Since January 1st, all dogs and cats over 6 months old and kept on Laval territory have to be sterilized. This measure, announced by the City of Laval in April 2017, is part of the new municipal bylaw concerning animals, which promotes citizen safety and animal welfare.

Advantages for the Animal
"There are only advantages to sterilizing your pet for its health and it can help reduce the many unpleasant behavioural problems," explains Dr. Michel Pépin, in charge of communications within the Association des médecins vétérinaires du Québec en pratique des petits animaux. In his opinion, sterilized animals show much less risk of developing pathologies and infections, which can place their life in danger. Moreover, by suppressing the animal's sexual impulses, sterilization helps cut down on dogs' tendency to run away or act aggressively, in addition to eliminating signs of heat and bleeding on the part of female dogs. As for cats, sterilization makes it possible, for example, to reduce urine spraying, strong odours, fights, squealing and loud meowing.

Advantages for the Community
By having your pet sterilized, you contribute toward limiting the number of abandoned animals, reducing the incidence of needless euthanasia and thwarting the problem of overpopulation of unwanted animals. "There are approximately two million cats in Québec at the present time, and 10 per cent of them, or 200,000, are not sterilized. Given the fact that a female cat can give birth to two or three litters of kittens a year, the problem can quickly become exponential," stresses Dr. Pépin. He mentioned, as a reminder, that in addition to causing all kinds of nuisances in the neighbourhood, letting a non-sterilized animal go outside contributes toward the reproduction of stray cats.

The Microchip; Mandatory as of January 1st, 2019
A microchip is a form of permanent identification for an animal's entire life. In particular, it may be put to good use in resolving disputes over the ownership of an animal, avoid the costs of staying in an animal centre and reduce the number of needless cases of euthanasia. According to the timetable it had announced when the animal bylaw was passed, the City of Laval will make the microchipping of dogs and cats mandatory as of January 1st, 2019. In order to help residents comply with this requirement, the City will be organizing affordable microchipping clinics during the year, including through its Adopt-a-Pet Days.

To learn more about the City bylaw on animals and to see the upcoming dates of microchipping clinics and Adopt-a-pet Days, visit animaux.laval.ca.