Position:
The Regina Humane Society supports ovariohysterectomy or ovariectomy (spay) and castration (neuter) of pediatric dogs and cats from 8 weeks of age in the care of an animal shelter to control the overpopulation problem in these species if the animal meets appropriate qualifications (e.g. meets weight requirement, healthy).
Individual veterinarians have the right/responsibility to decide on what age they will perform the procedure. Just as for other veterinary medical and surgical procedures, veterinarians should use their best medical judgment in deciding at what age spay/neuter should be performed on individual animals.
Rationale:
Each year thousands of homeless or unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized in animal shelters and humane societies in North America. Spaying and neutering are the cornerstone of any program to reduce the cat and dog overpopulation thereby reducing the numbers of animals relinquished and euthanized each year. One important component of the spay/neuter efforts of animal welfare organizations to reduce overpopulation and euthanasia is pediatric (prepuburtal, early age) spay and neuter.