About once a week a co-worker of mine will talk about her dogs with me. She usually asks me a question about food or behavior and I'll answer politely, even if I think the question is a no-brainer( I have to remind myself that not everyone has the same passion for learning about animals that I do). Yesterday she asked me something that I could not answer politely, and it got me so heated that I had to write this note.
The first question was fine, "how often in a year do female dogs go into heat?" Okay, that's an easy one, about twice a year. Then came the kicker. It actually wasn't really a question, more of a statement with some hesitation, "So I should probably breed her soon, right?" My breath caught for a second and I had to cool off a little before I answered. The dog (Chiquita) is a family pet who's been spoiled by humans and wasn't raised in the company of other breeding females. She should never be bred and should have been fixed months ago.
I didn't want to be offensive, but that was an ignorant and ridiculous question. The answer in my head was, "Are you insane? Your dog is not purebred and you have NO idea how difficult breeding dogs is. Why would you even think that could be a good idea?"
I did not voice these thoughts. Instead, I explained to her the amount of time and money that goes into caring for a pregnant dog. You will spend more on vet bills, food and toys than you'll ever be able to charge for all of the puppies you would end up with. Breeding shouldn't be about money anyway, it should be about bettering the breed.
Unfortunately, people don't seem to care about this. I've seen people carrying chihuahuas that they bought from a "breeder" when it's obvious there's 50% of another breed in the same dog. I once met a "purebred" yorkie that looked about three times the size of the breed's standard. And do you want to know how much people will pay for these puppy "knock-offs"? It's sickening how many people breed for money and end up duping people in the process. And don't even get me started on "designer" breeds (maltipoos, puggles, labradoodles).
I probably sound harsh to some people, but this is just the way I feel about this subject. If you are not a licensed breeder who has years of experience around a particular breed, then you shouldn't be able to have a dog who is not fixed. Not only does an unfixed dog cause the potential side-effect of creating more dogs, it is also a hazard to everyone around it. Male dogs, no matter their size, are WAY more aggressive when that testosterone is coursing through their veins. Being in-tact also causes male (and female) dogs to roam. When hormones are racing, Spot doesn't care if there's a fence, he's getting out. Cars are a wandering dog's worst enemy.
Never say it's because of cost that you're not spaying/neutering. Anyone who can't afford to spay or neuter a dog shouldn't own one, especially since there are programs that will help to pay for it.
Have you ever been to a dog shelter and heard the dogs barking, pleading to be taken out of their cages and played with? The number is growing every day, especially in this economy.
Have you ever seen the people standing outside of stores with signs that say "Puppies for sale" or "Free puppies"? You know the people who take those puppies have no idea what they're in for. Soon that puppy will end up in the same shelters as the other dogs, once the new owners realize they can't handle the huge responsibility they've just taken on.
The reason why these things happen is because people do not spay and neuter their dogs.
If your dog is not fixed, find a program or a low-cost vet in your area and just GET IT DONE. It will prolong your dog's life and make things happier for everyone.
My advice to anyone contemplating owning a dog is this:
DO YOUR RESEARCH.
~Research the time and money that go into owning a dog. It's not a game. You need to be willing to give up hanging out with friends and going on vacation. You need to be able to afford things like dog food (the good stuff ain't cheap), vet bills and people to take care of your dog when you're not available. You're basically adopting a child.
~Will you have time to care for a dog? If coming home from work and taking your dog out for at least a 20 minute walk, even if it's raining, doesn't sound like fun to you, then a dog is not for you. Even if you have a backyard, dogs need exercise too.
~Research the breed you are interested in. Know what the dog was bred for(to determine activity level and temperment), what kind of grooming it will need, how big the dog will be at maturity, etc. Talk to a breeder when you find a breed you like, they will answer questions if they really care about their breed.
~If you're looking into adoption, find out what breeds/crossbreeds are at your local shelter and research their individual breed traits. The ASPCA dog handbook has a few sections specifically dealing with different dog mixes (toy mixes, shephard mixes, lab mixes, the list goes on and on). Even mutts are decipherable if you take the time to learn about them.
~Don't EVER buy a puppy from a pet store. Why? 95% of the time those puppies are from puppy mills. This means their lives (as well as their parents' lives) have been spent in cages with little human interaction. Most of the time they have genetic disorders or illnesses caused by living in cramped quarters and walking in their own filth. The pet stores who sell puppies charge exorbitant amounts for puppies they've paid almost nothing for. It's a SICK industry that needs to be shut down.
While I could write for hours on this subject, I will end my rant here. I hope someone takes something good away from this. It is a subject I am passionate about.
Our dog Apollo lived outside in a backyard for two years, spent months in a cage at a rescue agency and endured a flea infested existence tied to a sliding glass door before coming to us.
