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Kittens, puppies can go into heat as early as 4 months

doggie-headerThey may be just babies, but kittens as young as 4 months and puppies as young as 5 months are old enough to get pregnant and have their first litter just two months later.

“These precious babies shouldn’t be parents at 5 and 6 months old,” says Dan Chavez, Operations Coordinator, Shenandoah Valley Spay/Neuter Clinic.

That’s why Shenandoah Valley Spay/Neuter Clinic, with funding provided by PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America, is introducing the “Precious, Not Parents” campaign.

Through the “Precious, Not Parents,” campaign, Shenandoah Valley Spay/Neuter Clinic will provide $20 spay and neuter surgeries for puppies and kittens under six months of age during the month Some pet parents may worry that their pet is too young for this procedure, but spaying and neutering is safe and easy for kittens and puppies as young as eight to 10 weeks old, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

“Many owners put off the procedure and wait until the puppy or kitten is six to eight months old,” says Chavez. “But by then, a litter of puppies or kittens can be born.”

This special $20 rate is even less than the organization’s normal affordable price and is available to all.

Pet parents who wish to take advantage of this offer must mention the “Precious, Not Parents” campaign when they call to schedule their appointment. The campaign is based on availability.

Shenandoah Valley Spay/Neuter Clinic will provide 500 “Precious, Not Parents,” sterilizations for $20 in June. Please visit www.spayandneuterclinic.org or call 540.437.1980 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

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