Pedrito Is Becoming A Man Hoy

After grave misbehavior over the weekend, we made an emergency appointment with the dog vet and our little bro is getting neutered.

Spay and Neuter

Twink!

Spay And Neuter

To Spay, Or Not To Spay--That Is The Question

There are millions of wonderful cats and dogs euthanized each year in the U.S. because there aren't enough homes . . .

Spay and Neuter Benefits

• Overpopulation control
• Longer and healthier life for your pet
• Significantly reduced risk of mammary tumors and ovarian and/or uterine and testicular cancer
• Elimination of heat cycles (elimination of pet's discomfort and owner's cleaning in cases of females)
• Reduced/eliminated risk of spraying and marking (males)
• Decreased aggression
• Reduction of roaming tendencies that may lead to loss of pet and/or  injuries caused by dog fights
• Eradication of sexually transmitted diseases (such as FIV)

Spay and Neuter Cons

• The statistically minor risk of the routine medical procedure
• Potential slight weight gain

When to Spay and Neuter

Most vets in the U.S. recommend spaying and neutering for cats and dogs alike before they reach sexual maturity, between 5 and 7 months. It is safer to opt for the 5 month deadline however because sometimes pets go into early sexual maturity, and there can be complications, such as: higher risk with the spay surgery for an animal in heat and potential pregnancy in your own home (say if you own a brother/sister) or worse, your pet runs off driven by the reproductive instinct.

Early Spay and Neuter

Early age altering refers to spays and neuters done between the ages of 8 and 16 weeks instead of the conventional 5-7 months. While the American Veterinary Medical Association has endorsed the concept of early age altering since 1993, the controversy surrounding this issue has not been resolved. While it has been practiced for over a quarter of a century in North America, the main purpose for early spay and neuter is that it is a more reliable means of preventing shelter pets from reproducing after adoption--it is used as an even more effective means for reproductive control. Based on studies, about 50% of pets adopted out of shelters, despite careful screening of adoptive homes, prepayment or reduced alteration contracts, and economic incentives, are not altered. I'm biting my lip here. As a responsible owner I have always kept my word and often gotten frustrated by a shelter's refusal to allow me to rescue an animal, but personal feelings aside, they are right.


Do your part to end pet overpopulation. Please spay and neuter.

Kitten Pictures | Spay and Neuter

Remember the newborn kittens? They are five months old already. We knew that they would get spayed and neutered even before they were born. My family and I are advocates. M was a wreck. She hates taking her precious pets in to get surgery, but as much as she doesn't sleep the night before, she knows it's a good thing. As a matter of fact, originally we kept the momma cat because the person who wanted her refused to spay her. Of course, after the first few weeks of her living with us, she became part of the family and M couldn't part with her any longer. It all worked out for the best. The cat family has formed a close bond. They were even taken for their surgery together. They were also picked up together the following day.

They are still a rather united cat tribe. They function like a group. Sure, the mom occasionally hisses and even growls at her kittens, but she is also very protective and affectionate with them most of the time. She has completely accepted all of us dogs, from the largest to the naughtiest. Project cats and dogs united, copleted. We're an integrated home. Seven cats and four dogs, who would have thought! The outdoor cat enclosure helps a lot, with any crowding issues, plus all the cats absolutely love it out there. They take in the sun's rays, roll on their backs, trim their claws on actual tree trunks, and enjoy their fresh supply of cat grass that M has planted for them. Sometimes, little Pedro, the chihuahua puppy joins them out there, and that's when the laid back kittens jump up to higher levels where they cannot be reached; that's an accurate statement about most, but not all cats. Charlie, the tuxedo kitten remains Pedro's best friend. The two are inseparable and play well together. We can't wait until the kittens are over ten months old and get introduced to catnip. We wonder about the catnip effects and how the kittens will react to it.

Lil' Mama weighs 7lbs, the tuxedo kitten (Charlie, M's favorite) is 8lbs, the pointed kitten (Gigi Smudge) 7.4lbs, and the runt, the calico kitten named Puddles, weighs 6lbs.

Kitten pictures:

 Even after her spay surgery, Lil' Mama remains quite intense.

 We lucked out. While we (the dogs) don't like the deer antlers, Charlie is really fond of them.

 Puddles still spends her days lounging about looking pretty. She only gets upset when someone takes away her mirror.

The Smudge! A rather flighty almost feral kitten nobody likes to mess with.

Be kind, considerate, and responsible: Spay and neuter your pets!

Twinkie