Spaying at a young age....

jdata

I am sorry Chuffy but you can't teach everyone nor is everyone as dedicated to 'contain, control, teach, and dare I say it, spend time with her/his animal". If it becomes 'work' that is a turn off to a lot of 'convenient' pet owners. That's fact You know it and I know it. Control and containment is not the absolute answer. Not every owner knows their dogs heat cycle nor do they understand canine behavior.

Let's face reality... "Fixing" the animal is the logic answer because it is 'convenient'.

Well, lets face it, not everyone is dedicated to walk, feed or vet their animals either.  Do we accept that?  No.  We educate.

Fixing a dog will NOT stop it from roaming, will NOT stop it aggressing, will NOT stop it being a nuisance to the local neighbourhood, will NOT stop it being hit by a car or causing an accident......You need to properly contain the animal ANYWAY.  Failing to do so is breaking the law in many areas.  Containing a dog properly - for his safety as well as everyone else's - is as much a part of caring for him as feeding him.  We are GETTING there in the UK.  Seems like the loose dog problem is worse over there than it is here.  I am telling you it IS possible to educate people that far.

I will never condone surgery on a pet dog for convenience's sake.  Dogs, are not really that convenient. especially not young dogs.  You want convenient, get a goldfish, or better still, a stuffed dog.

Chuffy

We are GETTING there in the UK.  Seems like the loose dog problem is worse over there than it is here.  I am telling you it IS possible to educate people that far

The sacrifices you have made as a country to "get that far" are not worth it to me, personally. Your gov't is largely in AR hands and that will never, ever be worth it to me.

There is a culture clash for certain, for ex your country seems a lot more tolerant of at large CATS, than here in the USA where they are largely considered a nuiscance.

But preaching spay and neuter is going to save more animals than it is ever going to KILL...and that is what we in the USA are talking about...life...and death.

JackieG

People buy more house than they can afford, because the bank tells them it's ok.  They don't educate themselves and are surprised when they can't find a decent job.  They have children when they can't take care of themselves.  They drink and get behind the wheel, despite years and years of education and public awareness.  Why should they be any different with their pets?  Do we do like the AR people want and just outright do away with pet ownership?  Or do we struggle with all our human weaknesses and do the best we can for the unwanted dogs and cats?  Is it the best answer, of course not.  Is it a long term solution, of course not.  It is what it is and you can wish it were different and bemoan the sad facts but there it is and the puppies just keep coming.

Missed this...what a great post . I think it speaks to the alternative to Nanny gov't that is prevalent elsewhere...I don't want to go there...no way...you educate where you can...but when it comes to it, we all have to deal with the fact that idiots abound...and they reproduce like the rest of us LOL.

I am no supporter or mandatory s/n as all here know. But I do support as an idea, s/n for the average pet owner, and I show my support by req when I place a pup. Now as to age? That could be argued all day long and sideways...and doubtless will be LOL. Shelters and rescues do as they can and as they must to protect the dogs they place....and well they should. The cycle must stop at some point.

Joe pet owner? As stated I have in the family a bitch that was fixed at 8 weeks...she is going on 10 and no issues with her bladder...heck she is TEN! Maybe IF she did have an issue it'd be BECAUSE she was TEN...lol.

I've considered and am still looking into pre placement s/n on pups. I know breeders who do this and they have had no negative feedback or higher incidences of acl/hd issues than what is common in their relative breeds. The jury is still out on that one for me...but it's interesting to look into.