Spay and Neuter Your Pets

The Mobile County Animal Shelter spays or neuters all animals before releasing them to the adopter. A discounted fee, available through veterinarian partners, is part of the adoption fee assessed. Spaying and neutering give the assurance that none of the pets adopted out through the shelter will contribute to the overpopulation of stray animals in our county.

There are many reasons why you should have your pet spayed or neutered:

• It is the best solution to uncontrolled breeding. A spayed or neutered pet will never add to the tens of thousands of surplus puppies and kittens born each day for which there are no homes available.      
• It is good for your pet's temperament. Neutered males are often better behaved, less likely to roam or urinate in the house.   
• It is convenient for you. Spayed female pets never have "heat" periods. Male dogs or cats do not congregate in your yard at certain times. Neutered male pets are less likely to roam or get into fights.
• Spaying and neutering help the health of your pets.  Spaying your female pet before her first estrous cycle reduces the incidence of mammary cancer by 99.5%. Spaying also prevents an often fatal disease of the uterus and prevents ovarian and uterine cancers.  Neutering your male pet eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
•  It permits your pet to live a more natural life.  Unsprayed and unneutered pets can be subject to almost constant frustration because their eating habits have been changed by thousands of years of domestication.  Pets that are spayed or neutered live a more natural existence, much like that of animals in the wild.

Contact your local veterinarian or spay/neuter clinic to have your pet spayed or neutered.

Please help stop the suffering of these animals and spay, neuter and confine your animals. Below is a list, provided by ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) of the top 10 reasons for altering your pet.

1. Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life.
   Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.
2. Neutering provides major health benefits for your male.
   Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer, if done before six months of age.
3. Your spayed female won't go into heat.
   While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during the breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they'll yowl and urinate more frequently-sometimes all over the house!
4. Your male dog won't want to roam away from home.
   An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate! That includes digging his way under the fence and making like Houdini to escape from the house. And once he's free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other males.
5. Your neutered male will have much better behaved.
   Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. On the other hand, unneutered dogs and cats may mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Many aggression problems can be avoided by early neutering.
6. Spaying or neutering will NOT make your pet fat.
   Don't use that old excuse! Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds-not neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor food intake.
7. It is highly cost-effective.
   The cost of your pet's spay/neuter surgery is a lot less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. It also beats the cost of treatment when your unneutered tom escapes and gets into fights with the neighborhood stray!
8. Spaying and neutering your pet is good for the community.
   Stray animals pose a real problem in many parts of the country. They can prey on wildlife, cause car accidents, damage the local fauna and frighten children. Spaying and neutering pack a powerful punch in reducing the number of animals on the streets.
9. Your pet doesn't need to have a litter for your children to learn about the miracle of birth.
   Letting your pet produce offspring you have no intention of keeping is not a good lesson for your children-especially when so many unwanted animals end up in shelters. There are tons of books and videos available to teach your children about birth in a more responsible way.
10. Spaying and neutering help fight pet overpopulation.
    Every year, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized or suffer as strays. These high numbers are the result of unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering.