Animal Guardians of Brevard
“For the Love of Animals”
A 501(c)3 charitable organization
Presents
Animal Overpopulation
The Case for
Responsible Pet Guardianship
and the Role of
Spaying and Neutering
MISSION STATEMENT
To promote responsible, lifetime pet
guardianship through education,
counseling, and accessible, affordable
sterilization. To increase awareness of
companion animal overpopulation and
promote or participate in activities that will
improve the well-being of homeless,
neglected, abandoned, and unwanted
animals.
www.animalguardiansofbrevard.org
Who We Are
•Founded in 2002
•Sterilized over 5000 cats and
dogs
•Facilitated thousands of
adoptions and transfers
•Assisted local shelter programs,
and provided donations,
improvements, and more
•2006 Jefferson Award for Public
Service
Did You Know???
• Every year around 20,000 cats and dogs
enter Brevard County shelters and rescues.
• More than half are euthanized (killed)
• Most are healthy and well-tempered, or
treatable
• Overwhelmed shelters lack space, funds
• “No-Kill” is a myth
Did You Know???
•Over 25 million cats and dogs are born in the
U.S. each year, 7 for every 1 human
•8-12 million enter shelters
•50-70% are euthanized in the country and
locally
Euthanasia is the Number One Cause
of Death for Cats and Dogs in the U.S.
Four to Eight
MILLION
cats and dogs are
euthanized every
year in the U.S.
What message
does that give to
our children about
the value of life?
Did You Know???
• Millions are abandoned or born as strays
• Many live miserably and die prematurely
(accidents, starvation, disease, and cruelty)
• The costs of trying to manage animal
overpopulation may be 2 billion dollars per
year nationwide
How can there be SO MANY
homeless dogs and cats???
The Solution is
Responsible Pet
Guardianship
The main causes of animal
overpopulation are people who do not
spay and neuter pets, or people who
casually “get rid” of them
There are two parts to the solution for pet
overpopulation
– Preventing unwanted births (Don’t “litter”)
– Keeping pets for life
What do “Spay” and “Neuter” Really Mean?
• “Spaying” is the removal of the ovaries and
uterus (ovariohysterectomy - OVH)
• “Neutering” is removal of the testicles
(orchiectomy, castration)
• Other terms include “sterilization,” “fixing,” and
“altering”
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Commonly performed operations
Well-tolerated by cats and dogs
Performed under general anesthesia
Most pets go home the same day
Animals have no psychological
drive to reproduce and
sterilization is:
Good for the pet,
Good for the
guardian, and
Good for the
community.
Spaying and Neutering is
good for your Pet because it:
• Eliminates or reduces infections and
cancers of the reproductive system
• Reduces the drive and consequences of
roaming, running away, and fighting
• Decreases the chance of injury, poisoning,
traffic accidents, and cruelty
Pets live longer, healthier lives
Spaying and Neutering is good
for the Guardian because it:
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Makes pets better companions
Makes pets less temperamental
Eliminates the heat cycle
Diminishes spraying and territorial /
sexual aggression
Sterilization is a one-time expense with
benefits that far outweigh the costs
Spaying and Neutering is good
for the Community by:
• Decreasing animal shelter overcrowding
• Decreasing euthanasia rates
• Diminishing public health threats
(dog bites, attacks, disease, etc.)
• Decreasing traffic hazards
(animals and bodies on roads and highways)
• Preventing “nuisances”
(stray and homeless animals frighten and anger people
who do not understand their needs and misery)
Decreasing homeless
animals also helps our
community because:
• Brevard County’s budget for Animal
Services has averaged about $3.5 Million
annually
• Most expenditures are directly or indirectly
related to controlling unwanted animals
• The average cost to shelter an animal is
over $100 (regardless of outcome)
Myths and Facts about
Spaying and Neutering
• Myth:
An animal should be at least 6
months old before sterilization
• Fact:
Early age sterilization (2 months /
2 lbs) is encouraged and endorsed by the
American Veterinary Medical Association
• Myth:
A female should go through heat
or have a litter before being spayed
• Fact:
NO medical evidence supports this
and waiting may increase risk
•Myth:
Males don't need to be neutered
because they don't have the babies
•Fact:
Females AND males make babies and
a single male can impregnate several females
•Myth:
Sterilization will
make a pet fat and lazy
•Fact:
Overfeeding and
lack of exercise cause obesity
•Myth:
Homes can be found for the
kittens/puppies
•Fact:
This takes homes from desperate
shelter animals who may never get homes
• Myth:
Neutering will make a dog less
"masculine” or protective
• Fact:
Less aggressive, yes. Less
"masculine," no.
