HEALTH - Spay/Neuter: New Research on Health and Behaviour - Webinar

When the spay/neuter movement began it was fairly simple - sterilize pets to reduce pet overpopulation and euthanasia.

Other health and behaviour benefits are touted for the surgery including a reduction in certain types of cancer and decline in problem behaviours such as aggression and wandering.

Owners were initially encouraged to have the surgery performed between six and nine months of age, until the advent of early age spay/neuter which is done as young as eight weeks old.

Now that spay/neuter surgery has become standard practice for the majority of pet owners for several decades, there’s a new body of information beginning to question the surgery and its benefits.

While the results are not conclusive - there are many other factors that need to be considered - the discussion about the pros and cons of the surgery has begun.

The Pet Professional Guild is offering a webinar - Current Spay and Neuter Research: New Insights Regarding Behavior and Health Presented by Dr. Nancy Kay - on April 6th.

This presentation costs $30 for the public and less for guild members.

It will focus on dogs, the results of some recent research and how some people’s thoughts about neutering dogs are beginning to shift.

Dr. Kay is a board certified specialist in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Recently retired from clinical practice, she worked as a specialist in private practice for 32 years.

Kay is published in several professional journals and textbooks and lectures professionally to regional and national audiences.  

Visit the Pet Professional Guild website for more information and to register.

Toronto Animal Services Rolls Out Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic

Toronto Animal Services’ SNYP (Spay/Neuter Your Pet) Mobile Clinic is officially hitting the road tomorrow.

It will travel to neighbourhood improvement areas throughout the city to provide spay and neuter services for dogs and cats. Residents with an income of less than $50,000 will qualify for subsidized or waived fees.

Over 12 metres long and outfitted like a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic, the truck was purchased thanks to a $250,000 grant from PetSmart Charities and additional donations from Toronto residents.

Toronto will be the first city in Canada to employ a mobile spay and neuter clinic.

The hope is the truck will remove financial and geographical barriers that prevent people from altering their animals.

"We want to target those people in Toronto who otherwise do not have access to a veterinarian," Mary Lou Leiher, the manager of partnerships and marketing at Toronto Animal Services told CBC.

The SNYP Truck will be unveiled on Wednesday May 11th at Nathan Phillips Square from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a live band and food trucks.

More information and the schedule for the SNYP Mobile Clinic is available here.

Nova Scotia SPCA Opens Veterinary Hospital in Cape Breton

In 2014, the Nova Scotia SPCA received a one-time grant of $181,000 from Pet Smart Charities to go towards the construction and equipment costs to open a Spay/Neuter hospital at the Cape Breton Branch of the Society.   

Earlier this month, the hospital opened and performed its first surgery. The opening of this hospital can only be described as a “game changer” for stray and abandoned animals and feral cats on the island of Cape Breton with the hope of tackling a large pet overpopulation crisis that has existed for decades. 

For the first time in the history of the Cape Breton Branch, all animals in their care will be spayed and neutered prior to adoption. This hospital will allow the shelter to reduce costs associated with veterinary care and will provide a full complement of services so that all medical procedures required by SPCA Shelter animals will be completed prior to adoption so there is no cost passed on to the new owner.

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BC SPCA success in combating the 'cat crisis'

The British Columbia SPCA funded a record number of spay and neuter surgeries for cats in communities across the province in 2014. 

Photo Credit

A major focus on the BC SPCA's five-year Strategic Plan is ensuring every cat in B.C. has a loving home, yet there are tens of thousands of felines across the province who live outdoors, facing several predators and dangers. With a total of 4,600 surgeries in 2014, the organization has more than doubled its surgeries since 2012 (2,150). 

"It is such great news," said Amy Morris, BC SPCA policy and outreach officer. "While we can't control the number of cats who are abandoned or born outside, we certainly do our best to reduce those numbers, which ultimately means far fewer cats who don't have warm, loving homes." 

To help combat British Columbia's cat crisis, the BC SPCA works with donors, volunteers, veterinarians, partner organizations and cat advocates through several community programs designed to help spay and neuter outdoor cats, among many other initiatives. 

READ THE NEWS RELEASE 

U.S. County revisits spay neuter legislation

A small municipality in northwestern Indiana is reconsidering a mandate to enforce mandatory spaying an neutering in pets. 

