To neuter ot not to neuter....that is the question - Page 3

It is all about controlling people through what ever means.(not to sound conspiracy theoryish) So much for this being a "FREE" country!! Freedom is an illusion.
You are right Jen...it is the people that are irresponsible that will have the intact dogs that will ooops breed or cause problems and the responsible people pay the price along with the dog. 

 It turns out that the article I cited before has some serious issues with its' validity (scroll down to Rebuttal to "Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete").  It looks like there's no real decisive argument either way for male dogs (other than the organizations that want to prevent people from breeding irresponsibly).  For females one doesn't want to neuter too early (increased risk of spay incontinence) *or* too late (assuming one doesn't intend to breed, since there is real risk for mammary cancer and pyometra).  Once again it comes down to the owner's personal choice and responsibility.  Personally I like the secondary sex characteristics (physical and behavioral) on an adult male, but in my experience (with the caveat that I'm not a breeder, so I haven't seen those aspects) if you neuter the male after adolescence it typically doesn't change them particularly.  If they were hard, driven types, and if they were softies, they stay that way too.

Besides, you can take it just one step further (and it's not that much of a stretch), and realize that there is one way to eliminate the abuse, neglect, overbreeding, euthanizing, etc., of pets.  Uh, that would be to do away with pets!  Right?  Seems to me there are a number of people who have already reached this conclusion, and they've formed groups.  And they have an agenda.  And they started with attacking the fur trade (easy target, rich people).  And they continued with lab animals (easy target).  And they support BSL.  And they support MANDATORY spay/neuter.  And they cater to the softies to peddle their garbage.  And they make you think it's the only way.  And, and, and...

Me personally, I don't alter my dogs, but I have performance animals.   I have intact license for my dogs and yes, I have to pay more for them, and I  resent it because my dogs do not cost the tax payers or the city one damn red cent.

On the other hand, I'm glad  veterinarians convince most of the pet owning general public  to spay/neuter their animals.   It wasn't all that long ago that most pet people thought it was a good idea for Fluffy to have a litter so the kids could see the miracle of life.  Thankfully that kind of thinking is not as prevalent in today's society.  Most of the pet owning public really don't want to deal with a bitch in season or a dog who marks everywhere and who's teeth chatter when he smells a bitch in season. 

Unfortunately, Jenni78  also hit the nail on the head.   I don't think making it more difficult to license intact dogs will do anything to help the problem of shelter overcrowding.  It hasn't so far.  I believe one of the first counties  to enact spay/neuter ordinances was Santa Cruz in California.   Not only has there been  no increase in revenue from additional dog licenses sold, shelter populations actually increased and the costs are up from trying to run the stupid program.  These kinds of ordinances are "feel good, pass'em to garner more  votes come election time"  type things, the fact that they do nothing to solve the problems doesn't make a bit of difference to the politicians.

I neuter and spay were needed so much why not do a visectomy *spelling*. this way the hormonal balances and other issues derived from early castration are irrelevant in the cause. Maybe my dog anatomy isnt all that great but we do this to human and it doesnt screw them up.

I dont beleive in spaying or neutering dogs for any reason unless serving a medical function to save the animals life or after the dog has reached it sexual maturity. The issue isnt with the dog it lies with the ignorance of the owner/handler. 

I absolutely despise some of the selling points though. Such as the handler cant control the Stud so cut his balls off. how ignorant is this. Learn how to handle your dog!!!!!! there are many others but il stick with one in interest of time.

I'm pro spay/neuter with pet quality animals. I think that unless the animal has something to contribute to the gene pool, he/she is better off not having the opportunity to procreate.

I feel the same way about humans, but that's another topic altogether



With purebred males of any breed I like to wait till they're fully mature around 3yrs before I neuter them. Females I prefer to spay before their first heat. I've had plenty of altered animals throughout my life, and never had any problems with it. One of my uncle's hunting dogs died from pyrometra, and I've known a few people who've had "opps" breedings -- possibly  "accidentally on purpose" breedings -- so from my experience I've seen more negative consequences of intact-animal PET ownership than altering.

Working and breeding dogs... generally their owners seem a bit more capable of handling the responsibilities of intact dogs.

I think the average pet owner should spay/neuter, but I am 100% opposed to any spay/neuter requirement laws. *shrugs* We can't even guarentee 100% legal gun ownership, and guns are a lot more dangerous to other folk than a dog's parts. "When testicles are outlawed, only criminals will have any balls."

jc.carroll
why don't you read the excellent articles mentioned here above by vwang and otheres?
Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com

To spay or neuter is no ones decision but my own, and no ones business but my own.
To own an intact animal is not taxable.
I do not pay my dog tax because in the county there are no services, the city has services and the residents there can pay for them.
There are too many people trying to make others believe as they do, live lives by others beliefs.
I'm sick of it.

More and more society is becoming a mob to rule the rest of us, when does enough become enough?

The answer to the question is up to you.
If having an intact animal is more responsibility than you can handle then do it.