Did You Know?

 Take a look at these alarming statistics:

• 6-8 million dogs and cats enter US shelters each year. Only about 50% are adopted.
• It costs U.S taxpayers over 1 billion dollars a year to euthanize homeless animals.
• Approximately 30% of stray dogs and 2.5% of stray cats are reclaimed by their owners.
• An estimated 25% of dogs in shelters are purebred.
• For every person born, there are 15 dogs and 45 cats.
• Only 20% of pets live out their lives with their original owners.
• About 50% of shelter pets are surrendered by their owners.
• In 7 years, an unspayed female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies.
• In 7 years, an unspayed female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens.

And in your own county:

• It costs over $2,500 per day to operate Flagler Humane Society.
• In 2009, over 5,000 animals were brought to our shelter.  1,663 were adopted; 54 placed in foster care; 86 placed with rescue groups; and 456 returned to their owners.

Benefits of spaying and neutering:

• Reduces or eliminates the risk of several potential health problems including uterine cancer in females and testicular cancer in males.
• Makes pets less likely to bite people or fight with other animals.
• Makes pets less likely to roam, reducing their risk of injury, illness and abuse.
• The cost is a small price to pay for your pet’s health and prevention of unwanted animals.

You’ve probably heard many MYTHS about spaying/neutering…
Here are some FACTS:

• When children learn that some pets’ lives can be saved by preventing the births of others, they learn respect for life.
• Spaying/neutering does not change a pet’s basic personality.
• Overfeeding and lack of exercise make a pet fat. Responsible owners can maintain their pets at a healthy weight by managing their diet and activity level.
• Pets don’t share our concepts of gender identity or ego. They won’t suffer an emotional reaction from being neutered.
• Millions of animals have been safely spayed and neutered by vets across the country. The surgery is common and routine. (Even a pregnant animal can be spayed depending on their health status and stage of pregnancy). Your vet or shelter staff will be happy to discuss the procedure and any safety concerns with you.
• There is a low cost program available!

Please spay/neuter your pets and encourage others to do the same!