In October, Tippecanoe County commissioners backed down from a proposed spay/neuter bylaw which required dogs and cats to be sterilized before they turned 9 months old. An exception would be made for pet owners who procure a free breeding permit. According to a local news article, the ordinance didn't make it past second reading because pet owners and advocates spoke up. 

But one of the County's attorneys says it is reconsidering some of the provisions of the ordinance. In addition to the spay/neuter item, the proposal included items about controlling one's animals, providing food and water and not allowing animals to harm people or other animals. After some discussion, County councillors removed the mandatory spay/neuter act from the ordinance but proposed that residents found violating the above provisions would be asked to microchip or sterilize their pet. 

READ THE ARTICLE 

CFHS releases Accessible Spay/Neuter Toolkit

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) launched its Accessible Spay/Neuter Toolkit last week. The new succinct suite of invaluable resources facilitates the creation of accessible spay/neuter programs in every community, in every province, across Canada. 

The Toolkit is a series of real-world, hands-on materials that will help make the dream of accessible spay/neuter for all a reality," said Toolika Rastoji, Policy and Research Manager of the CFHS.

The Toolkit includes a Community Spay/Neuter Needs Assessment; Educational and E-learning Resources; Budget and Marketing Guidance; and Funding Resources. Funding for the Accessible Spay/Neuter Toolkit was provided by PetSmart Charities of Canada. 

For more information and to download the Toolkit resources in English and French, visit www.cfhs.ca

Exploring the Non-Surgical Sterilization conversation

Canadian wellness company Avivagen announced earlier this month it has entered into a one-year option to purchase an exclusive license for a permanent non-surgical pet sterilization technology from Dr. Duncan Hockley, director of the Veterinary Medical Centre of the University of Saskatchewan.

READ MORE: Avivagen Non-Surgical Sterilization

The invention is a novel and drug-based means of accomplishing this longstanding veterinary goal and could prove effective for urban animal sterilization and control of feral and wild animal populations. 

READ MORE: Avivagen Options Technology for Permanent and Non-Surgical Sterilization of Female Mammals

Animal overpopulation concerns in communities around the world are a regular topic at Urban Animal events as program delegates strive to find a humane, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable solution. 

If Avivagen's option is exercised, what timeline will follow with regard to traditional spay/neuter practices? How will non-surgical sterilization affect current spay/neuter programs? How will this method be funded and implemented on feral and stray populations? 

READ MORE: InfoStream - Non-Surgical Sterilization

As the 2014 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies draws near, stakeholders will undoubtedly be considering the opportunities and dilemmas arising from non-surgical sterilization procedures. Participants in the Urban Animal Forums on Friday (October 24, 2014) will be given the opportunity to join this conversation and other relevant and important conversations. 

REGISTER NOW to join the conversations! 

Avivagen Inc. is dedicated to developing science-based, natural health products for animals that are proven in clinical trials and offering veterinarians real alternatives to traditional treatments.

In consideration of the grant of the option on the technology, Avivagen has agreed to pay all application, maintenance and prosecution fees. Avivagen is also bearing the costs of proof-of-concept animal studies. 

Get the facts, have YourSAY, move the industry. 

Feral cat clinics offered in BC communities

The BC SPCA is offering free spay/neuter clinics for feral cats in Vancouver, Prince George and Kamloops beginning 23 February 2014. The efforts are a part of the society's efforts to reduce pet overpopulation in B.C. 

Several B.C. communities suffer from cat overpopulation and the BC SPCA has used many approaches over the years to combat this. Spay/Neuter grants, grassroots community meetings and feral cat clinics are some of the most successful initiatives to date. 

Clinic dates: 
Vancouver - February 23
Kamloops - March 12
Prince George - March 14

READ THE NEWS RELEASE

Canadian shelters trending positively

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) has released it's 2012 Animal Shelter Statistics report. Survey results report that shelters in Canada took in over 119,000 cats and more than 53,000 dogs in 2012. 

A total of 102/186 humane societies and SPCAs in Canada responded to the CFHS survey sent out earlier this year for a response rate of 55%. The report outlines positive trends towards mandatory spay/neuter policies, a drop in euthanasia rates and increased adoption rates. 

In 2012, 96% of responding shelters spay or neuter animals in their care prior to adoption as a matter of policy. This percentage, according to the CFHS, is much improved relative to 62% of shelters that responded to the 2010 survey. Over 22,000 cats and over 10,000 dogs were spayed or neutered while at shelters in 2012. 

