One of the kindest things you can do for your own pets and stray animals is to have them spayed or neutered. It can help them live longer, healthier lives, eliminate unwanted behaviors, and prevent animal overpopulation. Here are 6 excellent reasons to sponsor a spay/neuter surgery for stray animals.
Prevent the birth of thousands of unwanted pets who will suffer. Bogotá, Colombia currently has at least 350,000 stray cats and dogs roaming its streets. Without homes, vaccinations, or spay or neuter surgeries, these animals will suffer from hunger, diseases, injuries, infections, and possibly cruelty. They will also reproduce, creating thousands of unwanted animals.
Help pets and stray animals live longer. Studies show that spayed or neutered dogs can live 13.8%-26.3% longer, while spayed or neutered cats can live 39%-62% longer.
Prevent the development of certain diseases. Spaying female pets and stray animals can help to prevent serious diseases like uterine infections, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. In males, this reduces the risk of prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate gland) and testicular cancer. Altering your pet also helps to reduce breeding-related stress.
Improve unwanted pet behaviors. Spaying female cats and dogs prevents them from going into heat cycles during breeding season, which eliminates nuisance behaviors like excessive crying and inappropriate urinating. Neutering male animals can help to reduce aggression and unwanted mating behaviors.
Save time and money. If your female pet gives birth to a litter of kittens or puppies, the only humane options are to care for them yourself or find good homes for each of them. If you spay or neuter your pet, you’ll save time and money by preventing unwanted litters.
Help keep your pet safe. Altering your pet reduces their urge to roam your neighborhood looking for a mate, which also lowers the chance of them getting in a fight, getting lost, or getting injured in an accident. Your pet will be more likely to stay safe at home, and neighborhood strays will be less at risk as well.
In addition to spaying or neutering your own pets and strays, you can help prevent the overpopulation and suffering of unwanted animals by supporting local pet welfare organizations like La Huella Roja.
La Huella Roja works to prevent the abandonment, abuse, and overpopulation of cats and dogs in Bogotá, Ciudad Bolívar, and Soacha. We travel throughout these areas rescuing dogs to spay or neuter and rehome or return to their owners. Contact us to learn more about our goals and services, and consider sponsoring a spay/neuter surgery for a stray animal.
We have been able to help stray animals and low-income communities thanks to donations from generous and caring animal lovers like you. Please help us to continue to keep our dream alive. Donate today!
