De-sexing your pets
AS an owner of a companion animal, either a dog or a cat, have you considered having your pet de-sexed?
If you are not a professional breeder we recommend that your pet is de-sexed to prevent unwanted litters. Having your pet de-sexed will improve their quality of life, and in most cases their life span.
De-sexed animals are cleaner, males are less likely to urinate marking their territory and they becomes less aggressive towards other animals, lessening the risk of injury.
De-sexing your pet prevents them from straying, both male and female when a female is in season.
Male dogs sometimes suffer from testicular cancer. Vets recommend that male dogs be de-sexed to reduce this risk.
Female de-sexing is a more complex operation to have done; therefore it is more expensive than males.
Too often we see the result of unwanted litters which wind up being dumped or abandoned at animal shelters.
The Dubbo City Animal Shelter has an average of 2,500 dogs and cats end up at the Shelter every year. This is a huge expense to the ratepayers, and is very upsetting for staff who have to deal with, these un-wanted dogs and cats. Many of these dogs and cats are rehomed, either from the Shelter, or via the RSPCA who take some of the dogs & cats and rehome through Petbarn in Dubbo. Unfortunately not all dogs & cats can be re-homed, and have to be euthanased, as a last resort. This awful situation can be reduced by de-sexing your pets.
The Companion Animals Welfare Scheme (CAWS) which is operated in conjunction with Dubbo Regional Council, the RSPCA and all Dubbo Veterinary Practices is a scheme run every year to enable the de-sexing of dogs or cats at a much reduced rate. The scheme is designed to assist dog and cat owners who are on a Pension, where the pet owner can have their dog de-sexed for $100, or cat for $50 – conditions apply.
For more information please contact Council’s Ranger Services on 68014000 or log onto www.dubbo.nsw.gov.au/petsmonth