Four stray sato puppies rescued in Piñones, PR, photo © Douglas Hodgkins

To find a low cost Spay/Neuter clinic in Puerto Rico  click here.

Spaying or Neutering your pet will -

• Help to reduce animal overpopulation. There are estimated to be more the 100,000 stray dogs on the island of Puerto Rico, and between 6 - 8 million homeless pets entering shelters in the US as a whole.

• Increase your pets chances for a long, happy and healthy life. For females, the chances of uterine infections are eliminated, and chances for mammary cancer are reduced. In males, the chances of  developing testicular cancer are eliminated.

• Reduce your pets urge to roam. Intact dogs will roam in search of a mate and are more likely to get hurt and are at risk of contracting diseases.

• Eliminate the need for you to have to try to find homes for unwanted litters of puppies or kittens, and you will not contribute to the high number of animals already surrendered to local animal shelters.

Common Myths and Facts

"My pet will get lazy or their personality will change."

Neutering or spaying may reduce your pet's overall activity level, especially their natural tendency to wander which can actually reduce the chances of your pet being lost, hit by a car or contracting a disease. Providing exercise and feeding proper proportions will keep your pet in good condition.  After being neutered, your pet will be less aggressive toward other animals and urine marking, which is often done by dogs and cats to mark their territory, lessens or completely stops after pets are neutered.

"We love our dog and want another dog just like him or her."

For mixed breeds, it is virtually impossible to have puppies that are exactly like one of the parents, and even breeding two purebred animals rarely results in offspring that are exactly like one of the parents.

"We can sell puppies or kittens and make money."

Breeding a dog and raising a litter properly is expensive - there are stud fees, vaccinations and other health care costs, and feeding a quality food to ensure good health of the mother and offspring, it may cost more than you will make from the profits of the sale of the litter.  Litters that do not conform to breed standards, do not have papers or are in poor health will not sell for large profits.

"I am concerned about my pet undergoing anesthesia and/or surgery."

There is always a risk with any surgery or anesthesia. however the procedures and medications used by veterinarians today are very safe. Many veterinarians use monitors during surgery to ensure that their patients are doing well under anesthesia. The medical benefits of having your pet spayed or neutered far outweigh the slight risks involved with spay or neuter procedures.