I met a guy a few years ago who had a Great Dane. This poor dane walked around with 4 or 5 "training" collars on his neck at all times and they were tight. Really tight. I couldn't get my fingers anywhere near under them.
One day he showed up and the dog's ears were bandaged. I disagreed silently. About a month later he showed up again with the dogs ears still in bandages. I asked him what was taking so long to heal. His response? He had to get them done twice since he didn't like the way they looked the first time.
I have friends that have Boxers. Ralphie, the biggest of the lot likes to tussle. He tussled too much and got his ear bit and ripped. When I saw Ralphie's ear my friend said that's why people clip Boxer's ears. And it made sense.
And there are reasons for that too. For example, cattle dogs get their tails docked because the cattle will grab the dogs by the tails and snap their spines. As much as I dislike it, when it's functional I accept it.
I'm torn about the spay and neuter thing, morally. Or is it ethically, I get them mixed up. Either way all of my animals are fixed. Anyway, sadly a whole lot of people don't spay and neuter. And Arpit Srivastava , your comment just popped up. I'll sit back and watch Alice Cabrera respond because I have a feeling she'll give the same answer I would.
I have a pitbull i got at 6 weeks old, she is a purebred blue nose, she is the sweetest dog i have ever owned, she even has a better temperment than out english bulldog!
Getting back to the post......Owners not dogs are to blame for the behavior of the dog. There is a need to pass tougher laws against owners who abuse their animals.
That's way wrong, Arpit Srivastava. There aren't that many street mongrels when compared to abandoned family dogs and cats in the US. And many people in the US don't respect the animal enough to find it a good home if they're unwanted, they just turn it over to a shelter or let it run wild. It's sad really.
As you can see, there are dozens of dogs up for adoption, many are purebred. This is but one shelter in the Denver area and that number does not include the breed specific rescue groups.
Do animals miss reproducing? That's not the point. And we can't know that for sure anyway. Is it wrong to put your animal through the trauma of getting fixed? Personally I hate doing it to the them. But that's not the point either. Is it wrong to deny an animal it's natural ability to reproduce? That's still not the point. The most important reason to get your animal fixed, the reason that trumps all others, hands down, no argument, is to save the lives of other animals that will be killed because there is not enough available homes for them all. Period. People either don't remember that fact or turn a blind eye to it when they breed animals, either for profit or for just one litter. And people need to be aware. The amount of animals that we kill is atrocious and horrifying. And it's not limited to the US. I've heard from others in other countries and the problem seems to be universal.
Alice Cabrera You made your arguments wonderfully, I just had to add my two cents. Arpit Srivastava Thank you for admitting that you've abandoned your argument. I for one appreciate that you've changed your mind and I hope that you won't try to convince any others that it's okay to breed their animals. Because your original argument, sad to say, is a large part of the problem.
I got one of these, Rescued from a shelter (long timer ) he is neutered, tagged , acts like a walking teddy bear, and still has his ears (which are one of his best features). I just love him to bits .
neutering your pets to stop them reproducing isn't the only reason to get it done ...there's stopping them from roaming and potentially being hit by cars or picked up as strays and euthanised if not claimed , there's the benefit of them being far less likely of developing testicular cancers and in the females mammary tumours and pyometra . not desexing your pet is irresponsible , your dog won't be the one suffering - it's the six or ten dogs in the shelter who will die because those potential homes were taken by your puppies .
too true. I notice you don't say desex me! But that is probably the one humane thing humans do do for their dogs - ironically this is what many humans refuse to do!
Comments
One day he showed up and the dog's ears were bandaged. I disagreed silently. About a month later he showed up again with the dogs ears still in bandages. I asked him what was taking so long to heal. His response? He had to get them done twice since he didn't like the way they looked the first time.
I nearly hit him.
http://www.doglistener.co.uk/medical/neuter.shtml
As you can see, there are dozens of dogs up for adoption, many are purebred. This is but one shelter in the Denver area and that number does not include the breed specific rescue groups.
Alice Cabrera You made your arguments wonderfully, I just had to add my two cents.
Arpit Srivastava Thank you for admitting that you've abandoned your argument. I for one appreciate that you've changed your mind and I hope that you won't try to convince any others that it's okay to breed their animals. Because your original argument, sad to say, is a large part of the problem.
not desexing your pet is irresponsible , your dog won't be the one suffering - it's the six or ten dogs in the shelter who will die because those potential homes were taken by your puppies .