20th Annual World Spay Day – Help Save Lives!

Every February, Humane Societies spotlight the benefits and importance of spaying and neutering your pet in Spay/Neuter Awareness Month.

February 25th, 2014 – 20th Annual World Spay Day – Help Save Lives!

Over 16,000 unwanted cats and dogs enter shelters each year in the US, and only half of them find homes. At least one is put down every 10 seconds (source: HSUS). Pet overpopulation is also a big problem in the city of Toronto.   Toronto shelters continue to take in thousands of homeless and abandoned cats and dogs each year.

February, 2014 marks the 20^th anniversary of  the  annual Spay/Neuter campaign and the Toronto Humane Society has reason to celebrate. Since the Society announced the construction of a high volume spay and neuter clinic less than two years ago, they  have successfully provided spay and neuter services for thousands of cats, dogs, puppies and kittens.

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

– Reduced risk of developing numerous health problems (including reproductive cancers and infections)

– Reduced behaviour problems such as territorial marking, destructiveness and aggression

– Fewer unwanted litters and pets in shelters and rescue organizations or homeless on the street.

“The average cat can produce up to 18 kittens per year.” says Barbara Steinhoff, Executive Director at the Toronto Humane Society.  “The best way we can help the hundreds of abandoned petss that turn up in our shelters every spring and summer is to prevent them by ensuring people spay and neuter their pets.”

With the help of a generous grant from PetSmart Charities, the Toronto Humane Society was able to offer $20 neuters for both dogs and cats for the entire month of January and is currently offering feline spays for $20 as part of their “Beat the Heat” campaign.  A total of 453 clients accessed their Spay/Neuter Services in January and at this point in mid-February, they have assisted an additional 220 clients looking to have their pet spayed or neutered in order to combat pet overpopulation.

“It’s so wonderful that we can now reach out to so many animals in the community that need our help in addition to all the great work we do for the animals in the shelter” said Barbara, director of The Toronto Humane Society.  It is the mandate of the Society that all cats and dogs adopted from the shelter are fully vaccinated and spayed or neutered before the adoption process.

Help keep the homeless population of Cats and Dogs down, Spay and Neuter your pet today and support your local Humane Society!