[pyrnet] Oh, Lordy!

[Rhonda Collins <rhonda@castlepublishing.com>]

LOL!  Lordy, I really didn't intend  to start such a vehement 
discussion.  I took no offense from anything anyone said.

Lene, thank you so much for the support! I do, however mostly agree with 
the need to neuter both males and females, MOSTLY for the prevention of 
unwanted puppies...or puppies that end up in the wrong hands, and also 
because frankly, I think anyone who has a dog that they really don't intend 
to breed, they're really asking for a lot more trouble than is necessary. 
But you see, I also think that after you and your hubby have had all the 
kids you want, if he's a lot of trouble, the woman needs to balance the joy 
of sex against the aggravation factor and consider neutering their husband, 
too!!!!  Nothing meant to hurt any men's feelings, but sometimes, it 
really, REALLY seems like a good idea.

I DO, however think that just because a pet owner chooses not to neuter 
doesn't make them irresponsible. Foolish, maybe, in my opinion, but not 
necessarily irresponsible.  I am not really of the opinion that a dog is 
automatically healthier when they're neutered. If so, why not recommend 
that women cut off their breasts and have hysterectomies, and men to have 
their testicles removed to prevent health problems if they don't want 
children, or if they are the equivalent of being "pet-quality" humans? 
Frankly, I know a LOT of people who in my not-so-humble opinion really 
shouldn't be allowed to reproduce. And why is it that celibacy for humans 
is never equated with health risks, yet for animals it is? I don't really 
buy it.  In wolf packs, only the Alpha male and female  mate. So...what 
happens to the others? Who keeps THEM chaste? (a thought I just had this 
moment, and it really is intriguing....)

And, yes, I DO have to consider peace in our household. Frankly, my hubby 
is a real pain in the butt when I go against him on something he has set 
his mind on, and I NEVER hear the end of it. Believe me, I'd still be in 
the proverbial doghouse if I did this behind his back. And he's similarly 
almost impossible to sway when he's made up his mind, the turkey.

I do think that somewhere in the back of his mind, he'd like to have one 
litter. We had a wonderful Spitz for 15 years, and had her neutered, and 
never let her have pups...and later regretted not being able to have one od 
her puppies for two reasons: 1) We found out later that some Spitz lines 
can be VERY aggressive and overly territorial, and snappish. Madison was 
the epitome of wonderful, and her mother died a few years after we got her. 
2) We tried getting a puppy after Madison was about three, and she would 
never accept another dog in the house. Perhaps if it was her own pup, she 
would have. And, as a #3, my son is leaning heavily toward a G.P. pup when 
he gets his own house, and he wouldn't mind at all having one of Newman's pups.

So...I can understand how he feels...though I may not agree with him. At 
ALL.

:-)