ONE LITTER CAN

HSU is dedicated and driven to educate the public concerning the responsibility of spaying and neutering pets. We are pouring every dollar possible into our monthly Spay Neuter assistance program to facilitate affordable professional services for this cause. The first of every month we supply up to 40 vouchers available to the public of Uvalde , first come first serve. Call 830 591 9229 if you would like to participate in this discount service. Discount vouchers can be picked up at the HSU office on Garden Street, behind the HEB. Office hours are Tues thru Thursday, 10AM - 2 PM.

Facts on the following link are shocking statistics. Images are graphic and revealing.

From the Editorial column in Saturday's June 21, 2008 San Antonio Express-News

we read that Animal Care Services is euthanizing hundreds of unwanted animals each week.

In San Antonio, the dog days of summer have a meaning in addition to the hot, sultry days that arrive in June and July. an additional and disturbing meaning.

Mating among the city's overpopulation of stray - and poorly cared for - canines increases as winter comes to an end. Warm weather means more litters. And the cute puppies of spring become the unwanted, disposable creatures of summer.

It's a pattern that has repeated itself for three years. The overpopulation of stray and unwanted dogs explodes. and in June, Animal Care Services gets filled beyond capacity and is forced to close its doors to new animals.

People who allow their pets to roam freely. People who refuse to take advantage of numerous free or low-cost spay and neutering programs offered by the city and an alliance of private animal care agencies. People callous enough to cuddle the spring puppy and then dump him on the side of the road or at the doorstep of Animal Care Services a couple of months later.

Ignorance adds to the problems of Irresponsibility and callousness. Yes, Animal Care Services is striving to achieve a no-kill goal, one that spares all but the most aggressive and diseased animals from being euthanized. But that goal is still years away.

Because there are still too many unwanted pets and not enough responsible owners, Animal Care Services is putting down hundreds of animals each week. As the Express-News reported Wednesday, ACS took in 1,115 animals the week of June 8 and euthanized 724 of them.

Nevertheless, people arrive at Animal Care Services believing - or wanting to believe - that their disposable creature will be recycled to a new home. There's a two-out-of-three chance, however, that the animal will be put to death.

There's a better, more humane way. For more information about spay and neuter programs, visit the OwnUpSA.com Web site,

or call the Spay Neuter Assistance Program at 673-7722, Spay SA at 351-7729 or the Animal Defense League at 655-1481.

Many myths surround the issue of spaying or neutering a companion pet. If our community is going to accept responsibility and OwnUp, then it's time to separate fact from fiction.

Shouldn't my pet have one litter before I spay it?

Actually, veterinarians say there is no health benefit to delaying the procedure and younger pets heal much more quickly. Unless your pet is of a purebred bloodline and was purchased for breeding purposes, there is no medical reason for subjecting your pet to the physical stresses of reproducing.

My pet always stays inside. Why should I spay or neuter if it doesn't get out?

Although you may have every intention of keeping your pet off the streets, unaltered pets tend to seek outlets when they are in season or need to "mark" their territory.

Won't my pet become overweight if spayed or neutered?

As long as nutrition and exercise are balanced to suit your pet's lifestyle and environment, spaying or neutering will have no effect on their weight.

Will my pet still be the same after it is spayed or neutered?

This is one of those "yes" and "no" situations. No, your pets will not become less loving, loyal or energetic as a result of being spayed or neutered. Yes, your pets will be less likely to roam, demonstrate fewer sexually-motivated behaviors and be less susceptible to reproductive disease.

Are there any long-term benefits of spaying or neutering my pet?

Without the urges that naturally occur in any pet, your companion will be less likely to stray and be less territorial around guests and visiting pets. Additionally, there can be long-term health benefits for pets who have been spayed or neutered.

Spay/Neuter Advantages

Pet Overpopulation is the number one killer of dogs and cats in the United States. Each year an estimated ten million dogs, cats, puppies and kittens are put to death in our nation's animal shelters as a method of population control. The majority of these animals were young, healthy and adoptable. In addition, millions of abandoned pets and feral cats suffer on the street as they attempt to survive on their own.

The facts about CATS

A female cat can begin breeding
as young as 4 months old.
One unaltered female cat and her
off-spring can produce 420,000
cats in only 7 years.

The facts about DOGS

Nationally, 80% of the dogs hit by
cars are unaltered males searching
for mates.
One unaltered female dog and her
off-spring can produce 67,000
dogs in only 6 years.
As many as 25% of dogs entering
shelters each year are purebreds.

http://www.vospca.org/archive/spayday.html

Spay & Neuter FAQs

What exactly is spay or neuter surgery?
Technically, neutering refers to the removal of the reproductive organs on both male and female companion animals. However, “neutering” is the term commonly used to refer to sterilization of a male by the surgical removal of the testicles. “Spay” is the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus of a female companion animal. Additional terms that are sometimes used to describe neuter or spay include “alter” and “sterilize”.

