Sterilization

Spaying and Neutering DogsWe can’t say it enough; spaying or neutering your dog as soon as your vet says he or she is old enough is so very, very important. Why, you ask?

8 Reasons To Spay or Neuter Your Dog

  1. Your dog will have a better chance in life. According to research, a male neutered dog lives 18% longer than a male dog that has not been neutered. A female spayed dog lives 23% longer.
  2. You will have less chance of your dog wanting to roam outside of your property, getting into fights with other dogs, car accidents, and other dangers on the street. The chances of fighting with other dogs in your garden will be much smaller as well.
  3. Neutered male dogs have smaller chances of getting testicular and prostate cancer.
  4. Un-spayed female dogs have a greater chance of developing Pyrometra (fatal uterine infection), uterine cancer, and cancer in the reproductive organs.
  5. Clinical evidence indicates that female dogs spayed before their first heat are typically healthier.
  6. Male un-neutered dogs are more prone to urine marking their territory. Even some female dogs present this behavior.
  7. Some dogs are more aggressive when not neutered. Aggressiveness can put you and your family’s life in risk. Some cases of dog aggression have led to people putting their dog down or dumping him or her in a shelter.
  8. Curaçao has approximately 90.000 strays and about 150.000 (human) inhabitants. This means that there are 0.6 dogs for every human on the island. Isn’t that too many? Theoretically, in six years, one un-spayed female dog and her un-spayed offspring can produce 67,000 dogs.

For some people, a reason to not spay or neuter their dogs are the costs that are involved with the procedure. We’ve more than once heard people say, “but spaying and neutering is expensive!” We agree that it’s too bad vets don’t do it for free, but you have to understand that they have their expenses too. Let us explain the following to you:

6 Reasons Why Spaying or Neutering Your Dog Will Save You Money

  1. Caring for a female pet with reproductive cancer or Pyometra can cost thousands of guilders. And no, it’s absolutely not acceptable to dump your sick dog on the streets if you can’t care for her anymore.
  2. An unaltered dog is more likely to roam outside of your garden and break things not belonging to you, so you might be held responsible for his or her acts. And yes, it is your  responsibility!
  3. You will end up replacing your couch after your sweet male dog enjoys urine marking it.
  4. If your dog roams outside of your garden, they might get into a car accident. You will spend a lot of money on all the vet bills you’ll have to pay. And what’s even worse, you might loose your dog because of a possible car accident.
  5. Think about the possible vet bills you’ll have to pay after your dog gets into a fight (stitches, antibiotics, etc.)
  6. The extra (temporary) costs for puppy food and vet costs when your female dog gets a litter of puppies. And NO, it’s not okay to dump a pregnant dog or a mother dog with pups on the street.

Still not convinced about Spaying and Neutering?

Seriously? Well, we can go on and on about all the different reasons why spaying or neutering your pet. If the above-mentioned facts don’t move you enough to bring your dog to the vet, then take the following into account:

  1. Having a fit and healthy looking dog. Why put your female dog through those extra fattening kilos and teabag teats? There’s no need for your female dog to get pups. CARF has enough dogs up for adoption if you want to expand your family. And we spay and neuter every dog in our care before they can be adopted. Plus, you can always pick one out of the thousands of strays still roaming the island.
  2. Imagine having to put your dog down, because he bit your neighbor while he was busy doing the humpty-dumpty with the female dog next door.
  3. A male dog will be just as good of a “watch dog”. Dogs will still act normally in all regards of activity and strength after being neutered.
  4. Many dogs have died roaming, crossing roads, getting stuck or injured in fences, jumping though windows or gotten lost trying to find a female to breed with.
  5. When neutered, it does not trouble a dog that he cannot mate. For dogs it’s just instinct, not fun. When a male dog is neutered, his body can then use its energy for other things besides mating. Your dog will be just as happy, if not happier, with a toy or a juicy bone to chew on, spending time with you, and going for walks or swimming.
  6. And even if you don’t care for any of the above (really?), the volunteers of CARF really have enough to deal with on a daily basis as it is. So at least neuter or spay your dog for us!

In short, please make an appointment at the vet and get it done with. If you don’t know where to go, or who to contact to make an appointment, we can highly recommend Claus Clinic, located at the Anasaweg in Dominguito. It will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make for your pet.