Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Itspuppyluv I have often wondered about this myself. I know you like to give people the benefit of the doubt, you go to dog shows, meet people at dog parks and I assume in your search for your dogs you only found good breeders that care a lot about their pets but there are horrible people out there breeding for the money. If you don't care about the dogs - watch Animal Cops, there are many - you don't care if they are too small to breed, have genetic defects, if they die. It is an easy way to make money! Name one thing where easy money is involved that doesn't attract despicable people. How can you not see it? The world is full of uncaring people. There are people out there who have lit dogs on fire for the fun of it. Just because you've never met them, it doesn't mean they don't exist.
I do not agree with spaying or neutering dogs unless there is a reason other than human convenience to do so. My vet and many other progressive vets believe that dogs, like humans, should keep all of their God given "parts" unless there is a valid reason to remove them.
This works for you. I did not have my dog neutered for my convenience. I did it for his health and because I did not want to take a chance he would breed.
I think it is irresponsible to start suggesting to thousands of people that as long as you are careful there is no reason to spay or neuter. We already destroy millions of dogs in this country every year, think about how many more will have to be put down if the public changes it's mind about this.
Somewhere Bob Barker's head just exploded. |
I respect your opinion and hope that you can respect mine. Here is a part of an article from
www.neutering.org that explains my position and why it is not irresponsible:
The Ethics of Neutering
"Forced castration is immoral.
In 1985, the Supreme Court recognized this when it ruled that involuntary surgical castration
constituted cruel and unusual punishment."
~ Atul Gawande
Why am I against neutering my companion animal? Well, the basic answer is pretty simple; I don't want to be neutered myself. I don't want the surgical mutilation of my gender... the loss of my sex and what I was created by God and Nature to be. I consider my companion animals my friends, subjecting them to something that I myself could not tolerate just doesn't seem very friendly to me.
People might say, "but animals don't think like that, they don't care if they are neutered or not." I must reply that I don't subscribe to this theory because neutering alters many behavioral and physical characteristics; it must therefore alter attitudes and drives. Neutering devitalizes an animal and many people see this as an advantage because it makes the animal easier to control. Spay has been shown to cause nervous disorders in Bitches, resulting in worsened separation anxiety and even digestive issues. In Wolves spayed females scent changes and they may need to be separated from their pack or harassed to death by pack members.
Billions of years of trial and error went into the complex living organism. If gonads were simply isolated organs of reproduction then removing them would not be such a consequential issue, but these organs serve complex and interrelated functions involving growth and mental and physical development... they regulate many biological processes other than reproduction... and even have a bearing on social interaction between the animals themselves. Human beings are not wise enough to know the ways of God and Nature; to presume such is the folly of fools. We haven't a clue what our animal companions may think of neuter or how their animal friends may regard them for being de-sexed.
Another reason I'm against neuter is people telling me that I'm irresponsible for keeping an intact animal. They seem to use the sexual mutilation of their "pets" as a soapbox to stand on to hoist up their egos and put themselves above others.
Bob (your) Barker's "be a responsible pet owner, have your dog or cat spayed or neutered" is an example of some people trying to guilt-control other people into thoughtless acts. In fact it's not even an intelligent slogan because spay and neuter are two words that mean the same thing. Population control of domestic animals is a serious issue, as is the population control of the human animal which is totally running amok. Maybe human beings should do first by example, aye, and get themselves neutered too!
People don't want a dog. People want something that looks like a dog.
I am NOT irresponsible for keeping my animal companions intact. In fact, to have intact animals and prevent them from mating requires a good deal more responsibility that most people possess... which is one reason why neutering is so popular; many people are lazy and would rather surgically carve their canine into a servile plaything than deal with the whole creature. Well, fine... if that's your ethic and the only way you can prevent superfluous life, a tormented existence, and an early death then so be it... go out and neuter your "pet," but don't you dare look down on those of us who choose not to do this and call us irresponsible!
Yet another item that troubles me about the neuter craze are people I call Neuter Nazis. These, oh so much better than thou, hypocrites frequently operate animal shelters and rescues while often breeding animals themselves. They are snoods who want to know everything about everyone and snoop into peoples lives, under the guise of inspection, thinking they know what's best for everybody. These people develop adoption contracts the size of a telephone book that are hardly legal and impossible to make binding, and demand neuter as a prerequisite of adoption regardless of another person's ethical or spiritual beliefs and practices. They are simple control freaks who enjoy playing God, and they get off on putting down others who do not subscribe to their practices. What is most important to a Neuter Nazi is their political agenda, NOT the health and welfare of animals. They are quite likely responsible for a huge number of the homeless animals who are put to death annually, because after having a go-round with these people a lot of folk just say to hell with this and go out and buy a puppy. I devote an entire section to these people below.
"In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self."
~ Lord Mahavira
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please go to ww.neutering.org for more info on this subject.