11–20 of 67 posts
Sorry to be "that guy" but "dog days" has nothing to do with a summertime culling of stray dogs. It has to do with the "Dog Star", Sirius: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_days This is a good article, and puppy mills (and the general unnaturalness of many dog breeds) are something more people should know about.
It is worth noting that the campaign to make spaying and neutering required has also done considerable harm. Puppies are often spayed and neutered as young as 6 weeks, despite the numerous health problems associated with the practice. Even the standard 6 months causes significant increases in a number of health problems. We need to stop punishing our pets based on the notion that if we don't get them fixed early, the…
"they will breed via magic or spores or something of the sort." You obviously don't understand the problem, the problem isn't with people who are responsible. The problem is with people dump there dogs on the side of the road, the people who breed there dogs because it sounded cool, or to make money and end up not being able to sell them/give them away and end up dumping them somewhere. I have never heard of "signifi…
It is worth noting that the campaign to make spaying and neutering required has also done considerable harm. Puppies are often spayed and neutered as young as 6 weeks, despite the numerous health problems associated with the practice. Even the standard 6 months causes significant increases in a number of health problems. We need to stop punishing our pets based on the notion that if we don't get them fixed early, the…
Do you have any sources for this? Vets and shelters I have had contact with indicate only a slight increased risk. I don't have their sources handy, but I do know they've researched the issue extensively. In general, only the more "old-fashioned" vets have qualms about early spaying and neutering. As to magic spores... well in a shelter environment if a puppy goes out intact it will likely not be fixed by the new own…
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12433723
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9691849
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3506104
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11202221
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15577502
http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.2004.224....
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11787155
http://www.grca.org/health/bigfour_hypo.html
>In general, only the more "old-fashioned" vets have qualms about early spaying and neutering.
Is "old-fasioned" a code for "actually believes in that do no harm nonsense"?
>As to magic spores... well in a shelter environment if a puppy goes out intact it will likely not be fixed by the new owner
Yes, but my dog is not in a shelter, it is in my house. So the constant "you are a bad owner because your dog has testicles" bullshit really doesn't help save anyone or anything.
Somewhat ironic to find this post two links above the one about lab rats getting tortured for "science". I guess rats are uglier.
Soap box time!! -- I walk dogs at a local shelter. There is not a common breed that doesn't find it's way through our doors at some point during the year. Sure, you might not end up with a "certified" purebred that's going to win a dog show (do you really want one of those for your family anyway?), but with almost certainty, I can guarantee that you can find what you're looking for at a local shelter. There is almost…
Looking at petfinder for my area, the only dogs in shelters nearby are "imported" from Puerto Rico, and even those only go to homes that are worthy. I'm saddened by the conditions in shelters in other parts of the country, but I'm not going to fly to Alabama to find a dog.
It is worth noting that the campaign to make spaying and neutering required has also done considerable harm. Puppies are often spayed and neutered as young as 6 weeks, despite the numerous health problems associated with the practice. Even the standard 6 months causes significant increases in a number of health problems. We need to stop punishing our pets based on the notion that if we don't get them fixed early, the…
"they will breed via magic or spores or something of the sort." You obviously don't understand the problem, the problem isn't with people who are responsible. The problem is with people dump there dogs on the side of the road, the people who breed there dogs because it sounded cool, or to make money and end up not being able to sell them/give them away and end up dumping them somewhere. I have never heard of "signifi…
What exactly is that supposed to mean? Pets can give their owners all kinds of health benefits, emotionally, and otherwise. Humanity isn't all bad, last I checked. I do enjoy my dog.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
"they will breed via magic or spores or something of the sort." You obviously don't understand the problem, the problem isn't with people who are responsible. The problem is with people dump there dogs on the side of the road, the people who breed there dogs because it sounded cool, or to make money and end up not being able to sell them/give them away and end up dumping them somewhere. I have never heard of "signifi…
Pets are simply the sad side effect of humanity. What exactly is that supposed to mean? Pets can give their owners all kinds of health benefits, emotionally, and otherwise. Humanity isn't all bad, last I checked. I do enjoy my dog.
Soap box time!! -- I walk dogs at a local shelter. There is not a common breed that doesn't find it's way through our doors at some point during the year. Sure, you might not end up with a "certified" purebred that's going to win a dog show (do you really want one of those for your family anyway?), but with almost certainty, I can guarantee that you can find what you're looking for at a local shelter. There is almost…
This may very well be the case where you live, but it is not the case everywhere. In southern ontario for example, there are not many dogs at any of the shelters, and seeing anything other than lab and shepherd mixes is quite rare. If you are looking for a specific breed up here, you'll probably be looking forever.