Dogs Are Not Here for Our Convenience

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Spaying and neutering puppies shouldn’t be standard policy — and it isn’t automatically the “responsible” choice either.

Spay-neuter is so widely accepted in our country today that those who take exception to it are roundly chastised. Rare is the humane society or veterinary group that does not use the phrase “responsible pet owners” to describe those who desex their animals. Dog owners who have intact animals may find that efforts to be “responsible” in other ways — by socializing their dogs or by finding a doggie day care for long days at work — will be rebuffed. Intact dogs over six months of age are often forbidden to come to doggie day cares at all. Some city parks and dog runs similarly forbid dogs who are not desexed. For me simply to bring up the topic of desexing for discussion will be, in the eyes of some, impermissible, so sacred is the policy — and so heartfelt (and good- hearted) is the intent behind it.