Spaying and Neutering

Well, I suppose I am back on my high horse on top of my soapbox again.
My good friend Kinka got spayed yesterday. This is a good thing. I wish more people would believe that.
I've mentioned before that my mom and I work at a pet superstore, as dog trainers. We meet many people every day, and also many dogs. What amazes me is how many dogs are still intact. We hear many stories why. My favorite is the one about how they think they have a wonderful dog, and want to breed him or her, to produce a puppy just like the original dog. Another good one is that they feel that every dog should be bred at least once. Or those people that get a purebred dog at a pet shop, then want to make puppies, so they will get some money from their investment. Never mind that the dog might be an unknown mix, with no traceable parentage, or that the structure is bad, or they have an overbite, or they have seizures, or a very bad temperament. Don't they know how many unwanted puppies end up in shelters? Don't they know how many dogs are euthanized every year?
They don't understand how hard some breeders work to make sure they produce only healthy puppies (right Jen?). They don't understand about Baer testing, or OFA X-rays for hips, or CERF tests for eyesight. They don't understand that they could lose the female and the puppies, if the pregnancy gets complicated.
Thank goodness for the responsible people that breed responsibly. Thank goodness for responsible people that will spay and neuter their dogs. Spayed or neutered dogs have a longer life expectancy. They will never get uterine cancer or testicular cancer. The incidence of mammary cancer goes way down in spayed females. Also they never have heat cycles or false pregnancies. Neutered males don't feel the need to roam looking for females. They don't lift their legs on everything, and have milder temperaments.
I am neutered, and look what a great dog I am! Humble, too.