Below is the opinions of some of my visitors about spaying and
neutering. Some believe in it and
some don't. I know what I believe and if you have browsed
my page then you know also. Everyone
is welcome to post their opinion about the subject. I will
post the email messages just as I recieve
them the only way that I will alter them is to take your
name and email address off of it. If you say
it is ok to leave your name and email on it than I
will leave it on. So please let me know your
opinion about spaying and neutering and I will gladly post
them here. I will post both sides of the
issue for everyone to read. Rather you agree with it or disagree
please let me know and tell me why
or if you would just like to comment on one of the postings here.
tobi@primenet.com
First opinion that I recieved
1. We don't believe that s/n of pets should be held out as the
solution to
animal shelter deaths;
2. We don't think there is a problem of too many pets but rather a lack
of
education about animal behavior and too many false expectations about
pet
care;
3. If too many people spay or neuter their pets, there will eventually
be a
shortage of dogs and cats to produce the next generation of pets;
4. We believe in education as a solution, not guilt.
If you read our articles on s/n and shelter issues, you will see that
we
recommend sterilization as a convenient way to avoid unwanted litters,
as a
health measure, and as a way to avoid male-dominance temperament problems,
but we do not present it as any sort of answer to shelter deaths because
the dogs that wind up in shelters are usually not puppies, and the
puppies
that do go to shelters are generally adopted very quickly. OTOH, we
do
suggest that shelters and rescue groups s/n the dogs they adopt out
because
dogs that wind up in these situations are usually not temperamentally
or
physically suitable as breeding animals.
Comments from a visitor about the above email
1. We don't believe that s/n of pets should be held out as the solution
to
>animal shelter deaths;
There are several reasons to s/n pets. Aside from the health
and temperment
benefits, s/n is important to reduce the number of animals being born
that
will eventually end up in a shelter. No it is not the total solution,
but
it IS an important part. If animals are not born, they can't
be homeless,
they can't be turned in to shelters, and they can't be euthanized.
>
>2. We don't think there is a problem of too many pets but rather a
lack of
>education about animal behavior and too many false expectations about
pet
>care;
Not a problem of too many pets? Have you visited any large cities
lately?
Have you visited your local shelter and asked how many of the animals
were
turned in by owners, and how many were found on the streets?
If you have
looked at any statistics regarding the birth rates of animals, you
would
understand that there simply aren't enough homes for all of them.
False
expectations only add to the problem. There are far too many animals
living
on the streets that have never had homes. It may have started
with an owner
discarding the pet, but if that animal was not s/n, it leads only to
more
and more less socialized animals that cannot be placed in a home.
Not a
problem of too many pets? I suggest you do some reading on the subject
and
reconsider your opinion.
>
>3. If too many people spay or neuter their pets, there will eventually
be a
>shortage of dogs and cats to produce the next generation of pets;
I find this statement VERY hard to believe. According to the HSUS,
70,000
puppies and kittens are born every day in the USA alone. If you add
the
thousands of animals being born in other countries, then consider human
birth rates, the threat of pet extinction is simply not a possibility.
Let's not forget the fact that there will always be breeders reproducing
these animals. With over 8 million homeless animals being euthanized
per
year, how can you honestly think that there may someday be a shortage?
I
would like to think it's possible, but abolishing taxes is a more likely
scenario.
>
>4. We believe in education as a solution, not guilt.
Whatever works is fine with me. The important thing is to get
the s/n done.
At this point, and with how bad the situation is, I have no problem
using
guilt, manipulation, whatever. As long as the job gets done -
which is the
important thing. And no one can feel guilt, unless there is something
to be
guilty about.
>
>If you read our articles on s/n and shelter issues, you will see that
we
>recommend sterilization as a convenient way to avoid unwanted litters,
as a
>health measure, and as a way to avoid male-dominance temperament problems,
>but we do not present it as any sort of answer to shelter deaths because
>the dogs that wind up in shelters are usually not puppies, and the
puppies
>that do go to shelters are generally adopted very quickly. OTOH, we
do
>suggest that shelters and rescue groups s/n the dogs they adopt out
because
>dogs that wind up in these situations are usually not temperamentally
or
>physically suitable as breeding animals.
Okay, you recommend sterilization as a convenient way to avoid unwanted
litters. Isn't that what we've been saying all along. If
you take away the
litters, you take away the overpopulation problem. You mention that
dogs in
shelters are usually not puppies - but they started out that way. If
they
weren't born in the first place, they wouldn't end up in the shelter,
would
they? As far as, "dogs that wind up in these situations are usually
not
temperamentally or physically suitable as breeding animals" - not only
am I
appalled at that statement, but offended as well. What a cold,
heartless,
thing to say. Dogs are not "breeding animals", they are living
things.
Their purpose is not to make money for people. And how dare you
insinuate
that dogs in shelters have less worth. A mixed breed and an expensive
pure
bred have equal value - to people with moral standards. Anyone
who sees
animals as nothing more than a financial investment should not be permitted
to own them in the first place.
People with opinions similar to yours are the ones that need to be
educated.
Look into the eyes of an animal in a cage at the shelter. Do you only
see
dollar signs? Do you think that animal chose to be there?
Everytime an
animal is killed because there is no place for it to live - it is our
fault.
We are supposed to be a civilized and educated society, aren't we.
Yet we
allow unnecessary mass murders to go on daily because we have some
stupid
opinion about not s/n. I suggest you go watch some of these animals
die,
and then ask yourself if your opinion is worth it!
Alicia &
Tugger's Tidbits
Received on Sun Febuary 8th, 1998
I believe that s/n would help out a GREAT deal with over population.
I also believe it is the owners fault for getting an animal in the
first
place. Once the animal becomes a problem at all to them, they put them
in animal shelters. If people would be responsible and loving for a
change,
it would help out a lot. I work at a vet clinic that takes in strays
and
s/n them and finds them homes. It is so heartbreaking to see an animal
when their owner brings them in and dosen't come back.
Mail Your Opinions To:
tobi@primenet.com
