RSPCA conducts de-sexing

MORE than 90 dogs in Hanuabada village in the National Capital District underwent a free de-sexing conducted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
Practice manager Dr Jessica Hoopes said de-sexing dogs prevented them from being able to have puppies which had increased the number of dogs in the city.
“Most people don’t want 20 or 30 dogs but don’t have the money to get them de-sexed so we’re trying to go out and offer communities an option to be able to do that,” she said.
In an effort to manage the growing dog population within the city, RSPCA has been working together with NCDC beginning the de-sexing programme in November last year.
“It’s a free de-sexing clinic so they have to be registered first for K10 then we will do de-sexing for free where normally the price ranges from K300 to K800,” Dr Hoopes said.
She said in female dogs, the spay procedure, involved the removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus in order to prevent pregnancy and future heat cycles.
In male dogs, the neuter procedure, involved the removal of the testes preventing them from impregnating female dogs.
The de-sexing procedures are performed under general anaesthesia and performed at five to six months of age, just prior to reaching sexual maturity.
Dr Hoopes said de-sexing was a new concept for Papua New Guinea so everyone in the community were unsure but the clinic was giving them the benefit of seeing what was actually happening to their dogs.
“This will give them an opportunity to see what it is and so they don’t feel nervous about it.”
There are more benefits to de-sexing than side effects.
The main benefits is to prevent unwanted puppies, potential serious health conditions and reduce unwanted behaviours associated with the breeding instinct such as roaming, mounting, fighting and spraying.
RSPCA will continue the programme throughout the year to the city’s main centres at Hohola, Boroko, Gordon and Gerehu.
Meanwhile, Dr Hoopes said 10 per cent of dogs in PNG had a cancer called TVT which was transmitted by mating and spread by touch.
“We are seeing it right now in about 10 per cent of all the dogs in this country and it can spread and get really bad as it is fatal when not treated.”
Dr Hoopes said de-sexing dogs can prevent them from mating and also prevents the transmission and spread of TVT.