Breeder Permits to help reduce euthanasia – news from the Gold Coast

Press Release, Animal Welfare League Queensland, May 14, 2010

THE Animal Welfare League of Qld supports the introduction of Breeder Permits on the Gold Coast as an important step to reducing the numbers of abandoned cats and dogs which are killed because there are too many for the numbers of responsible homes available.

The AWL Qld is a leading welfare organisation with the lowest euthanasia rates for a whole city in Australia. However, it is still always full with abandoned cats and dogs from the Gold Coast and surrounding cities and shires.

Last year 1400 abandoned cats and dogs from Gold Coast residents were euthanased despite ongoing publicity regarding the importance of desexing, (including low cost services through the AWL Qld Community Vet Clinic), and extensive community awareness and education programs.

AWL Qld strategic development officer Joy Verrinder has welcomed the scheme and is confident it will reduce the number of unnecessary deaths.

1 Undesexed Female Cat + 7 years = 420,000 Kittens…

One female cat and her off-spring can breed over a period of 7 years adding 420,000 new cats!! Did you know that cats can fall pregnant at four months of age and dogs at 5 months of age? Many cats and dogs are born “by mistake” because owners don’t get around to desexing them in time. The excuse by the Pet Shop or breeder is often that the animal is too young when it is sold. BUT ‘Early Age’ desexing at 2-4 months is perfectly safe and feasible! (And no puppy or kitten should be sold before 8 weeks at the very earliest.)
We believe that de-sexing of pets can and should be done at the point of sale. We would like this to become mandatory. We believe that the person who has bred the kitten or puppy should be responsible for desexing the pet, even if they simply add the fee to the price they are asking. At least the job is done and there are many, many health benefits for your pet!

Animal Welfare League, Queensland says….
Myth: You have to wait until 6 months to de-sex your pet
Fact: There are greater benefits from de-sexing between 2 – 4 months. Although traditionally 6 months was the age that most vets recommended, there has been significant research in the last twenty years to show that de-sexing between 2-4 months is actually just as safe and your kitten or pup will recover much more quickly than an older animal. There will also be no risk of an unwanted litter to add to the huge numbers of animals that currently have to be euthanized every year in Australia because there are not enough homes.

Early Age De-sexing (2-4 months) – The Benefits

1. Animals live longer
2. There is a sharp decrease in likelihood of cancers
3. Younger animals recover much faster, with less bleeding during surgery and shorter surgery time
4. There is increasing evidence that it has positive influence on socialisation and behaviour
5. It helps reduce companion animal over-population and the euthanasia of healthy pets as cats can be pregnant by 5 months and dogs by 6 months
   http://www.awlqld.com.au/desexing.htm