Did you know that in five years, one female dog and her pups can produce up to 20,000 puppies? While thousands of puppies might sound cute, the reality is, many end up in pounds, shelters or dumped on the street. 

Aside from preventing overpopulation, there are many other benefits of desexing your pet. This simple procedure means they’ll live longer, the risk of disease is reduced, they’re less likely to have antisocial behaviours, they become better companions, and the list goes on.

Desexing your furry friend is a simple operation, with a quick recovery, especially when it’s done before your pet reaches six months of age. 

MidCoast Council’s senior ranger (Taree office), Shaye Barrow, is concerned with the amount of stray pregnant dogs that end up at the pound, and would like to encourage locals to do the right thing when it comes to looking after their pets.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of desexing your animals and if you can’t afford to pay for the procedure, we encourage you to speak to your local vet or animal welfare organisation,” said Shaye.

For more information about National Desexing Month, visit www.ndn.org.au/national-desexing-month.