Bunch of different issues going on, with the article, with the posts.
First, I also believe people should have to pass a mental compancy test, before they are allowed to drive.
And yes, if shelters were more pro active, in screening people, to see if they are even competant, to own and care for an animal, like responsible breeders are. But with the overcrowding, they can't afford to take the time to do that. Maybe a handful, do do that. So its a double edge sword, do you reject half the people, or do you find homes for these pets?
The issue of spaying/neutering, and the, should they or should they not, neuter them early, more affects kitties. With dogs, they are on a leash, and the owner is more responsible, about not letting them run loose, where as, alot of kitties run loose, then breed, then we have unwanted kittens, which over crowd the shelter, so they gotta find homes for them, hence, not being screened as well as a breeder would.
My vet will not spay/neuter, until they are at least 4 months old, she prefers to do it at 5 months, for show kitties, it is required, to spay/neuter by 8 months, unless you are showing a whole male or female, and those kitties came from and/or are owned by very very responsible breeders, they don't just hand them out, like candy. I....could get one if I wanted, my overly pickey reputation, on the circuit, is very very well known.
My vet said like about a zillion things can go wrong, not so much with the neuter, but more with the spay. The "parts" are just too small, and "things" can be missed. There is also the concern, of putting a kitten that young, under anastesia, another zillion things can go wrong.
With people letting their kitties out, and not spaying and neutering them, is way worser, than spaying/neutering them early, which, I think, is the issue.
As far as pets getting cancer and other health issues, is it only the pets that have been s/n that are getting sick, or is it, pets that are whole too? That one, I would want to know.
Its like saying, if you don't s/n, your pet won't get cancer or any health issues.
As far as the vet, noticing, his patients suddenly getting cancer or other health issues, I would ask, since it would be in about the same ballpark area, what water do you give them, tap water?
There is so much bad stuff in our water now a days.
Mine get purified drinking water, I won't even drink water from the tap.
I was however, mixing warm water from the tap, with their wet, so their food was warm, but giving them purified drinking water for their water bowls. My one friend, pointed that out to me, when I broached the subject, of her giving hers, tap water, for their bowls, and suddenly loosing alot of kitties and doggies over the last few years, and she feeds, good quality food and is as overly pickey as I am.
After I lost Smokey, I said, ya know, ya got a good point, and altho their wet is now given cold, they only get purified drinking water, for their bowls, for their wet food.
Bump doesn't count in all this, his was HCM, so his was genetic.
I believe, a good majority of health issues, are caused by the water we drink, the processed foods we eat, and who the heck knows, what is in the meat we eat, what has been fed to the cows, pigs, chickens.
Just another point of view.
