Besides the problem of crimes in Valley Street, some residents have also noticed a sudden increase in the number of stray cats and dogs in the area. The streets are littered with cat food as someone is feeding these strays. There have also been rumors of stray dogs causing harm to joggers. Something needs to be done about these stray animals.
Spaying and neutering are important steps toward ending animal homelessness. They are simple surgical procedures that are done on the reproductive organs of female and male animals. Formerly the procedure was done on animals aged six months or older, but veterinarians now recognize that spaying or neutering animals before sexual maturity is risk-free and in fact is important in helping o end animal homelessness. The American Humane Association has endorsed early neutering prior to adoption as a ”feasible solution to decreasing pet overpopulation and the tragedy of resulting deaths.” The procedure eliminates the animal’s ability to reproduce and, in the long term, can prevent many difficulties, such as tumors or bacterial infections that can occur in older animals. Each animal purchased from a pet store or breeder potentially takes up a home for an animal that could have been adopted from a shelter. Please do your part by spaying and neutering your animal companions.
