Companion animals play a significant role in many households, providing companionship, love, and joy to their human carers. In Australia, there are an estimated 28.7 million companion animals and approximately 69% of households share their life with one. Despite how much we adore the furry, feathered, and scaly companions we live with, euthanasia rates remain extremely high. Every day, 264 cats and dogs are killed in pounds and shelters and helping to end unregulated breeding will reduce this appalling kill rate.

Animals end up in pounds and shelters for a number of reasons, from the current cost of living crisis including homelessness and rental stress to landlords who refuse pets, rising vet care costs and an inability to care for them, the death of the human carer to ‘accidental’ litters. The latter, is one that we can all work towards ending, with desexing.

What is National Desexing Month?

July is National Desexing Month, an initiative facilitated by the National Desexing Network (NDN) and Animal Welfare League QLD in 2005. Across Australia, participating vet practices and organisations are offering low-cost or free desexing options for those eligible. According to Dr Verrinder, “Cats and dogs desexed in July are less likely to be pregnant or in-season, which makes it a quicker and easier procedure for the animal as well, and less costly for owners.”

Why should we desex dogs and cats?

Desexing animals is important to stop unwanted pregnancies and reducing euthanasia rates in pounds and shelters. It is also beneficial to your companion animal’s health and behaviour, and can reduce financial stress on you and the community.

Health

Desexed companion animals have a reduced risk of cancers and other diseases of the reproductive organs, such as testicular cancer and prostate cancer in males, and cystic ovaries, ovarian tumours, acute uterine infections, and breast cancer in females. They also generally live longer and healthier lives!

Behavioural

Studies have found that desexed companion animals are less prone to wander, fight, and thus get lost or injured; have reduced territorial behaviour, such as spraying indoors; are less likely to suffer from antisocial behaviours and become more affectionate. In female cats, it also eliminates heat cycles that spark their urge to roam, and in male dogs it reduces their urge to mount.

Cost

While there is an upfront cost to desex your companion, it can save you money in the long term, on unexpected pregnancies, caring for litters, and possible surgeries due to injuries or illnesses. Council animal registration is also heavily discounted for desexed pets. It also reduces the cost to the community, by helping to reduce the number of companion animals that may otherwise end up in pounds and shelters.