Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to think all dog owners should have them castrated/spayed (unless if they are for breeding)?

199 replies

LizziePizzie · 19/08/2013 10:05

I might be completely out of touch with this, but I thought that part of being a responsible dog owner was that was unless you have a stud dog, you get them castrated/spayed.

Is it cruel to have an entire dog/bitch, keeping them on the lead, or away from other dogs in case they get laid?

Is it cruel to have them castrated/spayed?

Is it just the responsibility of owners of bitches to get them spayed, or both owners of dogs and bitches?

OP posts:
littlemog · 21/08/2013 14:39

curlew I have an ex-puppy farm breeding bitch who is the most traumatised creature we have ever rescued. She can never, ever be let off her lead in public due to her overwhelming fear of people and will lie down and quake with fear if out of her comfort zone. Of course she is now spayed too.

At home she is a happy little soul and has learned to enjoy our large garden and even to chase the hens every now and then. She is much loved and a gentle little soul. I think from your postings about having dogs pts that you know very little about dogs tbh.

littlemog · 21/08/2013 14:41

Oh and my dogs are definitely equal members of the household. No question.

curlew · 21/08/2013 15:11

I said that in my opinion a dog which for it's own safety and the safety of other dogs or people must be leashed at all times would be better off being PTS. I stand by that.

That obviously doesn't apply to dogs that have to be leashed in public but can have freedom at home, for example in a large enclosed garden.

midori1999 · 21/08/2013 15:39

twattybollocks we already have dog breeding licences in the UK. They are a waste of time. The very premises that are most likely to need licencing are puppy farmers and those breeding irresponsibly and keeping their dogs in appalling conditions, although some reputable breeders also meet the requirements so have to be licenced.

I do absolutely agree with licences in principle, but not the way they exist now. However, as the UK government deems breeding dogs for money as something that should happen, the situation is unlikely to change. Whenever anyone is breeding for money, the animals are undoubtedly going to suffer, particularly with dogs, as what is costs to keep a dog properly far outweighs what could be made in a bitch's lifetime if ethically breeding with welfare standards in mind at current puppy prices. Sad

TakingTheStairs · 21/08/2013 15:47

curlew , you still haven't said if you own a dog or not

curlew · 21/08/2013 15:53

Not sure why it's relevant- but yes- she's sitting on my lap trying to help me type. And lots of other animals- will provide a list if asked.

TakingTheStairs · 21/08/2013 16:21

Relevant to the overall thread? Probably not.
But I found your earlier thoughts (when there were mix ups) to be so unflinching that I wondered were you speaking from the point of view of a dog owner or not.
That's all.

And no need for the list, but thanks for offering Wink

curlew · 21/08/2013 16:27

I am pretty unflinching. I have made sure our vet knows my views about "heroic" treatment for animals so she can remind me if I waver if something awful were to happen to one of ours. I utterly despise a family member who put her dog through 18 months of chemotherapy for him to die 6 months later. I think one bite (unless the circumstances are very exceptional) and that's it. I think rescue centres that keep dogs in pens for years and years should be banned.......

littlemog · 21/08/2013 16:45

God yes chemo. I had a friend who did the same and it was a horrible, horrible thing to watch. The poor dog suffered terribly. I know it can be a good thing in certain circumstances for animals but I definitely would think twice about it myself.

Montybojangles · 21/08/2013 16:49

Oh god, months of chemo for a dog? That's awful. Imagine how retched the poor things must have felt, not understanding why :(

ThatBintAgain · 21/08/2013 16:52

I've skimmed this but am a bit Sad to think that castrating my puppy might bring about a change in his personality. I don't think it's avoidable though - one of his testicles hasn't descended so I'm told we need to get him done to stop the missing one turning cancerous.

TakingTheStairs · 21/08/2013 16:53

Months of chemo for a dog, that's awful Sad The poor thing must have suffered hugely.

curlew · 21/08/2013 16:56

He did. And the relative concerned is very proud of herself, because she "did everything she could and didn't give up on him"

I can't be trusted anywhere near her, or the vet concerned.

tabulahrasa · 21/08/2013 17:05

My cat's been on chemotherapy for just over 2 years - it's not awful at all.

