Animal Guardian - Cover Story

Just What the Doctor Ordered

Non-Surgical Sterilization of Cats and Dogs

Thanks to the efforts of humane organizations, shelter workers, veterinarians and compassionate people promoting the benefits of spay/neuter, the number of cats and dogs euthanized in this country every year has dropped dramatically from an estimated high of 13 million (21% of animals cared for as companions) in 1973 to fewer than 4 million (about 3%) today. Despite this clear success, overburdened shelters still cannot handle the influx of stray, abandoned and relinquished animals coming through their doors each year. In addition, it is estimated that tens of millions of stray and feral cats struggle to survive on their own outdoors. Although some are altered and live in managed colonies, most are not and receive no health care. They reproduce at will and many suffer from illness or injury before dying.

While educating the public about the importance of spaying or neutering has been instrumental in preventing the needless suffering and death of millions of animals, many factors ultimately limit the effectiveness of surgical sterilization as a solution to the problem of companion animal overpopulation. The Doris Day Animal League is funding innovative research into a quicker, cheaper and less invasive way of sterilizing animals.

Since 1960, scientists have been exploring the development of chemical contraceptives that could permanently sterilize an animal with only one injection or treatment. This has the potential to remove many barriers that often prevent cats and dogs from being spayed or neutered by their guardians. It could dramatically increase the number of sterilized animals and, subsequently, decrease the number of euthanized animals each year.

Click here to read the entire article. This article appears in the Fall 2006 issue of Animal Guardian.