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North Carolina had the second-highest healthy pet euthanasia in the country for 2024*, with approximately 30,000 healthy animals killed. The main reason for this statistic is overcrowding in shelters, primarily caused by pets that are not neutered or spayed.
One unspayed female cat can have 2 to 3 pregnancies each year, producing 4-6 kittens each. That could add up to 18 kittens a year. One unspayed medium-sized female dog can have 2 pregnancies a year, having 5 to 10 puppies each time, which can result in as many as 20 puppies in one year. Consider now that each of those puppies and kittens goes on to reproduce at the same rate. It is easy to see why the shelters get overcrowded. Winston-Salem has solutions on how you can help.
Why Should I Have My Pet Fixed?
I’m not going to let my dog or cat run around getting pregnant; they are inside animals, not feral, so why should I go through the expense of having them spayed or neutered?
One good reason is that you cannot control other animals. If you have an unspayed female pet, be prepared for it to have heat cycles. For a dog, it can last 21 days, twice a year, and for a cat, anywhere from 3 to 15 days, three or more times a year. During that time, they may cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted males who will hang around your property. Also, female dogs will pass bloody fluid, which can stain rugs…