Responsible pet ownership includes desexing your pet before it matures as this will prevent unwanted pregnancies, which in turn contribute to the large number of surrendered or abandoned pets across Australia.

Desexing your pet will also potentially result in a longer life expectancy by preventing cancers of the reproductive tract and breast tissue, plus will help to avoid some behavioural issues.

Animal Welfare League recommends all kittens, cats, puppies and dogs should be desexed and all animals adopted from Animal Welfare League are desexed prior to rehoming.

Busting the myths

Unfortunately many people don’t realise the great advantages associated with desexing and instead focus on the many myths!

The most common desexing myths include:

• Desexing causes pets to get fat
• Animals should have one litter first
• Male dogs will lose their ‘manhood’
• Desexing causes pets to become lazy

The facts:

• The only way a pet can gain weight is from overeating and lack of exercise
• There is no evidence to suggest that animals should have one litter first. The chance of breast cancer in female dogs actually dramatically increases if she is allowed to have one season or one litter 
• Male dogs do not lose their manhood! In fact it’s incredibly frustrating for an entire dog to be sitting in the yard with no access to female dogs
• Pets only get lazy if they are not given enough exercise! Desexed dogs enjoy walks, runs in leash-free parks and playing with balls or toys equally as much as undesexed dogs!

If you have a cat or dog that is not desexed, please call your local vet or the AWL Veterinary Clinic on 8777 3333.