DID YOU KNOW? PUPPIES AND KITTENS CAN GET PREGNANT AS EARLY AS FOUR MONTHS OLD!
Prevent accidental litters: Have puppies and kittens under six months old fixed for $20 in June!
TOLEDO, Ohio, May 9, 2013 – Did you know that kittens can go into heat and get pregnant as early as four months old and puppies at five months old? If not fixed, puppies and kittens can get pregnant and have a litter of their own just two months later. And it’s these accidental litters that end up in animal shelters with no place to call home and at risk for euthanasia.
To reduce these accidental births, Humane Ohio, with funding provided by PetSmart Charities®, is introducing the “Did You Know?” campaign, featuring a special $20 spay or neuter surgery for puppies and kittens under six months of age during the month of June.
While some pet parents may worry that their pet is too young for this procedure, spaying and neutering is safe and easy for kittens and puppies as young as eight weeks old according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. In fact, Humane Ohio has performed thousands of pediatric spay/neuter surgeries since January 2006 Pediatric spay/neuter is less stressful on the animal than waiting until they are older, and the surgery itself is faster because their reproductive parts are smaller which means less time under anesthesia and smaller incisions from surgery. Younger animals wake up faster from surgery and are ready to eat and play in no time. The hardest part is keeping them quiet.
“Many pet parents put off the procedure and wait until the puppy or kitten is older,” says Humane Ohio Marketing Director Jill Borkowski. “But by then, it can be too late. By then, a litter of puppies or kittens can be born.”
This special rate is even less than the organization’s normal low-cost price and is available to all residents of Ohio and Michigan.
Pet parents who wish to take advantage of this offer must mention the “Did You Know?” promotion when they call to schedule their appointment, and availability is limited.
Thanks to the PetSmart Charities grant, Humane Ohio will spay/neuter 200 puppies/kittens for $20 during June. Please visit www.humaneohio.org or call 419-266-5607 for more information or to schedule an appointment. (Humane Ohio is located at 3131 Tremainsville, Toledo OH 43613.)
About Humane Ohio
Humane Ohio operates a non-profit, low-cost spay/neuter clinic and pet food bank that fixed over 11,600 animals in 2012 and gave out more than 67,000 pounds of pet food. Their spay/neuter clinic serves all Ohio and Michigan pet parents, people caring for free-roaming cats, animal shelters and rescue groups. The non-profit organization can offer low-cost spay/neuter prices because private donations and grants help subsidize the true, higher cost of spay/neuter procedures. Humane Ohio believes that all animals should receive the highest quality veterinary care possible even if the services rendered are at a reduced cost. Their clinic uses state of the art instruments and equipment, all spay/neuter surgeries are performed by qualified, licensed veterinarians (DVMs) and every patient receives a brief physical exam and quality pain medication.
About PetSmart Charities
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a non-profit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. More than 400,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through our adoption program in all PetSmart stores and our signature adoption events. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding spay/neuter programs that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, legally independent from PetSmart, Inc.
