S ince pets are capable of mating so much of the time, confinement is not particularly convenient for the owner. It also does nothing to eliminate such problems as spotting and spraying, or susceptibility to uterine infection and mammary cancer. There are now several medications on the market that can be used temporarily to keep an animal out of heat. A t present, other than confining your animal, the sure way to keep your pet from mating is to have it surgically neutered. S paying and neutering pets should help reduce the problem of surplus cats and dogs, but surgery alone is not enough.
Unowned animals are a major part of the problem.
In addition to creating a public nuisance and possible health hazard, stray dogs and cats give birth to unwanted pups and kittens at an alarming rate. M any communities have tremendously reduced or nearly eliminated their unwanted animal populations simply by enforcing existing animal control regulations. Others have come to grips with the problem by passing more stringent laws and enforcing them rigidly. A s a concerned citizen, you should do everything you can to see that leash laws and other animal control regulations in your community are up to date and adequately enforced. And, as a responsible pet owner, you should make sure your pet does not contribute to the problem.