Other than the fact that, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized each year in animal shelters, there are many other reasons why to spay and neuter your pets!

1. Your pet will live a longer, happier life!

Animals that are not fixed have an increased interest to roam, many looking to find a mate. However, this leads them susceptible to fights with other animals, getting hit by a car, and other dangerous things. Altered pets also have less chance of developing certain cancers. Unspayed female cats and dogs have a far greater chance of developing pyrometra (a fatal uterine infection), uterine cancer and other cancers of the reproductive system. Medical evidence indicates that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier. Females are also less likely to form breast tumors when they are fixed. On top of a healthy female, owners will not have to deal with their lady going into heat. Unaltered males are at a higher risk for testicular and prostate cancer. Neutered male dogs live 18 percent longer than un-neutered male dogs and spayed female dogs live 23 percent longer than unspayed female dogs. The report goes on to add that in Mississippi, the lowest-ranking state for pet longevity, 44 percent of the dogs are not neutered or spayed.

It is a myth that fixed animals will become overweight. Overfeeding and lack of exercise causes animals to become overweight.

2. It can help with behavioral issues!

In dogs and cats, the want to mark or spray is a territorial thing. Often, spay and neuter can make this stop altogether. The younger you can get your pet fixed, the less likely the behavior is to become ingrained. Some vets will fix animals as young as 8 weeks old.

Once again, if you have a dog that's taking off often, this can curb this bad behavior. Females in heat are more likely to roam or attract unfixed males.

Fixing your pet can also help with aggression issues. Unfixed animals tend to want to be the dominant one in a a household or situation. Fixing your pet can reduce aggressive behaviors such as excessive barking and mounting.

3. It will save you money!

Treating a pet with cancer can easily add up to thousands of dollars. With reduced spay/neuter clinics, this can easily cost 10 times as much as a surgery. Additionally, unaltered pets can be more destructive or high-strung around other dogs. Serious fighting is more common between unaltered pets of the same gender and can incur high veterinary costs. Also, some counties require your pets to be sterilized. Renewing a county license may cost more for unaltered pets.

Finding a low cost program can be done by entering your county followed by "low cost spay/neuter" into the search bar. The Humane Society also provides a finder.

In Hillsborough County, here is the application to get your pet fixed and a rabies tag for $10!

A litter of cats or dogs is very pricey to care for. Even if everything goes as planned with babies and their mom, it is suggested that they stay with mom until 8 weeks of age. Babies should be eating hard food and cats should be using a litter box before they leave their mom. In the state of Florida, it is illegal to sell animals without a health certificate, which means every puppy or kitty needs to see a vet before selling or re-homing. Veterinary costs easily add up.

4. It alters your pets instincts to reproduce, not their personality or protective instincts!

A dog's protective instincts come more from genetics and environment, than sex hormones.

How can you prepare your pet for surgery?

Dogs and cats can be fixed as young as 8 weeks old. However, for dogs, some vets suggest 6-9 months of age. Before surgery, give your pet a bath if needed. After surgery, vets will suggest waiting a week to two weeks before giving the animal a bath. Pets should also not participate in vigorous activity until their suture site has healed. They should be provided a quiet place to relax and heal. To prevent licking the suture site, a cone or Elizabethan collar should be worn. If their is any question to whether your pet is healing correctly, call or visit your veterinarian.