Mama’s Last Litter Program for Dogs and Cats in Michigan is a Terrific Idea

An animal shelter in Jackson County, Michigan is offering an innovative spay and adoption plan for pet owners who find their dogs or cats pregnant before they were able to get them fixed. Many people will allow their canine or feline to have one litter before they have them sterilized. That’s because for a while it seemed to be the prevailing wisdom on the topic of pet reproduction.

But experts in the field today say there is no benefit and that you should not wait. Instead, it is recommended that they are spayed before their first heat.

According to Vet Help Direct, “It’s a very common misconception that a female dog should have one litter before being spayed. Not only is it an outdated concept, with no evidence to support that breeding a litter is either physically or psychologically beneficial to a dog, but breeding is not an innocuous process. It carries inherent risks that can cause distress and discomfort to her.”

Some people would still like a litter of puppies or kittens before they have the procedure performed. Others just lose track of time or are unaware of how soon their pet could experience its first heat. If it does happen that they’re pregnant or recently delivered, and you want to stop it from happening again, programs like the one in Jackson could be just the ticket.

It’s called Mama’s Last Litter Program, and it’s part of the Jackson County Animal Shelter’s low-cost spay/neuter options to help reduce pet overpopulation in the community. This is how they break it down:

“Have an ‘oops’ or unplanned litter? Bring the entire litter to the shelter before they are 12 weeks old at no charge to you! We will spay mom for only $50 and fully vet all the puppies/kittens before offering them for adoption.

“We screen all potential adopters to ensure they find a loving home! Have a friend or family member that wants one? They have first option to adopt from us! BONUS: They will be receiving an altered, vaccinated, and microchipped pet – all for less than one vet visit!”

• $50 fee to spay mom with the condition that all offspring are surrendered to JCAS. Mom can go back home with you the same day.

• Puppies/Kittens must be 8-12 weeks old.

• Surrender fees will be waived.

• All puppies/kittens will be fully vetted and available for adoption through JCAS.

When you consider it typically costs between $60 to $100 to spay/neuter a dog and approximately $45 to $65 for a female cat, this is quite a bargain and a load off of your time/effort finding homes for all those fur babies. If you find yourself in this situation, check to see if any of the shelters in your area offer the same or similar programs to take advantage of.

Better yet, get your animals spayed/neutered now and avoid the issue altogether.