Change begins with YOU! Spay or neuter your pet! According to the Humane Society of the United States, 10,000 babies are born in the U.S. on any given day. On that same day, however, 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. Match those two statistics up, and you'll see that there will never be enough homes for all the animals born in this country unless we all take responsibility for spaying and neutering our pets. Every year shelters kill almost 5,000,000 cats, dogs, puppies & kittens. Most were beautiful, loving creatures that died simply because they did not have a home. Every puppy or kitten born costs a shelter animal its life. Save lives, spay-neuter & adopt for life! Spayed/neutered pets live longer, healthier lives. In the span of seven years, an unspayed cat and her offspring can produce 370,000 kittens! In the span of six years, an unspayed dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies! Spaying your female pet greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer and completely eliminates the threat of uterine and ovarian cancer. Neutering your male pet prevents testicular cancer and prostate problems, and helps him avoid serious health problems like hernias and peritoneal tumors. Males neutered at a young age are far less likely to develop dominance or aggression-related behavior problems, including possession and food guarding, territory marking (lifting his leg on everything in sight), aggression toward other dogs, and "humping" inappropriate objects. Neutering your male pet relieves him of the constant urge to go out in search of a female in heat. Ridding him of his urge to roam could very well save his life, and save you from a terrible broken heart. Spaying your dog or cat eliminates her heat cycle and the mess that goes with it. Females in heat often cry and howl incessantly develop nervous behavior and attract every unaltered male dog in the neighborhood to your yard! Altered animals are generally more docile and easier to train.

The state of Maine has a spay neuter program that will help pay for costs to fix a dog or cat for maine's low income pet owners. The program is called Help Fix Me and the contact number is 1-800-367-1317. This is a wonderful program that has helped reduce the overpopulation of unwanted pets. Shelters are urging Mainer's to take advantage of this opportunity. The cost of the voucher is only $10.00 per pet and a family can receive as many vouchers as needed. The $10.00 covers the cost of a rabies vaccine and a spay or neuter. The best time to call is the first of each month before 12:00 noon to assure the best possible chance of getting a voucher but call ahead for more information to see if you qualify. --Linda (more info)

For a limited time only we have some funding available to help with the cost to spay or neuter cats or kittens. These funds are for those who do not otherwise qualify for the Help Fix Me program and need the financial help. For more information call Precious Paws at 868-2828. Please do not apply for this funding if you can afford to have your pets altered.