By Tanya M. Ursual

From The Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) L.A.W.S., P.O. Box 156, Smiths Falls, ON, K7A 4T1:

It would be difficult to find anyone who has not heard or read the literature on the importance of spaying and neutering your pet. Yet, the reality is that thousands of unwanted animals find their way to shelters each year. This is the direct result of the puppies and kittens created by intact animals and their subsequent effect on the overpopulation of companion pets. The truth is that there are far more animals seeking adoption, then homes available. For your information, during the period of June 1st, 2002 to May 31st, 2005, LAWS spent $132,820.70 on spay/neuter. If that number hasn’t shocked you, here is another reminder of the reasons why you should spay/neuter your pet:

Did you know that one female dog and her offspring can create 67 000 dogs in six years? One female cat and her offspring can produce 420 000 cats in seven years. Each year many animals are abandoned and hurt because of overpopulation. It is the responsibility of each one of us to control the population of future animals by making sure we spay or neuter now and an animal can be spayed or neutered as early as six months of age. Call your nearest vet to discuss your options or to find out more about the process and cost involved.