Leo is the most supportive of pet neutering, don't delay before the autumn peak breeding season for cats and dogs
The Council of Agriculture (COA) held a press conference today (the 26th) for the "2018 National Pet Neutering Month Kickoff." Hsieh Yao-ching, director of the Department of Animal Industry, stated that in order to strengthen domestic dog and cat neutering efforts, the COA designated August as "Neutering Month" starting this year, hoping to promote the importance of pet neutering in advance before the autumn peak breeding season for cats and dogs arrives. Starting in August, there will be a total of 1080 promotional events nationwide, with veterinarians on site to assist with dog and cat neutering surgeries.
Chen Pei-chung, chairman of the Republic of China Veterinary Medical Association, pointed out that neutering helps with the health management of dogs and cats, can reduce the occurrence of uterine tumors and testicular cancer, and can also improve pets' temperament and reduce aggressive behavior. Ho Tsung-hsun, chief executive officer of the Taiwan Animal Protection Administrative Alliance, also stated that implementing a zero-euthanasia policy for shelter animals requires supporting measures, and neutering is the way to reduce the number of stray animals at the source.
Disease risk decreases after neutering; veterinarian: reduces incidence of uterine tumors and testicular cancer
Regarding dog and cat neutering surgeries, Chen Pei-chung explained that the neutering method for male dogs and male cats is castration, which means removing the testicles, while female dogs and female cats require abdominal surgery to remove the uterus. However, he emphasized that neutering surgeries do not carry significant risks; the only thing is that before the operation, a proper anesthesia assessment must be done for the pet, and the pet's existing diseases must be proactively disclosed.
Chen Pei-chung recommended neutering pets between seven months and one year of age, before they go into heat, to prevent the estrogen produced after going into heat from causing hormonal secretion abnormalities and increasing the incidence of related diseases.
What are the benefits of pet neutering? Chen pointed out that early neutering can reduce the risk of diseases such as testicular cancer, pyometra, and prostate enlargement, and can also prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, allowing pets to live longer. In addition, after neutering, cats and dogs have a more stable temperament and reduced aggression, can coexist peacefully with other pets in the household and their owners, are less likely to go out "looking for a mate" or get into fights, and are better able to prevent problems such as heat-related behaviors dirtying the home environment or disrupting the owner's daily routine.
In line with the zero-euthanasia policy, animal protection groups urge reducing numbers at the source
Ho Tsung-hsun, chief executive officer of the Taiwan Animal Protection Administrative Alliance, also stated that he had once hesitated over whether the right of animals to reproduce naturally should be controlled, but frankly acknowledged that implementing a zero-euthanasia policy for dogs and cats requires supporting measures, and neutering is the way to reduce the number of stray animals at the source. After consulting with veterinarians, he understood that neutering helps with pet health management. "If you keep it, take good care of it." Ho encouraged owners to make sure their fur babies undergo neutering surgery, and at the same time called for "adopt instead of buy," to face the stray animal problem squarely.
Subsidies available for neutering both male and female dogs and cats; those not neutering must file a special declaration
Chiang Wen-chuan, senior technical specialist and concurrently section chief of the Animal Protection Section of the Department of Animal Industry, pointed out that currently the central government subsidizes pet neutering for owners across Taiwan: 800-1000 yuan for male cats and dogs, and 1200 yuan for female cats and dogs. In addition, owners who wish to let their pets breed can fill out a "Neutering Exemption Declaration" or "Breeding Demand Declaration" at local animal protection offices or disease prevention and control offices.
As for how to strengthen the implementation of dog and cat neutering, Chiang Wen-chuan stated that if owners neither provide a breeding management explanation nor neuter their dogs, under the latest amended Animal Protection Act they can be fined 50,000-250,000 yuan. In addition, local governments will track unneutered cats and dogs based on system data from the "Pet Registration Management Information Network," notify owners individually, and animal inspectors across various areas will conduct irregular checks on the neutering status of stray dogs and cats. Furthermore, Chiang also called on owners to cooperate by completing pet registration; after registration, dogs and cats in the household will be implanted with microchips, which can help prevent them from getting lost.
Note: "Pet Registration Management Information Network"