Animal Birth Control

International Spay/Neuter Network, working with the local veterinarians, provides free or reduced cost spay/neuter service for stray dogs and cats as well as for those whose owners cannot afford veterinary care for their pets.

 Why Sterilize?

Sterilization is one of the greatest gifts you can provide your pet, your family, and your community.  These routine medical procedures not only help control pet overpopulation, but they also prevent medical and behavioural problems from developing, allowing your pet to lead a longer, healthier and happier life.

 Benefits of Spay/Neuter

Healthy Pets

• Spay/neuter improves your pet’s health, reducing or eliminating the risk of certain cancers and other diseases.
• Because sterilization often reduces the tendency to fight with other animals, it also protects your pet from fight-related injuries and from dangerous viruses spread through bite wounds.
• Sterilized animals wander less and stay closer to home.  As a result, they are less likely to be lost or hit by cars.
• In environments where food is scarce, a sterilized animal will maintain more body weight and have a better immune system than an animal not sterilized.

• Sterilization can result in some behaviour changes – for the better!  Sterilized pets are often less aggressive, more relaxed, and even more affectionate.
• Contrary to what some people fear, pets show no signs of “missing” mating or breeding.  Rather, they are more content without those raging hormones.

• Sterilization reduces or eliminates spraying (marking objects with a spray of urine), yowling/howling, escaping, and other troublesome behaviours.
• You won’t have to deal with the mess or the inconvenience of a pet in heat (or a male reacting to a female in heat).
• You’ll be saved the considerable amount of time, money, and hassle (not to mention property damage!) involved in raising litters of puppies or kittens.

• Sterilization has direct impact on the incidence of dog bites in a community.  The majority of dog bites (60-80 percent) are caused by intact male dogs.  Pregnant or nursing female dogs are more likely to bite as well.  Reducing your pet’s likelihood of biting or fighting may also help protect you from potential legal action.