RHEENENDAL NEWS - A total of 55 cats and dogs were sterilised during a successful spayathon held in Rheenendal last Saturday with organisers reporting no losses or complications.
According to Dr Olaf Fischer, committee member of the Knysna Animal Welfare Society (Kaws), 25 cats and 30 dogs underwent sterilisation. The outreach initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to control pet populations, reduce stray animals and improve animal health in underserved communities.
Of the cats treated, nine were male, 11 female and the sex of five was not recorded.
Among the dogs, 14 males and 14 females were sterilised, while the sex of two animals was not registered.
Fischer said the high number of male animals sterilised was particularly encouraging.
"While female animals are the limiting factor in terms of reproduction because of gestation and rearing periods, the influence of male animals is significantly greater," he explained.
He said that animal welfare organisations typically sterilise far more female animals than males, largely because owners are often reluctant to neuter male pets.
"We usually have considerable difficulty convincing owners - often men - to have their male pets neutered. Some masculine fears are simply too deeply ingrained," Fischer said.
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