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Are We Really Having A Why Spay And Neuter Dogs & Cats Debate? #BtC4A

10/15/2014

14 Comments

 
Are We Really Having a Why Spay And Neuter Dogs & Cats Debate? #BtC4AnimalsA domestic, not wild, animal. And, yes, there is a huge difference even in a little animal.
Typist: Bethany
I came across a disturbing debate about spay and neuter procedures for dogs and cats on Twitter recently. It started with a questioner* tagging our local animal shelter and a low cost vet clinic that I volunteer for "Anyone for neutering cats and dogs, explain to me why." I read some of the Tweet debate between the questioner and a few other people. What it came down to was the questioner believing that animals should not be mutilated and that dogs and cats would be better off allowed to roam free with natural selection to thin any over population. All I could think was "wow. Are there really people this narrow minded and short sighted now, in the same present world that I live in?"

The debate went on with the questioner comparing domesticated dogs and cats being caged and mutilated to plights of wild animals like dolphins and elephants. This was in response to people explaining to the questioner that stray animals die of starvation and disease. Apparently even the label "stray" upsets the free roaming advocate questioner. Another questioner Tweet was "Why are they called strays and other animals are not." Pounds and shelters were compared to concentration camps by the questioner and setting pets free as some sort of tough love way of making right the wrongs humans have done in breeding domestic animals to begin with. Except I am the only one using the word domestic. Right now. In this post. And it is the key to this debate.

Domesticated animals are not wild. They don't know how to be wild. They die without the help of humans. Is this humans fault? Maybe. Partly. But most of the science I have understood as far as dogs and cats are concerned is that it is they who chose to come and live with and rely on humans, not by humans forcing them into slavery. There are animals we have done that with. All animal lovers know that all too well. Most animals humans use as slaves though are still genetically wild animals. Orca whales, dolphins, elephants, bears, etc could and should indeed be set free to be wild. But dogs and cats? They've had a symbiotic relationship with humans for tens of thousands of years. And part of that relationship means we should do what we can to keep them healthy and safe. Which means controlling their population through spaying and neutering.

Are We Really Having a Why Spay And Neuter Dogs & Cats Debate? #BtC4Animals
Slave dogs.
There are so many other things I wanted to say to the confused self proclaimed animal advocate questioner on Twitter. I actually started to type a Tweet asking if the questioner had ever been to a country where there are no pounds, no population control and sickly, starving dogs and cats do in fact roam free. I have. Those countries certainly didn't look like the nature correcting itself utopia the questioner seems to think happens when unaltered cats and dogs are allowed complete choice of how to live. It looked sad.

All of this seems so black and white to me. I believe that we knew we were doing the right thing for long ago domesticated animals by helping to control their populations. The symbiotic relationship between humans and these animals is that we provide them with food and shelter and they provide us with work and love. If there are too many dogs and cats for us to provide for, allowing them to die in the wild or killing them isn't part of the caring for their health and safety deal we made when these animals chose to live with us tens of thousands of years ago. They still work for us and love us. We have medical technology that, with very little side effects, continues to allow us to try to feed and shelter them. Why would this still be something we debate?
*I am choosing not to reveal the identity of the Twitter questioner because I refuse to feed undeserved attention to ignorance. Also, I believe the original question tagged the low cost vet clinic that I volunteer for because the questioner was refused service for having an unaltered pet. Only spayed or neutered pets receive the benefits free or low cost vet service, a policy I wholeheartedly support. Spay and neuter surgeries are available at no cost from the local animal shelter with a certificate from the clinic.
Are We Really Having a Why Spay And Neuter Dogs & Cats Debate? #BtC4Animals
If Amelia wasn't being "held captive" by her mutilated organs and leash, she'd have amazing opportunities roaming free like starving, getting killed by a car, coyote or disease. But if such "natural selection" didn't kill her she'd have already had 18 litters of kittens! Maybe all those kittens would "choose" to live with the Twitter questioner...
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14 Comments
Molly The Wally link
10/14/2014 08:20:36 pm

We so agree. Just go to poorer countries and you will see a lot of strays not having a great life at all. Spaying is just common sense. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Best wishes Molly

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Julie Flanders link
10/15/2014 12:26:12 am

I had no idea some people felt this way! To me if there is anything easy to get behind, it's spaying and neutering. Wow!

Great to meet you through BTC.

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Taryn link
10/15/2014 01:05:52 am

That Twitter person sounds like a hard core animals right person trying to stir up trouble. While I will never agree with mandatory spay/neuter laws, I do agree with the benefits of spaying/neutering to control population, esp. feral population. Letting "natural selection" handle pet over-population is just disguised cruelty. My dogs are neutered, however I want to be able to choose at what age I neuter them and not have the law mandate it must be done by 4 months old (or whatever young age is chosen.).

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Sue link
10/15/2014 01:19:10 am

For me it is a black and white issue, though I do have some problems with the early age some shelters and rescues do s/n. Jeffie was neutered at 7 weeks old. Same shelter wanted Rosie spayed at 8 weeks old. My vet agrees with me that's too early. However, that's another subject for another day, right? :-)

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Jodi link
10/15/2014 02:09:22 am

I can't believe some people actually still think this way. Personally I feel that many people aren't aware of the low cost spay/neuter programs available in their areas.

