To Spay or Not to Spay
As a pet owner, we strive to make the best decisions for our furry friends, as we are their only advocates. They depend on us for everything they need to survive. There are so many decisions we must make on their behalf. What kind of food should we feed them? When is it time to see a veterinarian? These are all choices we make to ensure they live healthy and happy lives. One of the most controversial decisions we are faced with is whether or not to spay or neuter our pets. Some people feel that it is an unnecessary surgery, while others see it as a means to an end for pet overpopulation. I personally feel that in order to make the best decision, we need to be sure we have the correct facts. First we will cover the topic of pet overpopulation. It is estimated by The Humane Society of the United States that approximately six to eight million pets are brought in to animal shelters every year. Sadly, more than half of these pets are euthanized due to overpopulation. That means that these pets are being “killed” purely because there isn’t enough room to house them. Animal shelters are packed full of adoptable animals just looking for a place to call home. These animals rely on us humans to save their lives, literally. It is irresponsible to allow your pet
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It is an animal’s natural instinct to “roam” for a mate while in heat. This can put them at risk of getting hit by an automobile, attacked by another animal and even killed. An animal will not go in to a heat cycle if they are spayed or neutered. Another pesky behavior that can be curbed by neutering is urine-marking. I’m sure we have all see a male dog lift his leg to urinate on every tree in the neighborhood. Sure there’s nothing wrong with that, but what if it was every chair in your house? Then there would be a problem. To a dog, he is just marking his territory, which all goes back to that search for a
Unfortunately, this is the harsh reality of animal overpopulation. Overcrowded shelters have no other choice but to euthanize these dogs and cats in large numbers. In fact, more animals leave these shelters dead than they do alive. Reducing the amount of unwanted pets in the nation is something that I am strongly passionate about. This issue is highly preventable through a variety of ways. Spay and neuter surgery is a main contributor for animal population control. Support from animal care facilities is necessary for these procedures to take place and stop the ongoing issue. Along
Thesis Statement: Imagine a dog running to fetch a toy, A horse galloping on a trail, or even a heard of cows grazing upon a grassy pasture. These same beloved animals could be suffering an unimaginable fate in some of the world concentration camps that are still standing. Only nowadays they are known to the outside world as slaughterhouses, fur farms, or experimentation centers.
Is animal testing a cruelty an experiment in cruelty. There are many good things that come from animal testing, but there are also a lot of bad things. From animal testing, researchers find medicines that help many people. Also, researchers see if drugs are safe to use on humans, and if they work. However, many animals are killed and kept in captivity and will never be free. Also, animals and humans are not the same, so some drugs that work on animals may be harmful for humans. Animal testing is cruel because it is bad on animals, it is expensive, and many animals are killed or are never the same.
Did you know about 25 million puppies and kittens are born into the United States each year? That’s more than 50,000 born each day in this country alone. Twenty five million pets produce yearly greatly exceeds the amount of willing families to take care of these animals that are born into the world. Even though, these massive amount of litters may in fact be completely healthy there is just not a sufficient enough of homes for this animals to be place in. statically reported by the humane society of the united states in October 2011 6 to 8 million animals who have no place to call their home are put into animal shelters. Unfortunately, due to the excessive surplus of these animals about half which is 3 to 4 million only make it out alive. The other half left to be euthanize by the shelter to make room for the new incoming animals. This turns out to be one animal euthanize every 8 sec. Pet overpopulation has been a serious problem throughout the nation for many years. The on ongoing cycle of bring unwanted litters of pets into the world makes it extremely difficult to reduce the amount of animals being euthanize across the nation each and every day. It’s important for people to understand the need to spay and neuter their family’s pets and all pets in general, all though people don’t understand that need its extremely important to take into account that these thousands of wanted any unneeded animals being born into the world each day will statically end up homeless, place in
There are not enough homes for all the animals that are born every year. Adopting a animal from a shelter helps weaken pet population cycle from overpopulation . “Each year 8 to 12 million dogs, cats, puppies and kittens are euthanized because
Another simple solution to help the ongoing pet overpopulation is education. Being aware of where your pet actually came from is the first step. Do not be afraid to ask questions about your pet's background. Know the breeder's history and reputation. Are they local or out of state? Towell states that “Each year, millions of lost and unwanted dogs and cats end up at animal shelters across the U.S. Half of those animals must be euthanized because of simple math: There are too many animals and not enough good homes”. (Lisa Towell). Simply by adoption from a shelter rather than a breeder can help this problem. Animal shelters are overcrowded leading to euthanasia “Overcrowding may lead to single housing of animals to minimize animal contact
One thing that I think needs to stop is breeding. Breeding is particularly a bigger issue with dogs vs other animals. I know people don't want to stop breeding completely because they want to keep the purebred animals, but what they do know about is all the health issues that come. According to the article “The Truth About Purebred Dogs” purebred animals are more likely to have crippling bone and joint disorders, eye diseases that cause reduced sight or total blindness, heart diseases that drastically shorten a dog's life, endocrine system diseases like hypothyroidism and diabetes, seizure disorders such as epilepsy, skin diseases that cause frantic itching, digestive disorders that cause chronic diarrhea and vomiting, kidney and liver diseases, blood-clotting diseases, and cancer is the #1 killer of many, many breeds. There is over 300 genetic health problems that occur in dogs and purebreds are found to have the most.
