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CARING: Northland Veterinarian Group nurses Shelly Linehan (left) and Debi Hodge put a endotrachial tube into a sedated kitten to help it breath during its operation.

EXCUSES for not desexing

I can't afford it
Desexing is often not as expensive as people think. Most vet clinics will be happy to set up a pre payment plan for you. A small weekly payment can quickly add up to the cost of surgery at which time we can desex your pet.

The SPCA will take care of any offspring my pet has
The SPCA's job is to educate people in responsible ownership and investigate cases of cruelty and neglect. They take in unwanted animals as a community service but there are never enough homes for them all!

I don't have to bother desexing my cat or dog as I give the kittens/puppies away for free!
It is responsible ownership to desex your pet. In Whangarei hundreds of kittens and puppies born every year that end up homeless, neglected or euthanased. You can't ensure the animals you give away are going to be well looked after, and they may go on to produce dozens more unwanted animals of their own.

Children should see kittens/puppies being born
It is more important to educate children in responsible ownership.

Nature intended for animals to have babies
Survival of the fittest controls populations in the wild. Animals die from fights, disease and starvation in the wild every day.

I have a male dog so desexing doesn't matter; I won't get the hassle of unwanted puppies
It is vital a male dog is neutered as an entire male dog is more likely to try to find females that are on heat. These dogs are more likely to be hit by cars, become involved in fights, be picked up by the pound and poisoned.

My dog/cat doesn't roam
The drive to mate means animals do roam if an opportunity arises. What does you cat get up to when you can't see it i.e. at night?

I want my animal to sow his seeds before he is neutered
There are more health risks and no benefits of animals being allowed to mate before desexing.

Isn't it better for my animal to have a litter of kittens/puppies before it is spayed?
There is no health benefit at all of an animal having a litter of kittens or puppies.