Fehérkereszt Állatvédő Liga

In a perfect world, every puppy or kitten would be welcomed into a loving and happy home with a kind, affectionate owner.

Unfortunately, reality isn’t like that. Every year many tens of thousands of unwanted puppies and kittens as well as adult dogs and cats are abandoned to die.

Dog passion knows no bounds. No amount of caution is enough if a dog is in heat and wants to mate. Of course, all male dogs in the area will do anything they can to approach her. „Accidents” can happen as a result.

If this „accident” happens and results in a litter of puppies or kittens, the owner, that is, YOU, are responsible. Until you find a home for the whole litter — which can be as many as nine! — you have to take care of them, pay for their food and veterinary care. This isn’t cheap.

Many homeless pregnant dogs or puppies aren’t so lucky as to find temporary home in a shelter where they have a chance to find a permanent, loving owner. Countless cats and dogs face a heartbreakingly short and painful life on the street.

Female dogs, if not spayed, generally go into heat twice a year for a whole month. This means a month of disorder and discomfort as well as the need to close the female in heat off from male dogs.

Even if you close the female dog off in the most remote and protected part of the yard, male dogs in the area still won’t be able to keep away. This causes an uncomfortable situation for everyone.

Spaying is now a routine operation. Your pet will be anesthetized and within an hour can leave the clinic. After ten days, her stitches can be taken out and she can be free to visit with her friends again. By the way, it’s not true that a dog can’t be spayed until she's had her first puppies. It’s OK to do the operation sooner.

The spayed or neutered cat or dog will no longer suffer from the discomfort of going into heat or undergo the risk of pregnancy. As a matter of fact, spaying or neutering a cat or dog considerably reduces the chance of many illnesses — including cancer. In this way, spaying or neutering a dog or cat eliminates much discomfort both for you and for your pet.

Don’t worry about your pet gaining weight after the operation. Feed your pet a good diet and make sure he/she gets regular exercise. It’s not unusual for a cat or dog to eat less after being sterilized.

As we already mentioned, unsterilized male dogs behave completely differently when there’s a female in heat in the area. Despite your efforts to restrain them, they'll escape at the first opportunity and the adventure often ends in tragedy, especially if they have to cross heavily trafficked streets.

This kind of „rendezvous” results in not just unwanted puppies or kittens but also with the love-crazed animal causing or suffering traffic accidents. Of course, the responsibility for this tragedy ultimately lies with the dog’s owner. Often it also happens that the dogs wind up in fights, get lost, and ultimately land in the dog pound, perhaps never to be found by their owner.

Even if you lock a dog up while he’s in love, he still causes problems. He barks, howls, marks his territory with his urine, and generally behaves in an aggressive, destructive way. Dogs in this state have been known to jump through closed windows.

There’s a simple solution. Neutering a male dog or cat is a routine operation, just like spaying a female. Neutered dogs are much less inclined to aggressive or destructive behavior. With good nutrition and exercise, the dog will be himself again right after the operation.

The cost of neutering isn’t at all high. It’s certainly cheaper than a litter of unwanted puppies or kittens or injuries sustained from a fight.

Sterilization is the best solution.