It depends what regime they're on and what the ultimate aim is and whether you continue if they get side effects.

My cat gets two tablets once a fortnight, she stopped eating a few months in and at that point I was going to have her PTS rather than take extreme measures, but she started eating again and it hasn't reoccurred. Other than that her fur is a lighter colour and slightly finer, I don't think that's particularly awful.

The aim is to keep her in remission, not cure her, so it's not massive doses and the point of it is to prolong life without compromising quality of life.

It very much depends on the cancer, the specific treatment and what happens after that whether it's worth doing or not.

TheGirlWithTheFeatherTattoo · 21/08/2013 18:16

Curlew - hope your dog doesn't ever become a liability to you in anyway. Sounds like any minor issue would result in a one way trip to the vet in your house.

curlew · 21/08/2013 18:19

"Curlew - hope your dog doesn't ever become a liability to you in anyway. Sounds like any minor issue would result in a one way trip to the vet in your house."

I would find that offensive if it wasn't stupid and unrelated to anything I have actually said.............

BringOn2014 · 21/08/2013 18:34

Ok, I am one of these 'fucking stupid' people who has unwittingly let my bitch get pregnant, so let me just give my perspective so hopefully you wont be so rude to other people who find themsleves in this position.

Firstly I am a first time dog owner, I took my bitch on as a pup, she wasnt a rescue dog but she was facing a fairly bleak life if we hadnt taken her and I felt sorry for her because she was so small. Shes a bichon.

We planned to have her spayed but were advised to wait till she was older. When she came on to her first season I called the vet for advice (I had only read about it) the vet said to keep her away from male dogs for the next two weeks approx.
Just over 3 weeks later I took her to visit the kennels where she would be staying when we were on holiday the following week and she 'tied' with a Lhaso Apso that was the owners. I had no idea she could still conceive this far past her season starting.

We're not all fucking stupid if this happens, definitely I was uninformed and perhaps not ready for the responsibilities of taking on a bitch, but it was a mistake, one that Im sure is going to be expensive for me with the extra vet bills and pups check ups etc

Bowlersarm · 21/08/2013 18:36

Curlew stop calling people stupid if they happen not to agree with you.

You're coming across as a bully tbh.

Blistory · 21/08/2013 18:37

Hmmm, I'm neither stupid not uninformed and still choose not to have my girl spayed.

I haven't ignored the issue, I've weighed up the advantages and disadvantages for this particular dog and decided that I'm happy that the risks of keeping her intact outweigh the risks of having her done. I have a responsibility to do the best I can for her and will do so even if it goes against popular opinion.

IMO it should be a decision based on the circumstances at any given time and the needs/behaviour/risks to the dog in question.

And sorry Curlew, but my girl has bitten and getting her PTS never crossed my mind.

curlew · 21/08/2013 19:22

Bowlersarm- I was responding to this -""Curlew - hope your dog doesn't ever become a liability to you in anyway. Sounds like any minor issue would result in a one way trip to the vet in your house."

I think I am entitled to be a bit cross, don't you?

Bowlersarm · 21/08/2013 19:27

Curlew but you also called me stupid when I put forward some scenarios where a dog might be an exceptional part of a family.

Dogs aren't known as 'mans best friend' for no reason.

curlew · 21/08/2013 19:30

Well, it was a bit daft to respond to me saying that animals are not equal members of a household by listing circumstances where they are important members of a household- something I had never even begun to deny.

tabulahrasa · 21/08/2013 19:31

BringOn2014...why are you letting her have the litter though?

curlew · 21/08/2013 19:33

But I apologise for calling you stupid.

I don't apologise for saying that TheGirlwiththeFeatheratattoo's post was stupid though. And offensive.

Bakingtins · 21/08/2013 19:34

The problem is that the responsible owner will have thought about it, investigated the pros and cons and made a sensible decision. As a vet I think for most animals the benefits outweigh any disadvantages, but I don't think it is cruel to leave an animal entire.
The people who are allowing their animals to breed randomly filling the rescue centres with Staffies crosses etc have never thought about it, and take no responsibility for the results of their inaction.