Spring brings new life!

The weather is beginning to warm, the first flowers of spring are pushing up through the soil, cherry blossoms are opening and more puppies and kittens are born at this time of year than at any other.

Every spring, so many unwanted kittens and puppies end up at animal shelters and the plea goes out once again: Please… Spay and Neuter your pets!

The statistics are alarming. There are forty-five cats and dogs for every person born. Just one out of ten puppies ever gets a home and only one out of twelve kittens. More than eight hundred cats and dogs are killed every hour in the United States, simply because there are too many to place in homes.

Here are some of the reasons I have heard for not spaying or neutering:
“I just can’t see doing it to him. He ought to have a bit of fun in his life.”
“His male urine keeps other animals out of the yard and off the property. If I get him fixed, he can’t effectively mark his territory any more.”
“I want her to have at least one litter so she can be fully matured and be a mother at least once.”
“If I get him fixed too young, he’ll be a wussy dog.”
“Her puppies (kittens) are so cute, everyone wants them. Finding home for the pups (kittens) wont be a problem. In fact, I can probably even sell them and make a few bucks.”

The reasons seem endless and they’re all wrong. Unless you are a conscientious, compassionate, responsible breeder of purebred animals, there is absolutely no justification for not spaying or neutering.

I admit I was under the illusion that our beloved guardian farm dog could do his job better if he remained intact. I was wrong. As he got older, he became increasingly unhappy, insecure and fearful. He started to wander and have health problems and when we took him in for his annual check up, our veterinarian had this to say, “Why don’t you neuter this fellow. He’s a perfectly nice dog who wants to please you and do his job, but he’s terribly conflicted. His mind is constantly drawn to the only other thing that matters to him, like the female in heat two miles away. He’ll still be a boy after the operation, very male and able to ‘mark’ his territory just fine, but his constant drive to find females will be gone and he’ll lead a much happier life.” He pointed out that some testosterone is made in other parts of the animal’s body besides the testicles but that the drive to mate was making the poor dog a nervous wreck. It made sense, so we opted for the operation and ended up with a dependable, well-balanced dog that was happy to stay on home ground.

There is no need to have a ‘first litter’ to make certain the dog or cat is mature enough for spaying or neutering. Often cats will still be nursing kittens and before they are weaned, she is already pregnant with her next litter. It is far better to spay cats and dogs before their first heat. In most cases five months old is not too early to spay or neuter. Your veterinarian is the best judge of when your dog or cat is ready. Another point to consider is spayed dogs are at lower risk for breast cancer and uterine infections.

Ah yes, those cute kittens and puppies that everyone wants. I don’t know how many times I’ve been told, “We have so many friends that want her puppies we could give away twice as many.” Then when it comes time to send them to their promised homes, there are more excuses than kittens as to why those same friends have changed their minds, “We just aren’t ready yet. Maybe next time.”

There is a new product on the market that should please the macho guy who wants to maintain the ‘masculine’ appearance of his dog. Testicular implantation for pets is now available. The company advertises that for the dog, “It’s like nothing has ever changed.” Seriously, the dog doesn’t care how he looks to other dogs or to people, but if it means that one more pet will be neutered and live a happier, safer and more balanced life… then kudos to the inventors of this seemingly unnecessary alternative.

During the current economic downturn the need to spay and neuter our pets is even more important, yet for many people the cost of these simple operations is prohibitive. Fortunately, there are many low cost spay and neuter clinics throughout the US and in the more urban areas of Canada. Responsible pet owners are encouraged to watch their local newspapers, radio and television stations for announcements of when and where clinics are taking place.

I saw a cartoon in which one dog was saying to another, “My people really love me and they are taking me to be tutored today.” It was a good laugh, but really it’s people who need the tutoring to neuter and spay the pets they love.

Be sure to visit http://www.plumentails.com where you will find our eco-friendly pet products and furniture… where you can indulge your pets while protecting the environment.