Why Should We Spay/Neuter Our Dogs?

It may seem like a strange and cruel question, but it is one of the hottest topics among the dog community. For those who are new to this topic they may ask why? That was my first reaction when I heard about that topic. However, after learning more about the benefits of spaying and neutering dogs, I sided with those who support them. The dogs I’m talking about are household pets, whom are cared well by their owners. Some owners may say that it’s cruel to spay and neuter their pet dogs, as we take away something that God had given them. We would also be inflicting unnecessary pain on them and prevent them for procreating.

First of all, God made all living things able to reproduce to ensure the continuation of the species. Animals, unlike humans, mate out of instinct. Whenever a male dog sees or smells a female dog that’s having loops (period), they will want to mate with it. Female dogs, on the other hand, may not want to mate.

There’s also a problem of dog’s overpopulation, due to uncontrolled and over breeding of certain breeds for commercial and personal purposes by irresponsible dog breeders. By spaying and neutering their pet dogs, pet owners can help keep the population in check and ensure that there wouldn’t be accidental pregnancy which would results in more puppies than the owner could take care of. There are already certified breeders that keep on adding up the dog population. The fate of these puppies are sometimes worrying because when the owner isn’t able to take care of them, they are either sold or given away or abandoned in the street. Additionally, some dogs’ genes are immediately related to sicknesses like blindness. One small change in the dogs’ DNA because of careless and unmonitored breeding may make the dog more prone to those sicknesses.

Neutering also improves male dog’s behaviours. They won’t be territorial and don’t feel the need to mark their areas. Dogs mark their areas by peeing on them. Therefore, their actions could be really inconvenient. I have two male dogs, Chiko and Speedy. Chiko is neutered; while Speedy is not, due to a health problem. Chiko never marks his area inside our house. However, Speedy marks everywhere, even on my piano bag, repetitively. I had to keep washing it. It has become very annoying and inconvenient that we had to put on baby diapers on him for almost all day long. Some owners might keep their dog locked in a cage outside of their house because of this problem. However, keeping a dog locked in a cage is not healthy for the dog, physically and emotionally. Isn’t it better to just neuter the dog when it’s possible?

Chiko who was neutered

Speedy often has to use diapers at home.

My neighbour's chihuahua that was kept 24 hours in his cage outside because he kept on marking inside the house. 

Neutering will also improve a dog’s overall health. According to researches neutering will prevent uterine and breast cancer for the female dogs and testicular cancer for the male dogs. Some male dogs might be so persistent in trying to mate a female dog that they may hurt themselves. One of my friend’s German Shepherd, which was tied to a pole outside of their house, tried so hard to follow a female dog passing by, that he fainted. He pulled on his leash so hard and repetitively that he choked. A dog may feel pain for around a week after they’re neutered, but which one is worse? Feeling pain for a week or a male dog wanting to mate every female dog that are in heat but are unable to? Or probably getting cancer when the dog is older? Aside for proper breeding or proper breeding experiments, dogs should be neutered for both dogs and humans’ benefit.