• Spaying your pet before her first estrous cycle (that is, before she reaches sexual maturity) greatly reduces her chances of developing breast cancer and completely eliminates the threat of uterine and ovarian cancer and uterine infection, which are common occurrences in unaltered females.
• Neutering your male dog or cat prevents testicular tumors and may prevent prostate problems. Neutering also decreases the possibility of perianal tumors and hernias, which are commonly observed in older, unaltered dogs. Because neutered cats are less likely to roam, the threat of abscesses caused by bites and diseases transmitted by fighting are greatly reduced.

2. An altered dog or cat is a better pet for your family.

• Males neutered early in life are less aggressive toward other males and are not distracted by females in heat. Therefore, a neutered male will be less tempted to leave your property and cross that dangerous highway searching for a mate. Neutered males also are less likely to mark every one of your (or your neighbor's) expensive shrubs with his urine as well as inside the house.
• Spaying your female pet eliminates the problem of stray males camping in your yard and decreases her desire to roam and breed.

3. No family wants to cope with an unwanted pregnancy.

Spaying prevents your pet from giving birth to unwanted puppies or kittens.

4. Spaying results in a cleaner female dog and home.

Because female dogs pass bloody fluid for about ten days, twice a year, as a part of their estrous cycle, constant care must be taken to avoid carpet stains in homes with such animals. Spaying your dog eliminates this problem.

5. You are helping to alleviate the dog and cat overpopulation problem.

Each year, millions of unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized (killed) at shelters across the country. Although pet behavioral problems are the main reasons animals are given to shelters, many orphans are the result of accidental breeding by free-roaming, unaltered pets. The more pets spayed or neutered, the fewer dogs and cats will have to be destroyed. Delaware Humane Association does not euthanized; however, hundreds of dogs and cats are turned away each year because there is simply not enough room at the shelter to accommodate them.

HARD FACTS:

Why did Spot cross the road? He loved the ladies. Unfortunately, his latest girlfriend lived on the far side of the highway. Spot never made it to the other side. About 80% of dogs hit by vehicles each year are un-neutered males. Fixing your pet decreases the urge to wander and increases his chances of living a longer, healthier life.
Get your pet fixed.

Many cat lovers feel it is kinder for Kitty to be allowed outdoors. Statistics show that 90% of the millions of cats killed on our roads each year are unsterilized. Fertile cats tend to get into fights and wander more. So, please, if you must let Kitty go out, make sure he or she is fixed!

Some people think that neutering their pet may hurt them. Actually, neutering helps prevent some harmful medical problems for animals and decreases their chances of getting cancer. Neutering also deters high-risk behavior such as roaming, getting into fights, and mating. So, neutering your pet doesn't hurt - it helps.

 

Above information adapted from "Should You Spay/Neuter Your Pet?"
by Alpo Pet foods.