Whether you have a cat, dog, ferret, guinea pig, rabbit or rat, this month is the time to get your pet desexed.

Griffith Animal Hospital is taking part this month, and vet Dr Amelia Bunker encourages pet owners to contact them to make a booking.

“We are offering discounted desexing for July only to approved concession card holders only, so please apply online and book in with our staff and let them know it is through the NDN” she said.

As well as preventing unwanted litters being born, your pet will be happier, healthier and live longer because of it.

According to RSPC NSW, it can take two years for a female cat and her offspring to produce around 20,000 kittens.

In five years, one female dog and her offspring can produce approximately 20,000 puppies.

Some are dumped, left to fend for themselves on the streets.

They become targets for cruelty, suffer from disease and starvation, and have to fight every single day for their survival.

Others end up in pounds and shelters, putting incredible strain on resources.

“We generally recommend desexing for animals around six months of age, but we do tailor our recommendations according to breed, size and environment” Dr Bunker said.

Dr Bunker says desexing is important to help minimise the risk of a number of diseases including testicular, prostate and uterine cancers and infections, reduce the likelihood of straying pets and subsequently the risk of pets being hit by a car.

In some cases, aggression may be reduced as well. 

Importantly, Dr Bunker says “this is a way to minimise the huge issues we are experiencing with unwanted litters as well.”

“Council registration fees are also discounted for desexed animals.”

“There are alternatives to desexing such as a non-surgical implant that we can discuss with anyone who would like the benefits of a desexed pet without the need for an anaesthetic.”