Is it cruel to spay or neuter your animal?

[Michele]

I believe our pets (especially those that are let outside to roam-GRR!) should be spayed or neutered. However, I have heard that it is wrong to do so and that it is taking away the rights of the animals. :yeah:

I have also been told that it is mutilation (thus comparing it to circing children.)

Thoughts?

[GracieMae]

I believe it't cruel not to. Look at the stray population. Can we be assured our pets won't get outside at some point?

[Quamie]

Well I just got a puppy from the local SPCA and they dont allow ANY pet to leave with out being spayed or neutered.

I think it is cruel for an animal to have babbies that will die because they cant be taken care of or be put to sleep because they cant be taken care of.

[mom2burgess]

There are too many unwanted animals as it is. If you have outdoor pets, or pets of the same species but opposite gender in your home, they should be fixed

[Loveone]

I agree with everyone that has posted so far.

[Shannonigans]

I definitely don't think it's cruel to spay or neuter. Animals are happier when they are fixed. Especially males. All our male kitties except for our newest kitten are fixed. They don't have any urge to roam or go outside at all. Our female cat isn't fixed yet but with no adult intact male cats in the house she hasn't come into heat in over a year. I know I *need* to get her fixed but she was absolutely the best momma cat I've ever seen and still loves on her babies even though they are adults...*lol*

I won't let her have a litter of kittens anytime soon, though...but if we move to some land that is in our family I will probably let her have one more litter, then get her fixed. We'll have the room for more animals...:) :) :)

[kokopelli]

I believe it't cruel not to. Look at the stray population. Can we be assured our pets won't get outside at some point?
WHat she said. :)

[Clio]

My cat is neutered because she is an OUTDOORS (yes, GRRR all you want Michele) cat in that she is allowed outdoors on her own.

I had her neutered because the animal shelters are close to bursting point and as she is the outdoorsy type I didn't want her getting knocked up every few months.

[HunnyBunnyBoo]

My vet says that if you aren't breeding your pet, they run a high risk of reproductive cancers and ailments, and that spaying/neutering helps their chances of living a healthy, happy, and LONGER life. I guess it's a "use it or lose it" kind of thing.

So even if it's not all about the strays that you are preventing, and the marking and wandering behaviors that make an unhappy owner (which also makes an unhappy or confined pet), it's (at least according to our vet) better for the animal's health.

[Mabel]

In the words of good ole Bob Barker, PLEASE spay and neuter your pets.

[kingclick]

Well of course I have to disagree......

IF animals are equals to humans.....And it's ABHORRANT to spay or neuter a human without their consent. I think that it is equally abhorrant to spay or neuter an animal.

[emilina]

MY cats actually asked to be spayed or neutered... I swear!! LOL!

[Mabel]

KL, do you disagree with spaying and neutering, or do you disagree IF animals are equal to humans...it seems you are trying to throw in a whole nuther debate into the mix, making it confusing. Michele never mentioned animals being equal to humans...

[kingclick]

No other debate.

Here is my stance. Spaying and neutering a pet is inhumane. Why? Because we would never spay or neuter our children. And many people feel that their pets are their children and should be considered EQUAL to human children.

[Mabel]

So you consider your pets equal to your children. Got it. Just wasn't sure what YOUR stance was.

[kingclick]

I didn't say that I consider pets equal to children. I said that many people do. Whether I do or not doesn't effect the debate.

[Echo2]

I don't believe animals are equal to humans. I do believe that animals deserve to be treated with the respect and care one would give a human.

The reason I say they are not equal is that animals do not feel cultural preasures or loss of face from their fellows. Their social interactions are not influenced by "how it will look" or fads or religious beliefs.

They have no morale system to be outraged from at the loss of their reproductive choices. Not having liters of baby's does not change an animals social standing. Being fixed does not change an animals social standing. In fact (if done as a baby) I would doubt that they are even aware of what exactly has been done to them. Just that thay woke up sore "down there".

[kingclick]

I don't believe animals are equal to humans. I do believe that animals deserve to be treated with the respect and care one would give a human.

The reason I say they are not equal is that animals do not feel cultural preasures or loss of face from their fellows. Their social interactions are not influenced by "how it will look" or fads or religious beliefs.

They have no morale system to be outraged from at the loss of their reproductive choices. Not having liters of baby's does not change an animals social standing. Being fixed does not change an animals social standing. In fact (if done as a baby) I would doubt that they are even aware of what exactly has been done to them. Just that thay woke up sore "down there".
Echo that seems that you are saying that animals are above humans. Am I correct?

[Mabel]

You've confused me once again KL LOL! I never base my own opinions on others thoughts - I go by my own! But that's just me :) *I* do not feel animals are equal to humans. And I feel sad that you wouldn't spay or neuter your pets (or would encourage others to NOT spay or neuter) because OTHER people think they are equal to humans...that seems very odd to me. Each to their own!
I am pro life - just because OTHERS think that a fetus is not a baby until viability doesn't mean that I'm going to support abortion - just because OTHERS think that....

[Epicurus]

KL,
Wasn't it you who suggested that human children be "fixed" at birth in another thread a while back? I could have sworn it was you. It seems a contradiction to now say it is inhumane to "fix" a pet after having postulated it would be moral to do to children.

Confused,
Collette

[kingclick]

KL,
Wasn't it you who suggested that human children be "fixed" at birth in another thread a while back? I could have sworn it was you. It seems a contradiction to now say it is inhumane to "fix" a pet after having postulated it would be moral to do to children.

Confused,
Collette
Ok. I guess my experiment of actually arguing the issue instead of pinning it to my own personal beliefs is....a failure.

I believe in fixing animals.
I don't believe that animals are equal or above humans. They are below and subject to OUR desires.
I also believe that fixing our male children could be a great way to prevent a bunch of problems in the human race. I however would only support this idea if it were 99.999999% failproof. Scientificly possible, but not probable.

[Echo2]

No. I said they deserve to be treated with the same respect and care as humans. All life is precious.

I was trying to explain why getting a pet fixed isn't the same as getting a human fixed. There is no social agenda or loss of cultural standing to being childless or nutless or barren for an animal.

[kingclick]

No. I said they deserve to be treated with the same respect and care as humans. All life is precious.

I was trying to explain why getting a pet fixed isn't the same as getting a human fixed. There is no social agenda or loss of cultural standing to being childless or nutless or barren for an animal.
Thanks for clarifying that. :D

[Epicurus]

Ok. I guess my experiment of actually arguing the issue instead of pinning it to my own personal beliefs is....a failure.

I guess that is the difference between you and the rest of us KL. We are arguing the issue AND our own personal belief. I think there is an assumption you are saying what you actually believe. I will try to be more aware of this in the future.

Collette

[DiznieB]

The HUMANE Society in Arizona wont adopt pets out unless that are spayed/neutered. I do believe it's the humane thing to do for a pet.

[kingclick]

I guess that is the difference between you and the rest of us KL. We are arguing the issue AND our own personal belief. I think there is an assumption you are saying what you actually believe. I will try to be more aware of this in the future.

Collette
Someone asked a question about "devil's advocate" arguing. So I was trying to do that, and now I see it wont work for me. And many people actually admited to doing just that on occasion, so I don't see where you are getting the "rest of us". Unless you are talking about a mouse in your pocket.