In October of 2012, a Jack Russell Terrier puppy named Phoenix was set on fire in Buffalo N.Y. The woman who discovered him was attracted by black smoke. She managed to put out the the flames with her sweater and proceeded to rush him to a small animal hospital with severe burns over his whole body and a serious ankle infection. Although he lost 60% off of both of his ears he maintained almost complete mobility of his leg. He still has a slight limp. Judi Bunge, a senior vet technician at Buffalo Small Animal Hospital who had been looking after Phoenix, adopted him soon after he had fully recovered. He now lives with Judi and her two other dogs. "Phoenix will become a therapy dog and continue his work as an ambassador for the
Pet overpopulation is a topic that generally goes unnoticed unless you are a pet owner yourself. Every year, millions of cats and dogs are euthanized in local animal shelters. This is due to the reason that there are more pets out
The myth of pet overpopulation is a huge campaign that’s considered truth nationwide. The National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) explains this myth and why it’s used. Activists use the myth to put all blame of animal shelter death on breeders. Radical groups perpetuate this myth by making breeding restrictions. This myth is the biggest cause of euthanizing healthy, adoptable animals. Per year, about 3.1 million dogs are adopted while 2.1 million are euthanized. However, this number for euthanized dogs is not broken down by reasoning for euthanization. Overpopulation propagandists often claims this number reaches over 6 million each year. While shelters heavily euthanize adoptable dogs and breeders increasingly use puppy mills, each area across
To maximize their profits, female dogs are bred right after every litter, with little-to-no recovery time in between. When they can no longer reproduce, they are then killed.
With a minimal cost ranging anywhere from free (with assistance programs) to around $120.00 depending on the size and sex of the animal. This procedure is often referred to as “fixing” your pet. Many vets recommend these procedures take place between four and eight months of age. By utilizing this service, a responsible pet owner can ensure their pets can not reproduce. This common and simple procedure not only prevents breeding but also helps prevent many common and transferable infections. When a female animal is spayed the entire reproductive system is removed. This prevents common “headaches” that female dogs get when going in and out of heat (menstruating). When a male animal is neutered both the testicles are removed. Spaying and neutering provide many benefits to pets, it reduces the risk of many types of reproductive cancers in dogs and cats by up to 90%. Fixing your pet also decreases their aggression and dominance towards other animals and usually people. The simple surgical procedure prevents disease and infection by means of reducing biting/puncture wounds due to aggressiveness. Neutering your male dog will decrease his sexual tendency to mount legs or other animals, and aids in reducing the pets tendency to wander off from its home and owner. All of these benefits help contribute to fewer pets having to be put down from disease, aggression, and infection. This also
Overpopulation of cats and dogs is a big problem in animal shelters all over the country. Shelters give an unrealistic time period for adoption, which sadly falls too fast for many animals. A larger number of these animals die not because they are sick or have any behavior issues, although that is a big problem within the shelters. Simply because shelters don’t have the resources to take care of them. Animals, just like people have emotions and when someone is locked in a small space emotion tend to go crazy. A dog could act totally different in a cage than out in a home with a family. An estimated 17 million dogs and cats were killed in America’s shelters every year simply because they didn’t have homes. I believe there is a difference between
Animals are an important and valued part of many families and cultures. In many households, animals are considered members of the family, receive Christmas and birthday presents, and are cared for just as a human child would be. Opposition to animal cruelty has even become a sort of universal value in American culture(Kordzek 604). But animals are uniquely vulnerable to abuse, and despite this they still do not receive much needed protection from the law. The penalties for animal cruelty are not frequently severe enough to even deter one from harming an animal. This is dangerous not only for animals, but for human beings too. Animal cruelty and domestic violence have been proven to correlate in countless ways, and recognizing animal cruelty as a serious criminal offense and a form of domestic violence would serve to protect both animals and human beings from needless acts of violence. Instituting stiffer criminal penalties for animal cruelty and increasing the protective measures for victims of abuse is necessary to further the protection of both animals and human beings.
For my research topic, I would be interested in writing about animal cruelty. Many people in this world are raised differently and it effects the way they treat animals of any kind. The reason for my decision, is because I am an animal lover and at this moment in my life I am going to school to be a vet assistant and then a veterinarian. I see animal every day and it breaks my heart to see animals abused and not taken care of.