Best Pet Articles

Love Your Animal Companion? Spay or Neuter


Ozzie, my four-month old Rottweiler peered up at me with his big brown eyes, as I temporarily left him for a very important surgical procedure. As much as it broke my heart to drop off my "baby" at the local humane society, I know it was the responsible thing to do.

What Ozzie doesn't know is that today is the first day of the rest of his life. He is being neutered.

Being a rescue volunteer, I've acquired a rather large brood of dogs into my family circle. Having adopted six boys and two girls of the canine species, I've come to complete understanding of the importance of spaying and neutering our furry companions.

Persons who come in contact with me and my animals will ask, "how can you spay and neuter these beautiful animals? You could breed them and make a profit."

When I encounter these folks, I tend to get a little testy and become a bit wordy with an explanation to the multiple reasons behind my choice as a responsible pet owner:

  • (All animals are beautiful, but unless an individual has the time, funding or resources to "breed" puppies, it is not a good idea to permit one's animals to produce offspring that may end up in a "puppy mill" environment. (For more information on "Puppy Mills," go to www.puppymillrescue.com)
  • Spaying or neutering is a fairly inexpensive procedure if done at your local shelter or Humane Society Spay or Neuter Clinic. Furthermore, spaying and neutering has minimal risks and is one of the most common, animal surgical procedures.
  • (For the address of your local Humane Society, click here: www.napcc.aspca.org )
  • A spayed or neutered animal behaves better. While unsterilized males tend to roam in search of a mate, they risk injury or death due to traffic and fight incidents. They also tend to mark territory with urine, and can be quite embarrassing when they decide to mount objects and human legs when excited. Unsterilized females will also roam, have bloody discharge, will yowl and urinate more often during heat cycles; and have a tendancy to tear or chew their way out of an enclosure. Neutered or spayed dogs and cats focus primarily on their human counterparts and do not exhibit behavior patterns as mentioned above.
  • My main reason for spaying or neutering: Spayed or Neutered animals live longer, healthier lives. "...By neutering a male cat or dog before six months of age prevents testicular cancer and prostate disease. Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent pyometra and breast cancer..." (Facts from ASPCA® "Why Spay or Neuter?" Flyer) Additionally, spaying or neutering your animals can prolong their lives by an average of two to three years.
  • Responsibility. Millions of animals needlessly suffer and die every year. Why? Everybody loves cuddly puppies and cute kittens, but when these once-adorable babies grow up, children and adults, alike may lose interest in caring for them. Usually, these animals end up in shelters where they may be euthanized - or worse, get "put out" where they end up as strays. Strays, unfortunately, may die from starvation, disease, weather exposure or being hit by traffic.
  • When I was younger, I used to watch Bob Barker's "The Price is Right" on television. At the end of each and every show, I candidly recall Mr. Barker reiterating, "Help control the pet population, have your pets spayed or neutered today." What a profound and responsible statement that is. You see, if you do your part by helping control the pet population, you may just save a life. Do you love your animal companion(s)? I do.

    ©2004 - All Rights Reserved
    Love your Animal Companion? Spay or Neuter
    C. Bailey-Lloyd / Lady Camelot

    About the Author: C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot is the Public Relations Director & Writer for Holistic Junction -- Your source of information for Holistic Practitioners; Naturopathic Schools, Massage Therapy Schools, and Reflexology Schools; Alternative Healthcare; Insightful Literature and so much more!

    NOTICE: Article may be republished free of charge as long as Author Resource Box (above) is included, and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN in tact and active.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    Pet oxygen masks can save animals' lives in fires
    Alton Telegraph
    16, 2010 file photo, a pet oxygen mask is placed on a dog, Mocha, during a demonstration by a member of the Portland Fire Department in Portland, Maine. While pet oxygen masks have been used for decades by veterinarians in offices and hospitals, ...

    and more »


    February is National Pet Dental Health Month
    Sacramento Bee
    Poor oral hygiene may lead to serious disease in our pets. Given that February is National Pet Dental Health Month, the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association encourages you to better care for your pet's teeth. Just as we can experience plaque and ...
    February Marks Pet Dental Health MonthKTUL (blog)

    all 7 news articles »


    Fracking's Toll on Pets, Livestock Chills Farmers: Commentary
    San Francisco Chronicle
    A new study by veterinarian Michelle Bamberger and Robert Oswald, a professor of veterinary medicine at Cornell University, chronicles case studies of dozens of farmers and pet owners in six states over the Marcellus Shale. Their findings, published in ...

    and more »


    Proposed Bill Protects Pets of Domestic Abuse Victims
    Patch.com
    Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who's district also falls partly into Clearwater, extends legal protection to pets of an abuse victim and makes beating or abusing the victim's pet grounds for violating a court-ordered domestic violence injunction.

    and more »


    MyFox Detroit

    Michigan Humane Society Pets for Patriots Program
    MyFox Detroit
    The Michigan Humane Society (MHS), is teaming up with Pets for Patriots to give back to the men and women in uniform who inspire us all. The partnership will give active duty personnel and military veterans the opportunity to save even more lives by ...
    Pets eat the weirdest things; pet proof your homeDaily Camera
    Bad pet owners might be causing fee hikes for everyone elseKFOX El Paso
    Meridian Valley Humane Society joins forces with Pets for PatriotsKIVI-TV

    all 4 news articles »


    Tufts Joins City Schools to Help Pets in Need
    Patch.com
    That effort has since grown to serve 200 pets each year at six WHA sites. “By pairing veterinary assistant students alongside professional DVM students, we will be able to do more than just treat the critically underserved pets among the neediest ...
    Tufts to open vet clinic in WorcesterWorcester Telegram

    all 4 news articles »


    VetPracticeNews.com

    Pet Obesity Rate Rises
    VetPracticeNews.com
    The percentage of pet cats and dogs classified as overweight remained relatively constant over the past year, but the rate of obesity increased, especially among cats, according to the fifth annual veterinary survey conducted by the Association for Pet ...
    Pet Owners May Be In Denial But Study Says Rover Isn't Big-Boned, He's FatThe Consumerist
    Alison Sweeney Backs 'Million Pound Pledge' for PetsZootoo.com
    New Survey Shows US Dog and Cat Obesity Rates are climbingFirst Coast News
    KPHO Phoenix
    all 6 news articles »


    About 40 pets removed from Hillyard home
    The Spokesman Review
    Spokane Police assisted SpokAnimal Care officers in removing a total of about 40 dogs and cats today from a northeast Hillyard bungalow which carried such a heavy stench that the workers were forced to wear hazardous material suits and respirators to ...

    and more »


    The Associated Press

    Meet Your Match boosts puppy love (and kitty love) by matching people and pets ...
    Washington Post
    The color-coded program evaluates shelter pets and the people looking to adopt them in an effort to match personalities, energy levels and needs. Playing Cupid with Meet Your Match helped workers at the Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to ...
    Find puppy love (cats too) through Meet Your MatchWTOP

    all 170 news articles »


    Dog therapist helps pets get fit
    Asbury Park Press
    Josie's owner, So Scazafavo, began a program of pet therapy at Wag Wellness in Bothell. Josie can't twirl around like a ballerina like she used to, but she has regained some of the use of her hind legs and is doing really well, Scazafavo said.

    and more »

    Google News

    home | site map | SubArticle
    © 2008