Litter control at a discount
It may be winter now, but I promise you that spring is just around the corner and the heat is on the way.
Not just the external temperature, either. Spring turns up the heat on the sex drives of unaltered dogs and cats.
An unspayed female cat can produce, oh, I don’t know, about ten bazillion kittens. That’s an exaggeration, but only slightly. And to the folks who take in unwanted kittens at the pounds and shelters of our area, that number may sound low-balled.
You can help your girly kitty avoid littering and save a chunk of change, too, by taking advantage of Mountain View Humane’s “Beat the Heat” spay program during the month of February. Sponsored by PetSmart Charities, the program will fix your cat for just $20, a $38 saving.
The program is limited to the first 280 cats whose pet guardians mention “Beat the Heat” when their appointment is made, and at least 40 of those spots are already taken, so if you want to take advatange, you should act soon.
Kittens as young as eight weeks old can be fixed, thus preventing them from making more kittens before their first birthday. And that old saying that it’s better to let a cat go through one heat or even one litter before getting her fixed is a MYTH, folks.
What does the American Veterinary Medical Association have to say? It endorses spaying and neutering and backs up that endorsement with research that shows that the procedure can improve behavioral problems and even reduce the risk of certain cancers and infections.
Mountain View Humane has two convenient locations: 53 W. Main St. in Christiansburg and 5363 Peters Creek Road in Roanoke. Call 855-447-7647 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
January 31, 2013 - 6:00 AM
My shelter puppy was neutered at 3 – 4 months old. I think the early neutering has made him a better dog. No dominance issues with other dogs or the cats.
I am a FIRM believer in sterilization of pets. There is so much research on the many benefits of altering cats and dogs that I can’t think of a decent argument against it- even if you are a breeder. Not every animal is worth reproducing. With so many unwanted animals euthanized, or worse yet-thrown out to fend for themselves, this situation has become critical. The Mountain View program is wonderful and everyone who can, should take advantage of it. Your local Humane Societies also have affordable programs for these procedures. Call and make arrangements to get this done.
Both of my furry feline masters came from the SPCA so both are fixed and chipped, but over the years, any I got that weren’t, that was the first thing I did. My last precious kitty came to me from someone who couldn’t keep her and she was not altered. I made an appointment for her, but before that, she went into heat. I don’t let my cats outside, and I can’t imagine anybody wanting a cat in heat in the house. That was NO fun!
It is the responsible thing to do, and this is a great thing Mountain View is doing.