Avoid the first litter

This is simply not true.

There is no physical or psychological reason why an animal “needs” to have a litter.

The dogs grow into healthy and happy adults, anyway. It is extremely unlikely that a female, who has never had a litter, will show distress at the lack of offspring and try to steal a pup from another female for herself.

In the past, it used to be customary for female dogs and cats to be spayed between nine months and one year old. However, some of them do come into season before the 9th month and then, there is a litter on the way.

When AWN first began placing pups and kittens, we would arrange for the young female to be brought back to us at 6 months old for spaying. This proved to be quite difficult, even though the agreement to return the animal for spaying was incorporated in our Adoption Form.

We then investigated “Juvenile Spaying and Neutering”, which had, even then, been carried out in the USA for approx. 20 yrs., without any adverse effects recorded. With the co-operation of a number of local vets, it is now AWN’s policy to spay or neuter young animals before they are placed in their new homes.

It is also our policy that, if we are asked to take a litter off your hands, you must spay the mother. Follow us on Facebook.