Myth Busting

MYTH: It’s better to have one litter before spaying a female pet.

FACT: Not true, as medical evidence indicates just the opposite. Females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier throughout life, encouraging veterinarians to now sterilize dogs and cats as young as eight weeks of age.

MYTH: I shouldn’t have to neuter my male because he is not having the litters.

FACT: This is most prevalent myth yet the most ridiculous. Immaculate conception doesn’t explain canine and feline pregnancies. If your pet accidentally impregnates a female, you are equally responsible for the unplanned litter.

MYTH: I want my dog to be protective.

FACT: It is a dog’s natural instinct to protect home and family, their “pack.” A dog’s personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones. If your pet was a good watchdog before surgery, it will be a good watchdog after the surgery.

MYTH: I don’t want my male pet to feel less of a male or unhappy.

FACT: This myth is a human concept applied to another species. Dogs are dogs and cats are cats. Unlike humans, they do not mate for enjoyment, the strong mating instinct  is solely to ensure the survival of their species. Neutering will not change a pet’s basic personality. He doesn’t suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.  This is proven by the neutering of working dogs who, in fact, work better, with the same intensity and drive after neutering but are not distracted by the former dominant mating instinct.

MYTH: It’s expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered.

FACT: Please call 280.0738.  SPCA Maui can provide you with a very low cost procedure for your pet.  The procedure will likely save you from much higher expenses caused by an unexpected litter or illness that could have been prevented by spay/neuter.

MYTH: But my pet is a purebred.

FACT: So is at least one out of every four pets entering animal shelters around the country. The likelihood of your purebred accidentally parenting a mixed breed litter is as great as a mixed breed dog. There are just too many dogs and cats—mixed breed and purebred with about half of them entering shelters and put to death.

MYTH: I want my children to experience the miracle of birth.

FACT: More often than not, animals go off by themselves to give birth, usually in the middle of the night. There are hundreds of books and videos available to teach your children about birth in an easier and more responsible way. Letting your pet produce offspring you have no intention of keeping is not a good lesson for your children.

MYTH: My pet will get fat and lazy.

FACT: The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their owners feed them too much and don’t give them enough exercise.  Pets will generally slow down a bit with age but owners forget to realize this and continue to feed the same amount to their pet who is exercising  less.

MYTH: I’ll find good homes for all the puppies and kittens.

FACT: You may find homes for your pet’s puppies and kittens. But you cannot control the decisions other people make with theirs. Your pet’s puppies and kittens, or their puppies or kittens, could end up in Maui’s animal shelter where 81% of them die annually.

PLEASE – consider donating to SPCA MAUI today. You can help stop the suffering, and killing, with your donation right now. Click Here