Persuasive Essay: Spay or Neuter

Persuasive Essay: Spay or Neuter

The cute puppy or kitten has been chosen. The name for the new pet has been chosen. The cute collar, water and food bowl have been chosen. This is what it is all about. Pet ownership is so simple. All the bases are covered right? Wrong! There are so many other factors to being a responsible pet owner. Loving your pet, training your pet, giving it attention and providing for its basic needs are not the only important parts of being a responsible pet owner. One of the most responsible, caring things that a pet owner can do to show the pet how much it is loved and cared for it is spay or neuter it.

Some pet owners believe that spaying or neutering your pet is an unnatural procedure that interferes with the natural balance of things. Paying to remove the reproductive parts of animals is cruel. Nature does fine on its own. Spaying and neutering does not exist in the natural free environment of animals. Spaying and neutering are forms of mutilation. The pet is not given a choice to have the procedure done. Spaying and neutering is equivalent to removing the vocal chords of an animal because the barking is a nuisance. A responsible pet owner can have a pet that is not subjected to these procedures and still have a healthy animal that does not produce offspring. All seemingly valid reasons to not have your animal spayed or neutered, however, one of the most important health decisions you'll make is to spay or neuter your cat or dog. Spaying is the removal of the ovaries and uterus of a female dog or cat. It is a procedure performed by a veterinarian. The procedure requires minimal hospitalization and offers lifelong health benefits. Neutering is the removal of the testicles of a male dog or cat. The procedure will improve your pet's behavior and keep him close to home. This procedure also offers health benefits. ("Top 10 Reasons To Spay Or Neuter Your Pet", 2012).

Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. The best way to protect your pet from these diseases is to spay or neuter before the pets first heat. Neutering your male pet can prevent testicular cancer, if done before six months of age. A female feline can go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. Yowl and urinating more frequently are ways that a feline attracted a mate. Male pets have the tendency to be very determined when it comes to finding a mate. One behavior is his way under the fence. If your male pet escapes the confines of your home he risks injury in traffic and fights with other males. Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. On the other hand, unneutered dogs and cats may mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Many aggression problems can be avoided by early neutering ("Why you