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Save Lives! Stop Pet Overpopulation.
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 As part of our special spay and neuter campaign, ARF is still giving out certificates to have your cat or dog spayed or neutered FREE OF CHARGE at one of the veterinarians on the Dutch side of Sint Maarten.
Spay and Neutering: THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO!
Each year many perfectly healthy animals are euthanized or end up as suffering strays, just because they are abandoned and do not have a home.
This suffering by and killing of healthy animals is cruel, unnecessary and can be prevented.
Spay- and neuter programs in combination with adoption, will eventually decrease the overpopulation and the large number of stray- and abandoned animals.
Spaying and neutering is the most important thing we can do to help dogs and cats. You can actually help prevent the suffering and death of many animals on the island.
Almost everybody loves puppies and kittens, but some people lose interest when the animals grow up. As a result many healthy cats and dogs are euthanized each year, given away to irresponsible people or end up suffering as strays on the streets or at the dump.
On St. Maarten many stray animals suffer daily on the streets and are often attacked by other animals, by cruel people, hit by cars or they die a painful dead as a result of starvation, neglect and diseases. Also many puppies and kittens die by being dumped or murdered, simply because people have no use for them. All this unnecessary killing and suffering can be prevented!
Spaying a female (removing the ovaries and uterus) or neutering a male (removing the testicles) are safe veterinary procedures performed under general anesthesia. The procedure can be done as early as (3 or 4 or 5) months of age, depending on the weight of the animal.
Unfortunately, there exist many “myths” around spaying and neutering of animals, which we would like to clear up.
Benefits for You, if you spay/neuter your animals, you DO NOT HAVE TO:
• worry about what to do with unwanted puppies or kittens;
• deal with bloody discharge from your female pet “heat-period”;
• worry about annoying males that are attracted to the females’scent;
• confine your female pet while in heat or watch her cry out in frustration;
• be concerned about tomcats “spraying” the house;
• be embarrassed by the male dogs “mounting” furniture, children or your legs;
• witness intense aggressions in your pet, spaying and neutering reduces aggression towards other animals.
Benefits for your pet:
• it reduces a pet’s desire to roam in search of a mate, which will decrease the problems of free-roaming animals (car accidents, animal fights, attacks & injuries, stolen animals etc.)
• eliminates all problems and risks involved in pregnancy & birth;
• eliminates the risk of uterine cancer and mammory tumors
• reduces the risk of prostate problems and testicular tumors
• it lets your pet relax and enjoy being a part of your family
• Having a male pet neutered will not take away its guard dog instinct! He will still be as protective of his territory and familiy as before the surgery!
• Also a spayed /neutered animal is better behaved: neutered male cats and dogs will focus their attention on their families and will have less desire to roam around. Neutered males will be less dominant and they will no longer mark their territory by strong smelling urine. Spayed females will no longer attrack male dogs from great distances or undergo personality changes due to the “heat cycle”.
• Spaying / neutering will not make your pet fat and lazy! Too much food and lack of exercise is the main cause of obesity in pets.
• Spaying / neutering is not bad or painful! Spaying / neutering is a safe procedure.
• A spayed / neutered animal will actually live a longer and healthier life. The animals will be protected of all kinds of diseases, such as testicle cancer, prostrate disease, hernias, breast cancer, ovary cancer etc.
Contact a local veterinarian today to have your pet spayed or neutered. It is the responsible thing to do! For a listing of island veternarians, please click here.
For further advise or help, please do not hesitate to contact ARF members.
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Spay & Neuter 
