In six years one unspayed female dog, her offspring and their puppies, if none get spayed or neutered, can produce up to 67,000 dogs. In the same six years one unspayed female cat, her kittens and their kittens can add up to 73,000 cats. There will never be enough good homes for all of these unwanted pets. Humane shelters will continue to euthanize millions of healthy cats and dogs each year for no reason other than homes cannot be found for them. The most effective solution to help solve the unwanted pet euthanasia dilemna is pet sterilization at the time of shelter adoption-including "early" spaying and neutering. The term early (or juvenile) neutering refers to the surgical altering of a pet's reproductive organs at 6 weeks of age or older.

By performing early neutering at the time of adoption, the new owner and the humane shelter have both done their part to ensure that a pet's offspring will not be back at that same shelter in 6 months! Many progressive shelters now endorse this policy. In 1991, after careful evaluation of scientific data, the American Humane Association became the first national organization to endorse early spaying and neutering of puppies and kittens. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association quickly followed suit and believe the practice to be a safe, effective tool to help end pet overpopulation.

With the advancement of medical knowledge over the past 10 years, informed veterinarians have changed their views on the appropriate age for pet spaying and neutering. Doctors at large and prestigious veterinary hospitals and humane shelters such as Boston's Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, and the Los Angeles SPCA, the Miami Humane Society, and the Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital of Denver have performed thousands of early spay/neuter surgeries with excellent results.

A. Adult pets need to be restricted from food for 8-12 hours prior to surgery, whereas puppies and kittens require only a 2 hour restriction. The anesthesia is by inhalant gas, and vital fuctions are monitored. Minimal fat and bleeding make the surgery easier and faster in the juvenile patient, and quicker healing shortens recovery period.

Q. Will Early Spay/Neutering affect the health and growth of our pet?

A. Extensive studies and research by Dr. Mark Bloomberg, DVM, DACVS and Chief of Staff at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine show that there are no difference in immune function, growth rates and final size, and urinary tract fuction and disease rates in juvenile versus adult spay/neutrer cases.

Q. Will Early Spay/Neutering affect the behavior of our pets?

A. Dr. Suzanne Hetts, Certified Animal Behaviorist, studied and reviewed research on early spay/neuter pets. No behavioral conditions develop as a result of early spay/neuter, and undesirable behaviors such as urine marking, aggression, and roaming are much less likely to develop with these patients.

Many humane shelters across the country now endorse spaying and neutering at the time of adoption. Euthanasia takes its toll on everyone. Consider the case for early spaying and neutering as the key part of the solution to end unnecessary destruction of healthy and adoptable cats and dogs.