Desexed pets are healthier pets
We encourage all cat and dog owners to get their pets desexed.
Desexing is when a vet removes part of a pet’s reproductive system while it is under a general anaesthetic, so that the pet cannot breed.
It is a common procedure, and pets recover quickly.
Why desex pets?
Australia already has too many unwanted animals, and hundreds of thousands of animals are put down each year.
Many unwanted litters are born because owners don’t get around to desexing their pet in time.
Cats can become pregnant at just 4 months old, and dogs can become pregnant at 5 months.
If a cat continues to have litters (at 4 to 6 kittens per litter), and her offspring breeds for 7 years, this can add 420,000 new cats to the population.
Desexed pets live longer and healthier lives, and are less prone to wander, fight and be anti-social.
It also costs less to register your pet if it is desexed.
Desexing new pets
- Book your puppy or kitten in for desexing by the time they are 6 months old. Desexing can be carried out safely on dogs and cats from the age of 12 weeks, although some vets prefer to wait until the animal is 5-6 months old.
- Desexing can be done by your local vet or the RSPCA. If your pet isn’t already microchipped, it’s a good idea to get that done on the same day.
- Once your pet is desexed, you will receive a desexing certificate. This will entitle you to a discount on pet registration, if your pet is not already registered.
Costs of not desexing your pet
If your undesexed female pet falls pregnant, you’ll need to find a new home for each puppy or kitten.
Dogs can have 10 or more puppies per litter, so finding homes for a whole litter can mean a lot of work for you.
Whether you sell or give them away, legally they have to be microchipped before they are old enough to go to their new home (at about 8 weeks old). Microchipping and vaccination will cost about $100 for each pup/kitten, plus they’ll need worm tablets, flea treatments and food (once they’ve been weaned) until they are adopted.
If your male pet fathers a litter, you may be expected to help find new homes for the puppies or kittens and pay half the expenses. It is unacceptable and illegal to dump pets, and especially cruel to leave a litter of vulnerable puppies or kittens to fend for themselves. Dumping animals carries heavy penalties in NSW.
What if my pet has an unwanted litter?
If your pet does get pregnant and have an unwanted litter, please contact an animal welfare organisation such as Albury Wodonga Animal Rescue, the Albury Animal Management Facility or the RSPCA. It’s cruel and unacceptable to abandon unwanted puppies or kittens. We impose heavy fines for this inhumane action.