On February 27, World Spay Day shines a spotlight on the power of affordable neutering to help alleviate the issue of the overpopulation of cats and dogs.

Sadly millions of unwanted pets are born every year in the UK and often end up in rescue shelters like ours. Neutering or spaying not only helps to reduce this issue, but can also help improve your pet’s health by heavily reducing their chances of developing certain cancers or diseases. Your pet is also less likely to develop unwanted behaviours such as roaming, spraying and fighting with other dogs or cats.

Nine of the UK’s animal welfare charities, including ours, have joined forces to help spread awareness and encourage neutering for World Spay Day. At Mayhew, we offer low-cost neutering at our Community Vet Clinic from Mondays to Fridays. Please call 020 8962 8017 or email [email protected] to make an appointment, check prices or ask for further information. We also offer free neutering for bull breed dogs and cats under the C4 Scheme, head here to find out more.

To highlight the importance of neutering for World Spay Day, our Head Vet Dr Ursula will also be hosting a live question and answer session on our Facebook page. Join us (/mayhew) at 3pm to ask any questions you may have about the neutering procedure.

Neutering: myths busted!

MYTH: My pet will become fat and lazy”

FACT: Females may have a tendency to put on weight after being neutered but this can be easily managed by reducing their food intake and more exercise.

“MYTH: It’s better to let my pet either mate or have one litter first.”

Medical evidence in fact indicates the opposite; the evidence shows that females spayed before their first season are typically healthier. Reproduction is a biological event in cats and dogs – they do not yearn for a family in the way humans do.

“MYTH: My pet is too young right now; I’ll leave it until he/she is older.”

Dogs and cats can be neutered from an early age. In fact, the younger the animal, the quicker the operation and faster the recovery. Male and female cats can be neutered from nine weeks of age and male and female dogs can be neutered from twelve weeks of age.

“MYTH: I’ll find good homes for all the puppies and kittens.”

You may find homes for your pet’s puppies and kittens. BUT you can only control what decisions you make with your own pet, not the decisions other people make with theirs. Sadly your pet’s puppies or kittens, or their offspring, could end up living on the streets, being run over or injured.

“MYTH: But my dog/cat is so special, I want a puppy/kitten just like her.”

Your pet’s puppies or kittens are highly unlikely to be a carbon copy of your pet. Even breeders cannot make this guarantee. Please consider adopting instead as there are so many animals in shelters waiting for homes that are just as cute, smart, sweet and loving as your pet.

“MYTH: Neutering may affect my dog’s emotional identity.

Pets don’t have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change will not change a pet’s basic personality and can help avoid unwanted behaviours such as roaming, spraying and fighting with other dogs or cats.

MYTH:  I want my dog to be protective in the home.

It is a dog’s natural instinct to protect home and family. A dog’s personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones.

MYTH: I can’t afford to have my pet spayed or neutered.

Mayhew and other rescue centres and organisations in the UK run low cost neutering programmes. We also offer a free bull breed neutering service and can neuter cats for free under the C4 Scheme. Check your area for low cost centres. Alternatively, please consider adopting an animal from a rescue centre, as pets are often neutered prior to adoption.

Read our neutering guide for more detail about the benefits of neutering.