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• Don't make the mistake of thinking that producing "just one litter" or waiting until after the first heat is good for your female pet. There is NO medical evidence to support that belief. 

• There are proven health benefits for puppies

• Don't get caught by surprise....that female stray you've been feeding is almost sure to either be pregnant, or get pregnant soon! Spaying is cheaper and easier than dealing with an unwanted litter. 

• Don't forget the males! Early neuter will reduce the urge to roam and mark territory, help prevent certain types of cancers and disease, improve behavior, and help reduce pet overpopulation. 

• One female cat, and her offspring, assuming two litters per year with two surviving females per litter, will produce 420,000 cats within several years!

• One un-spayed female dog and her offspring will produce 7,181 puppies in fewer than five years!

• Cats begin coming into heat as early as four to six months of age!

• Cats' heat cycles last from one to three weeks and can recur every two to three weeks. 

• Female dogs usually come into heat beginning at six months of age, last from one to three weeks and recur at least twice yearly!

• Both dogs and cats, during their heat cycles, can attract males from great distances, causing a nuisance and potentially dangerous situations. 

• Spaying before the first heat cycle nearly eliminates the occurrence of some cancers, in both cats and dogs. 

• Spaying and neutering at a young age is very likely to increase the lifespan of your pet. 

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Dogwood Animal Shelter strives to provide spays and neuters to all dogs and cats, regardless of their owner's financial situation. Our spay/neuter assistance fund has helped pay for hundreds of spay/neuter surgeries for pets and strays who would otherwise have remained unaltered. This fund is maintained solely by donations and fundraisers. 

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If you'd like to contribute to this very effective project, please send your tax deductible donation to:

Dogwood Animal Shelter

Spay/Neuter Fund

1075 Runabout Drive

Osage Beach, MO 65065

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