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats). These numbers reflect more than just a tragedy, they reflect a problem. 

The Importance Of Spay & Neutering

Spay And Neuter Awareness Month aims to solve this problem of overpopulation. The outstanding number of animals entering shelters and being euthanized at shelters every year can be brought down. It all starts with spaying and neutering. Dogs and cats don’t understand the overpopulation crisis they face, but we do. That’s why it’s our responsibility to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. 

How You Can Get Involved

You can get involved with this fantastic educational pet themed holiday by spreading the word. Tell your friends, family, and neighbors about Spay And Neuter Awareness Month and the importance behind it. Share this article on social media to help remind and educate fellow pet lovers about the significance around spaying and neutering our pets. It only takes one person to make a big difference. That person could be you! 

Making A Difference

We understand that some people don’t agree with spaying and neutering as they feel it is unnatural or inhumane. We respect those people’s opinions. However, the aforementioned numbers about shelter animal overpopulation and euthanization don’t lie. There is no denying that both cats and dogs are currently facing a serious overpopulation crisis. Hundreds of thousands of cat and dog lives can be saved simply by having your pet spayed or neutered. 

Other Pet Themed Articles

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out our other pet themed and pet related articles on the blog section of our Top Dog Pet Sitting website. We post new and exciting articles every other week that are guaranteed to appeal to any pet lover’s heart. Click here to learn more about the wide variety of pet sitting and dog walking services we offer right here in the Fort Worth, Texas area.