Is the spay or neuter operation painful?
Spay or neuter surgery is performed under general anesthesia and, therefore, your pet does not feel pain during the procedure. Animals may experience some discomfort after surgery. However, the discomfort does not typically last long and is controllable with medication.

What are some of the advantages of having my pet spayed or neutered?
There are both behavioral and health benefits to neutering male dogs and cats. Male dogs tend to wander less and are also less likely to mark territory or display aggression towards other dogs. Neutered male dogs have less prostrate and testicular disease than unaltered males. Male cats tend to roam less and do less territorial fighting. Female dogs and cats have less mammary cancer and uterine disease then unaltered females. Spay our neuter is also an important way to control the pet population.

At what age should my pet be spayed or neutered?
Traditionally veterinarians have recommended spaying/neutering around 6 months of age, however prepubertal (8 to 12 weeks of age) spaying/neutering has gained increasing support among veterinarians. Most veterinarians recommend that females be spayed before their first estrus or “heat” period to maximize the procedure’s cancer-sparing benefits. Because all pets are individuals, talk to your veterinarian about the best time to neuter your particular pet.

How expensive is spaying or neutering?
Professional fees for spaying and neutering are based on the difficulty of the procedure involved and factors such as your pet’s size, age, sex, and overall health status. If the fee seems high, remember that surgical neutering is permanent. It is a life-time investment for the health and well being of your pet that can solve a number of problems for your pet, you, and communities already burdened with too many unwanted dogs and cats.

There are national programs as well as many community programs that offer low cost spay/neuter services to residents who meet certain income requirements.

Should the female have a heat period or litter before being spayed?
There are no benefits to allowing a companion animal to have a litter or go through a heat period. In fact, female cats and dogs that have never experienced a heat have a decreased chance of getting mammary cancer and do not have reproductive tract disease problems.

Will spay or neutering change my pet’s disposition?
Yes, for the better. In addition to the overall health benefits, most spayed and neutered pets tend to be gentler and more affectionate, have a decreased tendency to roam, and are less aggressive to other animals.

Will spaying or neutering make my pet fat?
Removing the ovaries or testicles does affect metabolism. For this reason, spayed or neutered pets will tend to put on weight more easily if permitted to overeat. The important phrase here is “if permitted to overeat.” Monitoring the quantity of food given and providing regular play and exercise will help keep your pet in shape.

Are there alternatives to surgical spaying or neutering?
The one sure way to keep your pet from mating, is to have it surgically spayed or neutered. Confinement is the only alternative method to prevent mating. This becomes extremely difficult when one realizes that pets are capable of mating so much of the time.
Males can mate any time they are not confined after they reach sexual maturity. Females may become pregnant only during their estrus or “heat” periods. These cycles usually occur twice a year in dogs and at least 2 or 3 times a year in cats. Many cats come into “heat” as often as once every 2 or 3 weeks during certain times of the year.

If my pet is a purebred, should I breed it at least once?
Breeding is a complicated business. Before you breed you need to ask yourself: “Does the animal fit the breed standard?” “Does the animal have a stable temperament?” “Are the animal and the prospective mate healthy and free of any discernable genetic diseases?” “Do I have the time and financial resources it takes to breed and care for the offspring?” A good breeder is careful about the animals they breed, takes the process very seriously, and ensures that all offspring are placed into good, responsible homes.

Can’t I make extra money selling puppies or kittens?
Breeding dogs and cats is generally not lucrative; more often, breeders barely break even or money is lost during the process. Responsible breeding is expensive because it involves stud fees, registration fees, extra food, housing costs, veterinary care, and advertising. The time involved is considerable as well. Mothers and puppies must be cared for and responsible owners for the offspring must be identified.

Isn’t this a good way for children to learn about the miracle of birth?
Children may learn about the birthing process in far simpler and less costly ways. Plenty of books, videotapes, CDs, and DVDs are available that portray the miracle of birth in a wide range of animals, providing a far greater appreciation of the process than can be gained through watching a single dog or cat deliver a single litter.

Will spaying and neutering eliminate the problem of unwanted and homeless pets?
Every concerned citizen and responsible pet owner should do everything possible to make sure that their pet does not contribute to the problem of unwanted offspring. Spaying and neutering your pets is a significant way to help reduce the number of unwanted and dogs and cats.

Dealing with overpopulation of pets usually falls to your local animal care and control workers. This is not a pleasant task. Your personal step at preventing litters can help to stop the alarming rate of euthanasia in our country.

Unowned and stray pets are a big part of the problem as they continue to produce litters. Feral cats can be altered via a program call Trap Neuter and Return. Get more information about TNR. http://www.1888pets911.org/spayneuter/faq/