A Brief History of the Spay/Neuter Movement
To put things in perspective, just one unaltered female dog and her offspring can potentially produce over 67,000 puppies in 6 years and one female cat and her litters can result in 420,000 kittens in 7 years!!!
EARLY EFFORTS
In the 1970’s an awareness develops about the staggering number, 17 million annually, of dogs and cats being euthanized in shelters. Humane Societies and veterinarians begin to promote the concept that responsible pet owners need to spay and neuter their animals in order to help reduce the overwhelming overpopulation. Several “mixed messages” are conveyed, including the old adage that every female should have just one litter and puppies and kittens must be at least 6 months old before being “fixed”. While these are long since proven to be incorrect, at least the initial effort helps to bring down the euthanasia rate somewhat, but to a still unacceptable level, of 12 million animals being killed in shelters annually.
THE TURNING POINT
In the 1990’s a new surgery technique is introduced to safely alter puppies and kittens as young as 8 weeks, providing they weigh at least 2 pounds. While traditional vets are reluctant to changing their ways, the promotion and increasing use of this “pediatric procedure” is now beginning to significantly reduce the numbers of unwanted animals being put down. An organization in Asheville, NC called Humane Alliance pioneers the construction of a non-profit clinic, devoted solely to Spay/ Neuter and offering services to the public for very low or no cost. They have tremendous response and the concept is proved to be a resounding success
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS
In 2000, Humane Alliance begins opening S/N clinics across the country. They now have over 60 freestanding clinics, as well as a number of mobile clinics to service more remote areas. The model for this type facility is being duplicated by other private and public organizations throughout most major cities, making affordable spay/neuter services readily available. Now, shelters and rescue groups also have a resource to alter puppies and kittens BEFORE adoption, thereby insuring they do not perpetuate the problem. The significant impact is the euthanasia rates have steadily declined from 4 million down to 1.5 million in 2005. The success of these clinics is based on their ability to provide services in High Quantity, at High Quality and a very Low Cost.
DART’S IMPACT
DART promotes an aggressive Spay/Neuter Assistance Program offering free transportation to and from a local clinic, as well as supplementing or covering the surgery cost for those who could otherwise not afford to have this simple, yet life saving procedure. DART reaches out to pet owners across Lookout and Sand Mountains and the adjacent valleys, and has already helped spay and neuter over 2000 animals, thereby preventing thousands more unwanted puppies and kittens from being added to the population.
Without a doubt, the key to breaking the vicious cycle of animal over-population and stop the needless killing is to educate the public and have affordable and accessible spay/neuter programs readily available.
