Facts about Spaying and Neutering
• Reduces the incidence of some of the most common types of cancers, allowing animals to live a longer and healthier life.
• Reduces aggressive behavior in dogs and cats, thus creating fewer opportunities for injuries but doesn't reduce a dog's ability to be a good guard dog.
• Fixed dogs can live up to 3 years longer, and cats live up to 5 years longer than their non-fixed counterparts.
• As many as 85% of dogs that are hit by cars are animals that were not spayed or neutered by their owners.
• Some believe that pets will become unbalanced hormonally when they are spayed or neutered, but the procedure balances out hormone levels and creates personality stability.
• Some people think that only female pets need to be spayed. Male pets are even more likely to contribute to the pet overpopulation problem because they can create dozens of offspring at one time.

Spay and Neuter Clinics
All of the area rescue organizations are continually doing spay and neuters of the animals they receive as well as others that may need to be spayed or neutered. Low-cost clinics are also held to get a large number done at one time, usually around 50 animals. Total costs, including medications, range from $22 to $45, depending on the size of the animal, and if it is in heat or if there are other complications. These clinics are for Costa Ricans who cannot usually afford to spay or neuter their pets. DAWG has spayed or neutered over 2750 pets and continues to be committed to providing this service to the community.

How can you help?
If you have a neighbor who has an animal that needs to be spayed or neutered, then please offer to help pay to have it spayed or neutered. You can also provide transport as many do not have a car. If you are uncomfortable doing this, then please reach out to one of the many volunteers of the area rescues to see if they can help.