If your dog was not previously licensed you will need to get an Unaltered Dog Permit. The cost is $50. This provision of the ordinance will become effective April 5, 2007. We strongly recommend that you spay or neuter your dog if you are not a breeder, or involved in other activities that would dissuade you from doing so. If you are in your own yard with your puppy or dog the animals should either be confined in a secure enclosure or accompanied by the owner and under his/her direct control.

There are no predictable behavior changes in the female dog or cat after ovariohysterectomy. Male dogs, however, often become less dominant and aggressive with other dogs and roam less after neutering. Male cats generally do less territorial fighting and roam less, which dramatically increases their life span. There are many solid health reasons for spaying and neutering our pets. Early spaying prevents mammary cancer and a uterine disease called pyometra.

We recommend that the pet be at least 5 months of age. It is not necessary or recommended to allow females to experience an estrus cycle. Spaying and neutering at the age of 5 months greatly reduces the chances of any medical or behavioral problems such as mammary tumors, testicular tumors, inappropriate urination and aggression.

We recommend that all mixed breed pets be spayed. Purebred animals that are not being used for breeding or for show should also be spayed. Spaying a female dog or cat involves the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries. The primary benefit to spaying your pet is to eliminate their ability to have puppies or kittens.

We recommend having your pet spayed/neutered at 6 months of age. By 6 months all adult teeth should be in and the baby teeth should have fallen out. Sometimes, the baby teeth do not fall out and are retained behind the adult teeth. This can cause a lot of dental problems in the future, so while they are already anesthetized we like to pull the retained deciduous teeth.

your dog. Spayed and neutered dogs are usually healthier and get along better with other dogs. top of page

Any dog over the age of 7 months must be spayed or neutered. The main reason is that intact dogs are at greater risk of injury from other dogs. In a social environment, intact males are often viewed as threats by other dominant dogs. Intact females, whether in heat or not, may be picked on by other female dogs and male dogs will view her as an intact female and treat her as such.

Yes, they may bleed a little more so it may take a little longer; extra risk and expense is usually minimal. It is recommended that they be spayed before their first heat.

Females, regardless of cat or dog, are spayed while males, again regardless of cat or dog, are neutered.

Spaying offers several advantages. The female's heat periods result in about 2-3 weeks of vaginal bleeding. This can be quite annoying if your dog is kept indoors. Male dogs are attracted from blocks away and, in fact, seem to come out of the woodwork. They seem to go over, around, and through many doors or fences. Your dog will have a heat period about every six months. Spaying removes the uterus and the ovaries, and heat periods no longer occur.

There has been much controversy over the age of spaying (female) and neutering (male). Generally, as soon as the vaccination series is completed approximately at 4 months of age it is recommended to spay or neuter. It is always recommended to spay/neuter your pet before sexual maturity as this decreases the incidence of mammary cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer and many other diseases. Dr.

We recommend against spaying a dog that is in heat but it can be done. During this time the ovaries and uterus are swollen and filled with blood, increasing the risk of hemorrhage. We prefer to wait until about 4 weeks after your dog goes out of heat to perform surgery. We can spay cats that are in heat. What is a neuter and what are the benefits? Neutering is the surgical removal of both testicles.

We recommend sterilization as early as possible, usually between 4-6 months of age is the perfect time. Early sterilization will lessen your pets chances of developing cancer as well as preventing undesirable behaviors such as marking and wandering.

Yes. See CARE's Please Spay/Neuter Your Pet page for more low cost spay/neuter resources. Also, spaying a pregnant dog or cat does abort the puppies or kittens.

Unless you get your dog from a breeder, that has been breeding and showing their dogs, we recommend spaying your dog. If you got your dog from a pet store, please alter your dog. No reputable breeder, in their right mind, would send their puppies to a pet store. Dog's from a pet store are from puppy mills, no matter what the salesman there told you. These dogs are often loaded with health problems, that generally do not come up until later on in life, way past the "one year warranty.

Yes, although intact dogs are not permitted be part of the canine playgroups for safety. The only exception is if your female dog is pregnant. We do not accept bitches in any stage of pregnancy. Unborn puppies are particularly sensitive to any diseases, toxic agents or stresses affecting their mother, especially during the first twenty days of gestation.

No. There are no medical benefits associated with an animal have a litter or puppies/kittens prior to being spayed. In fact there is an increase risk of developing mammary tumors with each heat cycle. What is the normal gestation length for dogs/cats? The gestation period (length of pregnancy) on average is 63 days.

We really would like to see homelessness end. We would like not to be doing what we do. If more people would spay and neuter, it would go a long way towards stopping pet overpopulation, making animals happier and healthier, and saving taxpayers money. We tirelessly preach the importance of spaying and neutering. If we were to allow one of our pets to be adopted into a home where there lived an unaltered pet, to us that would not be practicing what we preach.

NEARR does not require your dogs to be spayed or neutered. However, NEARR strongly recommends that you spay or neuter your pet as it decreases the number of homeless animals born each year and can prevent certain types of cancer.