But numbers in the report also show almost twice as many cats enter shelters than dogs and while adoption rates for cats are similar to those for dogs, fewer cats are reclaimed and many more are euthanized. 

READ THE REPORT

Spay Day HRM tackles N.S. Trailer Park

Photos by Pat Lee, The Chronicle Herald 

This month, Spay Day HMR is taking on its largest project yet. Spay Day is partnering with several local organizations to Trap Neuter and Release (TNR) every abandoned and feral cat in a Nova Scotia trailer park. 

This project will be funded through volunteer time and donations, including those contributed by Tuxedo Stan and Earl Gray's election campaigns. A recovery hall will be available to TNR cats for a week where the animals will receive medical care and TLC while they recover from their procedures. Kittens and friendly cats will be adopted out and shelters will be put in place for the released animals. 

Spay Day HRM began three years ago as a weekend project and has grown into an on-going program due to the growing cat problem in Halifax Regional Municipality. Cats owned by students and people on fixed or low income benefit from the program as it focuses on cats who wouldn't normally have access to veterinary care. 

Updates on this project will be posted on www.facebook.com/SpayDayNovaScotia

OSPCA demonstrates exceptional Community Compliance

Eric Coulson (Pets Plus Us) and Tonya Martin (OSPCA)

Nearly five years ago, the Ontario SPCA opened its first high volume spay/neuter clinic in Newmarket, Ontario. Later that year following unprecedented demand, it opened its second in Barrie. Right away, the clinics received hundreds of calls daily as the pet-owning public sought a low-cost, high quality option to sterilize their animals. 

When demand continued to rise, the OSPCA opened another clinic in Lincoln County in December 2012. As a group, the three clinics have sterilized more than 44,000 animals since 2009 and succeeded in reducing province-wide cat intake by 18%. 

For their successes, the Ontario SPCA was invited to speak during the 2013 Central Regional Conference's Regional Innovation Showcase. From there, delegates nominated the presentation to share at the 2013 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies. Additionally, the Ontario SPCA was awarded a 2013 Summit Award for Community Compliance which recognizes efforts to increase the overall level of compliance in a community from the development of best practices or codes of ethical conduct in the area of licensing, identification, spay/neuter, wellness, recreation, breeding or standards of care. 

"Pet overpopulation is a community problem. Each year, tens of thousands of dogs and cats end up on the streets, where they fall victim to neglect and abuse, or in shelters in search of new homes. Spaying and neutering can reduce shelter intake and euthanasia in your community," Alison Cross, Ontario SPCA 

Tonya Martin, senior manager of Animal Welfare and Operations at the OSPCA, was presented with the award during the 2013 Summit Award Tour by award sponsor Pets Plus Us. Clinic stakeholders are confident this measure can help reduce and possibly eliminate the cat overpopulation crisis affecting many Ontario communities. 

OSPCA welcomes new Chief Veterinary Officer

Photo Credit

Ontario SPCA Chief Executive Officer Kate MacDonald announced yesterday the organization has officially enlisted Dr. Magdalena Smrdelj for the position of Chief Veterinary Officer.

Dr. Smrdelj has held various positions within the Ontario SPCA since 2009, until recently, she held the position of acting Chief Veterinary Officer. In addition, Smrdelj has worked as a veterinarian with both the Newmarket Spay Neuter Clinic and the companion animal hospital at the Provincial Education and Animal Centre. According to McDonald, Dr. Smrdelj was instrumental in overseeing the medical aspects of the organization's first spay/neuter operation in Ontario. 

New study shows altering could be more effective than traditional sterilization methods

Research from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University found that vasectomies and hysterectomies were more effective at reducing feral cat populations than traditional neutering methods. 

The findings support trap-vascectomy-hysterectomy-release (TVHR) as a better alternative to trap-neuter-release (TNR). Professor of Biology in the Tufts's School of Arts and Sciences and co-author of the study J. Michael Reed explained, "With TVHR, a male cat's life span, sexual drive and social status aren't altered with a vascectomy, so he'll fend off competing males who try to intrude into his area even though he can't actually produce offspring."

TUFT'S FERAL CAT STUDY

The study was conducted using a computer-based model that compared the efficacy of vasectomy (vs. neutering) and hysterectomy (vs. spaying). Each computer run simulated the cat population over 6,000 days, tracking individual cats on a daily basis. New cats were added to the population as they were born and deceased ones removed. The simulation showed that to reduce the population by a quarter, 57% of the cats in a colony had to be removed by lethal means or captured, neutered and released. TVHR however, could reduce the population by half with an annual capture rate of 35% and at that rate could completely eliminate the colony within 11 years. (TNR required capturing 82% of the cats in order to eliminate the colony in 11 years.)  

