People are starting to listen to those of us who are learning the truth about early spay/neuter.
Vets are starting to speak up as well. Like all pioneers and good-thinking people, they are not always treated well by the establishment. Why? Speaking the truth upsets the status quo, and that often means an income loss for others as well.
Here’s the thing. I lost my beloved Cavalier, Murphy, to a cancer linked to early spay/neuter. I had her neutered at six months because we are all told that’s what you do. The arguments for it are silly and amount to brainwashing by special interests: vets, animal shelters and welfare groups, people who invented procedures and refuse to look at the consequences and the clear proof that it is wrong.
Yes, early spay/neuter is wrong. It leads to cancer, thryoid disease, obesity, arthritis. It should be a choice, a choice made by the animal’s family, the animal, and a responsible, knowledgeable veterinarian.
Check out this article: “At What Age Should I Spay or Neuter My Dog or Cat? What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Neutering My Pet? Revisiting the Idea of Early-Age Neutering.” The article outlines how early spay/neuter got started, what the health and behavior issues are with it, and what it means for you and your animal families. It was written by Ron Hines, DVM, PhD, a Texas veterinarian who is apparently under fire from the Texas veterinary association for sometimes giving free advice online.
Really.
I can’t presume to know why people do the things they do, even though I work as an intuitive, and somehow we’re supposed to know things other people don’t. Truth is, I don’t understand brainwashing, or the subtleties that go along with it.
I just love my animal family, and always tried to do right by them.
At the time I lost Murphy I began to learn the truth about early spay/neuter. I’ve been talking the truth ever since.
People say: “But we have to prevent pet over-population.”
Really?
That hasn’t worked. Besides, are you going to let your animals run around untrained and unsupervised? If so, you have a bigger problem to deal with, which starts with common courtesy and respect. You’re the problem, not my animals.
People say: “We have to adopt all the animals in the shelter. We have to rescue animals.”
Really?
Fine, if you want an animal from the shelter. But consider the irony. The shelters are adopting out animals that are bred irresponsibly by your irresponsible neighbors, and perhaps also by you. They are asking you to take care of it for life, at whatever cost that comes to, and denying you the fundamental right to decide one of life’s most important issues: when to spay/neuter your animal.
And you’re still going to those shelter/rescue places why? Tell them no. They’ll start taking better care of the animals who end up in their care. If you want an animal from a shelter organization, make sure the spay/neuter decision is yours. Not theirs.
The irony for me is, my dogs are purebreds and I’m proud of it. I’m proud of their beautiful personalities, their breed, and I love them. If you want to adopt a dog who’s a mixed bag genetically, then do so. You’re free to do that. Leave my purebreds alone.
My cat is a cat mutt I adopted from a local Seattle rescue organization.
All my animals came to me with a spay/neuter agreement in place. I did so early, because that was the recommendation. I didn’t adopt an animal that was spayed or neutered before it came to me. As a responsible pet parent, I was asked to make that decision for them myself.
As we all should be.
I had no idea that the advice I was getting was wrong.
You do, now.
I lost my beloved dog to a cancer linked to early spay/neuter. I have to live with the idea that I might have contributed to that because the responsible pet parent I thought I was clearly was not.
I didn’t know better.
You do now.
Refuse any animal, purebred or otherwise, where the decision on when and why to spay/neuter is anyone else’s but yours. Policies will change when it costs these organizations the thing they most want: money and your support. Plus, they will educate themselves about the truth behind their misguided policies.
Your animal’s life may be at stake.
Your peace of mind should be.
Love life. Love your animals. Say no to early spay/neuter.
Please.
(c) 2012 Robyn M Fritz
