Why you should have your pet desexed

Animal Welfare League Queensland says as well as helping to stop pet overpopulation, there are other benefits associated with desexing cats and dogs.

Health

• Reduced risk of getting cancer or other diseases of the reproductive organs. In males, these are testicular cancer and prostate cancer. These are cystic ovaries, ovarian tumours, acute uterine infections, breast cancer, and other diseases like mammary cancer and perianal tumours in females.
• Females can suffer from physical and nutritional exhaustion if continually breeding.
• Pets generally live longer and healthier lives.

Behavioural

• Pets are less prone to wander and fight and are less likely to get lost or injured.
• Reduces territorial behaviour such as spraying indoors.
• Less likely to suffer from anti-social behaviours. They become more affectionate and become better companions.
• Eliminates ‘heat’ cycles in female cats and their efforts to get outside searching for a mate.
• Eliminates male dogs’ urge to mount people’s legs.

Cost

• Reduces the community’s cost of caring for unwanted puppies and kittens in pounds and shelters.
• No additional food or vet bills for the offspring.
• No need to find homes for unwanted or unexpected litters of puppies or kittens.
• Save money from expensive surgeries from car accidents or fights, which are less likely to occur if your pet doesn’t roam around.
• Dumping puppies and kittens is an ethical cost, as well as being illegal and inhumane.
• The price of desexing is more affordable to those in financial need with the assistance of organisations such as the National Desexing Network (NDN).

What is the NDN?

An initiative of AWLQ, the National Desexing Network (NDN), is a nationwide referral system for discounted desexing made available to pet owners in financial need. The goal of the NDN is to end pet overpopulation by making this service more affordable to those who might not otherwise be in a position to desex their pets.

National Desexing Month, in July, encourages vet clinics, councils and animal welfare organisations to provide reduced desexing fees within their community to encourage pet owners to desex their pets before the breeding season. 

Click here for more information and to find your nearest participating vet.

Since being established in 2004, the NDN has launched a nationwide network of more than 160 participating veterinary clinics, which has helped to desex around 250,000 cats and dogs throughout Australia.

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