Early Spay and Neuter

[Kathy Wilson]

What are the pluses and minuses? I understand the practice for shelter animals, but why the others?

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Kathy said: "My next question was whether breeders had ever been deceived by a client(purchaser) and had them breed a dog that was sold as a pet. I thought it might be easier for a breeder to keep track of the puppies than would a shelter."

Heck ya! I am sure many breeders were deceived by clients and the clients went on to breed and sell. That is why breeders took it into their own hands. It is not easy at all for a breeder to keep track of puppies. I live far away from my breeder. How is she going to stop me had I been so inclined? She wouldnt know if I was breeding and selling my puppies. She can phone me till blue in the face asking but all I would have to do is not answer the phone. I highly doubt she will invest the money to travel all the way here and track me down...pretty hard to demand a copy of the spay/neuter contract if I dont answer her calls. And she isnt going to go to the financial hassle to hire someone for legal actions for a "what if". Right now I could move and there is nothing in the contract I signed that says I have to inform her where I live in the future...I could go on and on. Like taking candy from a baby.

So fix the puppy then sell the puppy and nobody will breed said puppy cutting down on competition. The breeders turf is safe at least when it comes to her own creations.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Wow! This is a hot topic so I guess I'll add my two cents. My two doodles were both neutered (one at 6 months as recommended by my vet and the other before I got him from the breeder). The vet said early neutering could affect size, but my dogs are 28 and 30 inches and about 100 pounds each. An agility person told me that it could affect their bone development and a spayed or neutered dog should be bone tested before competing. I really don't know, but I definitely think all "pets" should be neutered. They make better pets. Hopefully pet owners should be responsible enough to make sure that their pet is spayed or neutered and not see themselves as a breeder when the inevidable happens.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

And like Lynn said....this also cuts down on unwanted puppies! I cant breed my dog!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I do like to answer the questions that are put to me, though, so here are the statements which make me feel there is a prejudice here against shelter animals.

I am very much in favor of the practice for shelter animals

It's not an easy issue for me as I don't think any dog or cat should be neutered before they turn 6 months

[Kathy Wilson]

The reason I said I was in favor of it for shelter animals is because I fear someone might get a shelter animal and be irresponsible in letting it out and "letting nature take its course". Do I like it? No! In the school district where I work, the kids are constantly coming in and telling me their dog or cat just had puppies or kittens. I tell them "your dog/cat is broken and needs to be fixed!" I've also helped rescue a litter of nearly newborn kittens left in a cardboard box in the middle of the street as well as many dogs left to run at will. I've had my heart broken more than once. So I'll grudgingly say yes to early spay/neuter if it provides a dog or cat with a home rather than a gas chamber.


If I am privileged to move to Oregon in the near future, I not only want to adopt a couple of shelter dogs and cats, I'd also like to look into adopting a horse or two, IF I am able to buy some acreage. I'm definitely NOT against shelter animals. I wish I could adopt several. As to why I'm not adopting my next dog from a shelter, I want to train with her from puppyhood to be a therapy team, and I want to provide puppies for Guide Dogs and Service dogs.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"The reason I said I was in favor of it for shelter animals is because I fear someone might get a shelter animal and be irresponsible in letting it out and "letting nature take its course"

Kathy, the thing is that people are irresponsible with puppies they buy from breeders, too. Recently, Jacquie fostered a homeless ALD for which the owner had paid $2500. This dog was unaltered, so matted she had to be completely shaved, and completely untrained & neglected, and then turned over to rescue unwanted. On the other hand, some of us have adopted rescue doodles who are lavished with every imaginable kind of veterinary care, premium food, etc. So I just don't think that any distinction should be made between any kind of procedure or any other kind of care for breeder puppies VS rescue dogs, because there truly is no difference between them. It would be a disaster for an unaltered dog to get out and become pregnant period, regardless of where that dog comes from.

[Kathy Wilson]

Excellent points, Karen. I finally "get" it. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I'm learning.....sometimes very slowly.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

IMHO, The way things are right now in this country, in this economy and in this business, I would not trust anyone who breeeds without this assurance. Shelters are so full across this country that perfectly beautiful dogs are being "killed" just to make room for more, who will also be "killed." It is irresponsible for ANYONE to be breeding more dogs in this climate. Legitimate Breeders have slowed down breeding and are taking assurances before they breed more litters. The only people who are not doing this are the mills & BYB's who do no health testing, don't care where their pups go and are only in it to make money. There are better and more humane ways to make a buck. Take a look at Finnigan if you're not sure. ALL animals should be spayed/neutered before leaving shelter, rescue or breeder.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

I totally agree with you Lynn. Good post.

[Kathy Wilson]

I want to know more about Finnegan, please.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/almost-heaven-hell-update?...

[Kathy Wilson]

appreciate the link, Karen......also glad there was a place to chip in.