THE EDITOR, Sir:
JAMAICA FACES a serious pet overpopulation problem. Walk along a street in Kingston or in the rural areas and you will see dogs with sores, burns or open wounds, some dragging injured limbs, and females with teats almost touching the ground from nursing too many puppies.
As we all know, male dogs are not exempt from the over-
population problem. While one female will produce a fixed
number of puppies per year, one male dog can impregnate anywhere from three to five females in one day, sometimes more.
Owners of cats and dogs, both mixed breeds and purebreds, have a responsibility to prevent their pets from reproducing. Giving human birth control to dogs only makes these dogs susceptible
to uterine infections that require costly treatments.
SPAYING
Spaying involves removing the bitch's uterus under general anaesthetic. Spayed females will no longer produce babies. Female dogs will no longer come into
season, and owners will not have to deal with the inevitable spotting that occurs when a dog goes in heat. Spayed cats will give up their incessant crying and 'presenting' associated with their heat cycle. Male animals of both species will not congregate in the yard, and owners will not be serenaded at nights by cat and dog fights.
Male dogs that are neutered will lose their desire to wander around the neighbourhood and get into fights in their quest to find a female. Contrary to popular belief, spaying and neutering do not cause a cat or dog to get fat, nor stunt their growth. Dogs of both
genders will not lose their capacity to be good watchdogs, nor will they lose their aggressiveness.
We are, etc.,
THE JAMAICA SOCIETY
FOR THE PREVENTION
OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
