Pets - They Have Rights Too

They Have Rights Too

Rebecca Hale

Everest University Online

Every pet owner knows that there are responsibilities that come with having a cat or dog. Responsibilities include feeding and exercising your pet, keeping up with vaccines, grooming, and even knowing the personality of the pet in order to keep it under control around people and other animals. However, there is one responsibly that not all pet owners think about or they do and choose to ignore it because they may think it is no big deal or just cannot afford it, that is getting your pet spayed or neutered; also known as getting your pet fixed. Spaying--removing the ovaries and uterus of a female pet--is a veterinary procedure that requires minimal hospitalization and offers lifelong health benefits. Neutering--removing the testicles of your male dog or cat--will vastly improve your pet's behavior and keep him close to home (Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet., 2011). Most pet owners do not understand why getting your pet spayed and neutered is so important.

Everybody loves bringing home a new puppy or kitten, but most forget that they soon will be adults and have children of their own if they are not fixed. Most families say they do not have the time or money to spend to get their pet fixed and they do not see the point of it if the pet is by him or herself most of the time. However, most never think about the possibilities that might happen. The cost of your pet's spay/neuter surgery is a lot less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. It also beats the cost of treatment when your unneutered tom escapes and gets into fights with the neighborhood stray (Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet., 2011)! Imagine if your pet does get pregnant, what will you do now? How would you handle your pets birth and what would you do with the litter once they are able to leave the mother? There are some pet owners out there that do not fix their pet because they want to make money off the puppies, but what about those that are too lazy? Not only are they being irresponsible pet owners but they are doing harm to their pet's health. Most local animal shelters or even humane societies offer low cost spay and neuter, you just have to call them up. Most of the cost is based off of your pets weight, and after the surgery is over they can even save you money on vaccines.

Responsibly not only come with feeding and walking the pet, but also knowing the medical health. An animal that has not been spayed or neutered can eventually have many health problems down the line. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer, if done before six months of age (Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet., 2011). If you pet does get pregnant more than once, you run into problems of her trying to manage birth on her own. Certain breeds of cats and dogs require to be brought to a vet to