"Vets in Action Day" supports SPCA animals in B.C.

Local veterinarians are coming together this Sunday, August 18, to provide care for animals at the Burnaby SPCA shelter. 

"Vets in Action Day", the first of its kind in British Columbia, is hosted and sponsored by Burnaby Veterinary Hospital. The event will include a public open house with fundraising for the BC SPCA as well as free spay/neuter and dental surgeries for SPCA animals throughout the day. Veterinarians, technicians and vet assistants from Burnaby and around the lower mainland are volunteering their time and many businesses are donating their food and other supplies. 

Dr. Claudia Richter with the Burnaby Veterinary Hospital says her team is excited to be hosting the event. "The BC SPCA has a tough job," she said. "They are a charity that operates without provincial government funding and they deal with some of the most heartbreaking and difficult situations one can imagine. The people at the SPCA have always inspired us with their diligence, compassion and steady hand in a job that not many could handle."

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PetSmart Charities grants provide high-quality spay/neuter surgeries

PetSmart Charities is launching a public awareness campaign and grant program that will provide more than $520,000 to fund affordable, high-quality spay and neuter surgeries for 10,000 puppies and kittens in 25 U.S. states. 

From June 1-30, the grants will support 51 non-profit spay/neuter clinics to provide $20 surgeries for cats and dogs under six months. PetSmart Charities will also provide clinics with marketing materials and funding to advertise and promote the campaigns in their communities. 

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Coolest Spay/Neuter Project Ever??

Thanks to the eagle eyes at PIJAC Canada for passing this cool idea along. 

Thinking outside the box solved a problem for the community of Wakefield.  There are many communities that could benefit from a collaboration of vets, retailers and other service providers to bring a project like this into being.

Looks like an 'everyone' wins community program!

Wakefield Spay/Neuter Barter Project

Spay it Forward

The Ontario SPCA is advocating a new campaign for the month of March aimed at spaying and neutering pets. 

The campaign, "Spay it Forward", encourages pet owners and pet lovers to support the movement by donating the average cost of a spay/neuter procedure in one of the province's shelters. OSPCA reports a pet overpopulation crisis in Ontario, stating that, "each year, tens of thousands of dogs and cats end up on the streets, where they fall victim to neglect and abuse, or in shelters in search of new homes." 

MORE INFORMATION

Lincoln County Humane Society opens high-volume spay/neuter clinic

A new high-volume spay/neuter clinic, owned by the Lincoln County Humane Society, opened Monday to amp up the area's sterilization surgeries and keep strays and homeless animals to a minimum.

Operated by the Ontario SPCA and funded by PetSmart, the opening of the Lincoln County Animal Clinic clinic will help offset the necessary surgeries taken on by surrounding clinics. 

"Pet overpopulation is a community problem," said Alison Cross, spokesperson for OSPCA. "Each year, tens of thousands of dogs and cats end up on the streets, where they fall victim to neglect and abuse, or in shelters in search of new homes. Spaying and neutering can reduce shelter intake and euthanasia in your community."

The Ontario SPCA has been operating two spay/neuter clinics with the same model, one in Newmarket and the other in Barrie, since 2009. Cross confirmed that pet overpopulation is at crisis levels in Ontario. 

"There are thousands of unwanted animals in our communities; animals that often end up neglected or abused or left on the doorsteps of the local shelter," she said. "Spay/neutering your pet is a direct solution to this issue. Together we can reduce pet overpopulation."  

PetSmart Charities Accepting 2012 Grant Applications

Three million dollars to Animal Welfare since 1999

PetSmart Charities® of Canada is accepting 2012 applications for spay/neuter grants.  

The application system will be open from March 15, 2012 through April 15, 2012. 

VISIT THE PETSMART CANADIAN GRANT APPLICATION PAGE

About PetSmart Charities of Canada:

PetSmart Charities of Canada, Inc., (PCCI) is a registered charity that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raises awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promotes healthy relationships between people and pets. Since 1999, PCCI has granted more than $3 million to animal welfare agencies and, through its in-store pet adoption program, has helped save the lives of more than 130,000 pets.