Stop that! You’ll go blind! Fact or myth? Luckily for us, it’s a myth. Myths underlie every human endeavor, shaping our beliefs and guiding our actions. Without myths our societies would fail to function, because we need myths to provide us with goals, examples and hope. However, there are myths that cause unnecessary harm and confusion. And if you try to expose myths in some arenas, the faithful will show no mercy. Your own family will consign you to the myth abyss. Clearly, myths are the force behind much human thinking, acting as quick, short-cut triggers to our feelings.

It’s because of our feelings for domestic animals (pets) that we have them in our lives. Warm and fuzzy feelings. Empathic feelings. Feelings of a mutual bonding. It’s the myth of harmony and co-operation between man and beast which is at work here. Is it attainable? Not unless man gets serious about beast overpopulation.

Pets from Animal Shelters Are Already Spayed/Neutered, Photo: OLD SKOOL Cora, Flickr

Animals have an overpowering procreative drive, ensuring the longevity of their species. We’ve all seen useless old mutts and half dead tomcats spring to life at the whiff of a nearby female. Then comes the “mission impossible” scene, as each animal tries to complete his and her role in the activity. It’s not wrong! It’s just the first step in the easily preventable creation of unwanted progeny. There’s not much chance that threadbare old warhorses will procreate, but younger ones will. We humans have to step in. We know the shocking facts about animal overpopulation. We must attack the myths behind our unwillingness to spay and neuter our pets. These myths are firmly entrenched in our society. Heard these?

Myth 1: The Surgery Is Too Expensive

OK. You can’t afford the fifty bucks to spay your cat? Believe me you can’t afford not to spay her:

• Cost of box and old sheet placed in a comfortable corner of your house for your cat’s special day: $2.00
• Cost of hot water bottle and special cat toys and treats to entice mother cat into the birthing area you have prepared: $21.03
• Cost of replacing your daughter’s high school grad dress, (the cat pulled it down and had her kittens on it): $237.07

I make that $ 260.10. Fifty bucks sounds pretty reasonable now.

Myth2: The Females Are Only in Heat Once Each Year, So We’ll Just Keep Her Home at That Time

Have you ever tried to sleep while a Tomcat choir fights and yowls throughout the night? If not, you’re in for a treat. But when the neighbors get a whiff of that noxious cat-spray, and notice that there are cat paw prints all over their cars, they’ll give you tight-lipped smiles and offer you their Vets’ business cards. Some may be slightly less civilized. Cats and dogs can generally produce two litters per year. It can be pricey. (See Myth 1)

Myth 3: Female Pets Should Have One Litter Before Being Spayed. It’ll Bring Out her Gentle, Nurturing Motherliness

There are considerable health benefits to your pet when spayed or neutered at the earliest opportunity. It also prevents the animal from developing her latent, hard-wired, protective maternal fierceness. Many’s the bewildered pet lover has watched in horror as his cutesy wootsy little girl has bared her teeth and growled at his extended hand. If he’s wise, he’ll back away from the unwavering stare, the flared nostrils. There’s a loss of trust. There’s no going back.

Myth 4: Spayed Animals Turn Into Big Fat Slobs

Yes, if you overfeed them and don’t exercise them. I knew a record breaking cat, once. She broke the record for the number of kittens produced. Later in life she broke the record for number of near misses at her litter box. She weighed thirty pounds, and her body was so huge it didn’t quite fit into the cat tray. Guess which end overflowed?

Now that Bob Barker has retired we need someone to give daily reminders about the duty that we have to spay and neuter our pets. Will you help?

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