THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
POLICY STATEMENT RE EARLY SPAY/NEUTER
Early-Age (Prepubertal) Spay/Neuter of Dogs and Cats
(Approved by the AVMA House of Delegates 1994; revised by the AVMA Executive Board April 1999, April 2004)
The AVMA supports the concept of early (prepubertal, 8 to 16 weeks of age) spay/neuter in dogs and cats in an effort to reduce the number of unwanted animals of these species. Just as for other veterinary medical and surgical procedures, veterinarians should use their best medical judgment in deciding at what age spay/neuter should be performed on individual animals.     (Quoted from the www.avma.org website)

WHY YOU SHOULD SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR DOG!!!

People come up with all kinds of reasons why they should NOT spay or neuter. The fact is, most of these "reasons" are flat - out wrong.

The myth that a dog will become fat or lazy as a consequence of sterilization ignores the fact that dogs ACTUALLY become fat and lazy because their owners give them too much food with too little exercise. Have some willpower for your dog. It's GOT to be easier to have willpower for your dog than it is for yourself (works that way for me, anyhow).

Sometimes people want to wait until their female dog goes into heat at least one time, or even has a litter before being spayed, thinking this is somehow more healthy for the dog. Check with your veterinarian about the right time to spay your pet, but the fact is that many veterinarians now spay puppies as young as eight weeks of age. Also, medical evidence indicates that female dogs spayed before their first heat are normally healthier in the long-term.

Have you ever heard someone say "I want my kids to experience the 'miracle of birth'"?  They probably won't actually see the birth, since many of these take place at night and after the dog seeks a secluded place.  But make sure the kids stick around. If the resulting litter of puppies don't all find homes, then your kids may be able to go down to the dog pound after they are dropped off there, to experience the "miracle of death" with the same puppies. We suggest, instead, that they experience the true miracle of saving an animal's life by adopting a shelter or rescue animal.

My dog is a purebred! It even has papers! Many people think they should not sterilize their pet if it is a purebred. Actually, you can pick up a purebred at any shelter. The American Humane Society estimates that at least one out of every four pets brought to animal shelters throughout the country are purebred animals. 

People assume that a neutered or spayed dog is unlikely to be as likely to protect its home and family. Actually genetics and environment will affect the dog's propensity to protect its home and family more than whether it is sterilized.

Sometimes, people worry that their male dog will feel "less of a man" after being neutered. They hesitate to "do that" to their male pet. There is even an industry built on this concept, marketing prosthetic testicles for neutered dogs! We assure you that your dog's personality will not change, and he won't suffer any angst over the concept of having been sterilized.

We all love our pets. Many of us want a puppy or kitten in the future that will be just like him or her. Some people delay spaying or neutering their pet because they hope to breed a litter including a puppy just like their dog. This is not a realistic possibility. Professional dog breeders can't guarantee they will achieve their exact goals in any given litter. Even cloning wouldn't necessarily accomplish this goal since the dog is also affected by environmental factors. Again, we all love our pets. Let our best tribute to a loved pet be that we always remember how unique he or she was, and that he or she cannot be replaced or duplicated.

One of the barriers to spaying and neutering is the perceived expense.  The cost of the surgery will depend on a number of factors -- the dog's gender, size, and age; what your veterinarian typically charges, and other factors. You can also contact your local SPCA about whether they have a low-cost spay / neuter clinic. The Norfolk SPCA, for example, does offer this service.  The bottom line, though, is that spaying is a lot cheaper than paying for veterinary treatment through your dog's pregnancy and then paying for initial basic healthcare for a number of puppies. Don't think you're off the hook if you have a male dog. Your neighbor with the pregnant dog WILL come knocking on your door! Also, a male dog can sire MANY more puppies than a female dog can produce, adding to the dog population explosion.

Finally, some people may point out that they will find a home for every puppy. They may take the time and effort to find a home for each puppy in the litter. This is a happy ending in the SHORT run.  There are only so many homes available in this country for dogs and puppies.  Every puppy you add to the dog population in the United States means that one puppy (maybe the one you brought into the world) or dog will die in a shelter for lack of a home. There is only so much room in the lifeboat. If you REALLY want a puppy, adopt one from a rescue or shelter.