• Myth:
Spaying and neutering is too
expensive
• Fact:
There are low cost
clinics and financial assistance
Myth:
Children should
see the miracle of birth
• Fact:
They should
prevent the tragedy of
death by looking at a movie or book
What About “Community
Cats?”
AKA
Ferals and Strays
•These cats live outdoors
•Most feral cats are killed in shelters because
they are not tame and adoptable
•The ONLY method of population control that
works is TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return)
•Populations in managed (TNR) colonies
remain stable or even
decline with attrition
Euthanasia
is meant to
end suffering,
not to control
the population
of homeless
animals
Local Low – Cost Spay and
Neuter Clinics
•Florida Aid to Animals - Melbourne
321-242-9826
•Brevard Aid to Animals - Melbourne
321-421-6277
•SPCA of North Brevard - Titusville
321-269-0536
•Central Brevard Humane Society
Cocoa
321-636-3343
•Brevard Community Animal Hosp
Melbourne
321-724-1141
Financial Aid Resources
•Animal Guardians of Brevard
321-759-2999
www.animalguardiansofbrevard.org
• Brevard County Animal Services
321-255-4346
www.brevardanimalservices.com
Keeping Pets for Life
• Pets are not
disposable
• Pet adoption is
a lifetime commitment
Choose the right pet
• Age: Youngsters vs.
Adults
• Size and Breed
• Your Time and Space
• Training is recommended
• Know the lifetime costs
• Bonding is crucial
• Always adopt from
shelters or rescue groups
• Up to 25% of the animals
in shelters are purebred
• Mixed-breeds may be
healthier
• Buying a pet
adds to overpopulation
encourages breeders
takes homes from
shelter pets at risk
Pets featured in
this presentation
are or were
recently available locally for
adoption and can
be seen at
www.Petfinder.com
Proper Pet Care
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Spay and neuter every pet before puberty
Regular vet care for cats and dogs
Keep pets safe (pet-proof the home)
Keep pets indoors and obey leash laws
Properly identify pets (tag, microchip)
Less than 10% of lost pets ever get home
Avoid Relinquishing Pets
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The most common excuses for relinquishing
pets include:
Moving
Landlord issues
Behavior problems
Allergies
New baby
Too many animals
Can’t afford food, care, etc.
Other excuses for throwing away
companion animals include:
Too big, too small
Too old, too young
Too noisy, too quiet Too playful, too lazy
Gets on the bed, doesn't get on the bed
Doesn't match the furniture,
Just don't want ‘It’’ anymore
etc. etc. etc.
Never abandon a pet
How you can help
•Volunteer, Donate, Raise funds
•Consider a career in veterinary medicine,
animal advocacy, animal rights law
•Support the Florida Animal Friend License
Fund (Funds low- and no-cost sterilization programs)
Saving one pet won’t
change the world but the
world will surely change
for that one pet
No One Can
Do Everything,
but
Everyone Can
Do Something
How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?
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Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our
whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid
burned out bulb?
Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to
code.
Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp!
Rottweiler: Make me.
Lab: Oh, me, me!!!! Puleeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I?
Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I?
Malamute: Let the Border Collie do it. You can feed me while he's
busy.
Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls
and furniture.
Old English Sheepdog: "Light bulb? I don’t see a light bulb.”
Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the
time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.
Doberman Pinscher: While it's dark, I'm going to sleep on the couch.
Pointer: I see it, there it is, there it is, right there....
Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?
Australian Shepherd: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle....
Cat: Dogs do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So
the question is: how long will it be before I can expect some light …
and who needs light anyway?