I have a friend in NC who drives every three months to the county and picks up three vouchers for free spay/neuters and donates them to her vet. Every resident of the county is entitled to get three vouchers every three months, but a lot of people aren't aware of that! Can you imagine if every resident of that county got 12 vouchers a year? Can you imagine what that would do for the shelter population in that County? It would be amazing. I bet they could eventually even begin helping surrounding states. Yet it's a sadly underutilized program, mostly because people don't know.

I'm hoping that tweeter was a really obnoxious troll. :-(



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KimT link
10/15/2014 02:25:05 am

There is such a crying need for thorough education when it comes to animal welfare issues! Way too many myths and falsehoods abound. I hope you were able to at least "plant a seed" of better understanding in that twitter convo.

Kudos to you for all your efforts in rescue!

Thank you for blogging the change for animals,
KimT
btc4animals.com

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Mary E. Haight link
10/15/2014 05:27:22 am

This is so PeTA...sounds like Ingrid's manifesto from decades ago. I would say it's a point of view that is completely out of step with reality. It is shocking to run into this throwback thinking passing itself off as an idea that needs debate!

While science has determined that too early spay/neuter is not recommended vis-a-vis hormones that are necessary to the healthy growth of bones and organs and later, a causative in bone cancer, it's not a "mutilation". Absurd and unworthy of debate. Thanks for your post =)

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Cathy Bennett link
10/15/2014 09:49:32 am

Wow, we've still got such a long way to go don't we? Watching strays suffer is just so painful, I don't understand...

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Ann Staub link
10/15/2014 06:49:16 pm

All I can say is wow... what in the world?! I think that person is probably beyond convincing by now. Especially with Twitter where you can only type so many words at once...

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SlimDoggy link
10/15/2014 11:14:03 pm

This is a typical American 'bleeding heart' as my dad would say. An extremist reaction which we are famous for. It's like the Merle's Door fanatics. Yes, if I lived in an isolated and insulated community would I spay or neuter? Maybe not, but I'm also a responsible pet owner who wouldn't let me dogs procreate without intent. Would I like my dogs to be allowed to roam free and be a bit more independent - sure, but not at the expense of their safety. There are too many irresponsible pet owners out there already who don't properly care for their pets - let's not encourage more irresponsible behavior.

Reply
Pamela link
10/16/2014 12:23:57 am

I don't think it's bad to have a thoughtful and serious debate about the rights of animals and our responsibilities toward them. But in truth, domestic animals have similar constraints on their freedom to those we put on humans.

Humans aren't allowed to marry their siblings, deny their children medical care, or commit suicide (in most U.S. states). Is it a restriction on our absolute freedom? Yes. Just like we restrict the movement of domestic animals and their ability to reproduce freely.

Most dogs (and cats) would not thrive in the wild without our intervention. And neither would most humans.

But I'm not certain how to engage someone with such a vastly different view of this subject. Maybe you're right that they need to spend some time volunteering in a developing nation with a large feral dog population.

Reply
Kitty Cat Chronicles link
10/16/2014 12:42:43 am

GREAT post. I agree with everything you wrote, wholeheartedly. The ignorance of some people is baffling. Sharing.

P.S. I just saw your Twitter message about my social icons. I apologize for the extremely delayed response. I am terrible at checking Twitter. Anyway, I sent you an email through your contact form.
I also apologize for not getting over here for a visit recently. I was so excited to find your blog, and then I forgot to add it to my list of favorites. Adding now! Although, if you have a way to subscribe to your posts via email, I would love to subscribe.

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Connie link
10/16/2014 06:07:36 am

I imagine the person posing the question was either from or a strong supporter of PITA.. no wait.. PETA...

You know, in that twisted train of thought, I can sort of understand it.. not that I agree with it one bit.. but what gets me is the movement by "holistic' pet owners, who love their cats and want the absolute best for them (no vaccines because it weakens the immune system, organic meat for cats no carbs, etc) are starting in on the 'leave them intact' movement. They think that cats react like people - who suffer when their hormones are removed and feel the need to go on hormone replacement or like large dogs who sometimes have hip and knee or bladder issues when neutered too young (but not small dogs) forgetting all of the damage that hormones do and the increased risk of mammary cancer etc.. they are using some small studies regarding different animals and observation and self reporting studies to claim that removing the hormones contributes to a whole host of illnesses and dis-ease with in the body.. DRIVES ME NUTS.. because people who are on the fringes are starting to believe this and are starting to actually feel guilty for having neutered their pets.. forgetting what a total pain in the an intact animal is..

Can some people handle an intact family pet.. sure.. but not everyone.. and not even most people.. and you shouldn't do it with out really knowing what you are getting yourself into.

As for your post.. yes, domesticated.. very very important word there..

Reply
Jackie Bouchard link
10/16/2014 07:43:22 am

Yah know... I kinda wonder if this twitter person bases some of this on reading that "Pukka's Promise." I didn't read it - basically because I knew it would make me crazy. My sis read it and told me that he advocates for not spaying/neutering dogs and just keeping them "contained" while in heat. And he advocates letting them roam - which I can only see being possible EXTREMELY limited situations and only with certain breeds of dog.

And, yes, I've been to other countries (Greece, Mexico, Russia, Brazil) where un-altered pets just roam free. It's terribly sad to see this sad, skinny pups looking for food - and love. It's not puppy utopia by any stretch of the imagination.

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