Though our spring season starts today, another season is already well underway: puppy and kitten season.

While puppy and kitten season may sound adorable, it actually can put a massive strain on local shelters.

When the weather warms, unspayed cats and dogs go into heat and can become impregnated. Just a couple of months later, this results in litters upon litters of puppies and kittens, many of which end up in shelters, which can strain shelter resources and mean that many of those puppies and kittens will not end up adopted into a forever home. 

While the problem is a national one, it is also happening locally.

Luckily, there is something every pet owner can do to help combat this problem: spay and neuter your pets.

Aside from preventing an excess of puppies and kittens, spaying and neutering have several behavioral and medical benefits for your pet.

• Your pets will live longer, healthier lives. Spaying your female pets can prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Neutering male pets can prevent testicular cancer and other health problems.

• Your female pets will not go into heat. Female cats go into heat for several days every few weeks during the mating season, which can result in some unpleasant behaviors (and I’m speaking from my personal experience as a cat owner here) including frequent urination, escape attempts and yowling at all hours of the day and night. Spaying your cat will curb these behaviors.

• Your male pets will be less likely to wander from home. Both male dogs and cats that have not been neutered can be tempted to escape from the house to find a mate, which can result in the pet becoming injured or lost.

Though spaying and neutering do incur cost on the part of the pet owner, the benefits far outweigh the bill. There are several local resources available to help with spaying and neutering. Local shelters, such as Cass County Animal Control, are pushing spay/neuter initiatives and offering spay/neuter assistance. To find a spay/neuter assistance program near you, reach out to your local shelter.

This puppy and kitten season, let’s all be responsible pet owners and spay and neuter our animals to help ensure that every adorable puppy or kitten ends up in a home — instead of the shelter.