Informative Speech on Have Your Pet Spayed or Neutered

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Informative Speech on Have Your Pet Spayed or Neutered

Esteemed ladies and gentlemen! I am delighted to join you today in what will be reminisced in history as the utmost demonstration of support for the destiny, dignity, and welfare of animals. The uncountable number of pets locked away in cages, and others left to aimlessly roam in our streets have overwhelmed our communities. The despicable acts against the pets have demonstrated how we have reneged on our God-given dominion over all creations. I urge the need to change the situation through reproduction control aimed at depopulating animals and stopping their preventable suffering. Our domestic pets reproduce at a fast rate if they are not altered.

A grown female dog gives birth to 67,000 puppies in 6 years, while a non-spayed cat can reproduce 24 kittens within a year (Cosgrove). Within a short duration, the population of the animals can overgrow beyond the limit. Nearly 87% of dogs in low-income communities have not been spayed or neutered (Cosgrove). While volunteering at an established veterinary clinic, I cared for multiple animals diagnosed with varied behavioral and health conditions. The disorders were avoidable if the animals had undergone neutering and spaying. In addition, I experienced and acknowledged the challenge of pet overpopulation while working at the local animal rescue center. Consequently, I seek to persuade responsible pet owners to sterilize their animals.

 At this moment, I want to explain the advantages and risks of sterilization and possible locations where specialized procedures can be conducted. Evidently, there are many reasons why we should neuter or spay our pets. These procedures help to avoid overpopulation. In the US, millions of homeless or unwanted cats and dogs, inclusive of kittens and puppies, are being euthanized yearly. Almost 6.5 million animals are admitted to animal shelters annually, where 70% of cats are euthanized due to lack of space (Cosgrove). Nevertheless, the positive aspect is that responsible pet owners have the opportunity to reverse the trend by sterilizing their cats and dogs to stop the birth of unwanted kittens and puppies. Curtailing the animals’ mating instinct can directly reduce the high prevalence of health and behavioral problems (AVMA). While working at the veterinary clinic, I was involved in an abortion procedure since the animal rescue center could not find a household or individual to adopt the pregnant cat. Such a saddening experience reinforces the significance of spaying or neutering the pets.

Moreover, most people kill, throw away, or take their intact pets to animal shelters due to unwanted behavioral issues such as the use of urine to mark territory, roaming away from home, excessive barking, mounting activity, aggression that can lead to fatal bites and wounds, as well as in-heat conduct such as rolling and vocalizing or yowling (AVMA). These adverse behaviors can be managed through spaying and neutering. Equally, surgical sterilization can prevent the onset of chronic health conditions such as breast cancer, uterine infection or pyometra, testicular cancer, and enlarged prostate gland or benign prostatic hyperplasia (AVMA; Bushby 210). In addition, the procedures do not impact the intelligence and hunting, working, playing, and learning abilities of the pets. Spaying and neutering can help pet owners reduce the excessive medical costs of treating the disorders and providing care to the animals (Da Costa et al. 5). Similarly, a study conducted by the University of Georgia revealed that spayed and neutered animals had a longer lifespan (Hoffman et al. 1). The research established that the average age of death of an altered dog was 9.4 years, while an intact one was 7.9 years (Hoffman et al. 3). The findings were also confirmed in another research done by Banfield Pet Hospitals (2020), which established that the life expectancy of neutered male and spayed female cats was 62% and 23% longer than the unaltered ones (BPH). Alternatively, spayed female and neutered male dogs lived 23% and 18% longer than their intact counterparts (BPH). The increased urge to roam among unaltered pets contributes to their shorter lifespan since they are exposed to fighting, accidents, and trauma that lead to infections, injuries, or fatalities. Lastly, several states or jurisdictions in the US have enacted ordinances that mandate the spaying or neutering of pets to manage their uncontrolled overpopulation.

Now that I have discussed the benefits of spaying and neutering pets, I would also focus on explaining how the medical services can be accessed with ease. The majority of veterinary hospitals or clinics offer high-quality spay and neuter surgeries at affordable costs. The facilities are focused on ending preventable euthanasia of healthy, treatable pets (AVMA). Moreover, some hospitals can provide ambulatory or transport services for the animals. All pre- and post-operative interventions will be done to ensure successful surgical procedures, minimize complications, and ensure a quick recovery. Notably, the pet owner will be required to sign the paperwork, including providing written consent. The veterinary officers provide regular follow-ups during and after hospitalization to guarantee a safe healing process. The safe and evidence-based surgical sterilization procedures to remove the pets’ reproductive organs include ovariohysterectomy, orchiectomy, vasectomy, ovariectomy, and hysterectomy (AVMA). Nonetheless, some of the risks of spaying and neutering include an increased risk of health problems such as cancer, urinary incontinence, and orthopedic conditions (Hart et al. 3). The pet owner must consult with the veterinary to determine the risk and benefits of surgical or non-surgical sterilization (White et al. 210). Additionally, it is important to adhere to age-related recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of spaying and neutering.

At this instant, I wish to emphasize the significance of spaying and neutering pets as a way of improving the welfare of the animals. There is a need to increase awareness to ensure households, individuals, and rescue organizations adopt the evidence-based practice. I encourage all responsible pet owners to contact and schedule an appointment with a veterinary to have their intact or unaltered animal get neutered or spayed. The intervention will safeguard the pets against diseases, manage unwanted behaviors, and limit their overpopulation.