Since July is National Desexing Month, we thought this would be a great opportunity to remind everyone of the health benefits that come with desexing your cat or dog.

* HEALTHIER PET: Desexed animals tend to be healthier and less likely than other pets to develop diseases and illnesses such as mammary and uterine cancers in females and prostate issues in males.

* PREVENTING INJURY AND ROAMING: Desexing reduces common behavioral issues such as aggression, roaming, and urine marking among males. It prevents females from displaying mating behavior and false pregnancies. Reduced wanderlust minimizes the chance of getting injured in an accident or fight, such as when a car hits you.

* PREVENTING UNWANTED LITTERS Desexing can be an effective way to prevent unwanted pregnancy. RSPCA receives more than 125,000 unwanted animals each year. Many of these animals are the result of unplanned breeding. It is possible for dogs to become pregnant at six months and cats to do so by four months. Desexing them before these ages will protect them from unwanted pregnancy.

* LONGER life: Research shows that animals who have been desexed can live longer.