If you care about pets, have yours sterilized
Hawaiian Humane Society
Everyone who cares for a pet is a member of a special fraternity that cares about the fate of animals in our community. If you are a member of this group, you have the power to reduce pet overpopulation by having your pets sterilized, a procedure that promotes good health and prolongs the life of your beloved pet. By having your pet spayed or neutered, you are showing your kindness toward animals.
Hawaiian Humane Society
The Hawaiian Humane Society is one of many animal welfare organizations that participate in activities each February to focus attention on pet population-control efforts. This year's Spay Day is Thursday at the Hawaiian Humane Society. Between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., the society will make appointments for 500 free surgeries for dogs and cats. Call any of 10 special Spay Day phone numbers on Thursday or visit the humane society at 2700 Wai'alae Ave. It's easy and free.
Sterilizing your pet means fewer unwanted animals will be abandoned to become problems for the entire community.
Two unaltered cats and their offspring can become 420,000 cats in seven years. Two unaltered dogs and their descendants can number 67,000 in just six years. The animals are doing what comes naturally, but pet overpopulation is the unfortunate result. Reducing pet overpopulation through sterilization is the most humane course of action.
Sterilization surgery is a simple procedure, and recovery is quick. More than 8,600 surgeries were performed at the Hawaiian Humane Society last year.
The top 10 reasons to sterilize your pet:
1) Sterilized pets live longer, happier lives.
2) Sterilization prevents several cancer and infections, including prostate cancer in males and mammary cancer and ovarian cysts in females.
3) Pets are safer. After sterilization, male dogs and cats will not roam in an attempt to breed, risking traffic injury and fights with other animals.
4) Messy female heats are eliminated, and spayed females do not attract males, who can spray and act aggressive.
5) Sterilized dogs are less likely to bite.
6) Many aggression and territory-marking problems can be solved by early neutering.
7) Watch dogs and guard dogs are easier to train after neutering because their hormones are stabilized and they can focus.
8) Pet personalities will not be altered; the resulting weight gain and personality change are myths.
9) Sterilized pets are better behaved and focus more attention on their families.
10) The best reason: Sterilized animals don't produce unplanned offspring.
Spay day
For a free surgery appointment:
• Visit the Hawaiian Humane Society, 2700 Wai'alae Ave., Honolulu, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday.
• Call one of the special Spay Day numbers, made available by Nextel, to make an appointment: 216-FREE (3733); 216-SPAY (7729), 216-IFIX (4349); 216-3647 (DOGS), 216-PETS (7387), or 386-4415 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. (Please do not call the humane society's main number.) If you can't get through, try one of these lines equipped with voicemail: 368-4417, -4418, -4419, -4420. If you get a busy signal, leave a message for a call back.
There is a limit of two free surgeries per household. Dogs must be at least 8 weeks old; cats must weigh at least two pounds. Surgeries will be scheduled for March and April.
For additional information, see www.hawaiianhumane.org.
