There will always be backyard breeders, and even licensed breeders who should not be breeding, so don’t worry about running out of pets, be grateful to the fact that maybe , if people can think outside their wallets when it comes to breeding, that we might be able to have less animals without proper homes and care.!

This is a good thing! Lets take care of the ones we have now!

By that I mean: I have performed spays and neuters at 4, and even 3, months of age for years now. (Took me awhile to jump on the early-age bandwagon.) Still, the best age for each pet depends upon several factors, most importantly breed. For many breeds, I recommend 3-4 months of age; for others, 5-6 months of age; still others 7-10 months of age. I make that decision based upon what I, as its doctor, deem to be in the best interest of the longterm health of my patient. I haven’t read the exact wording of this particular law, but I would hope it would be such that the pet’s DOCTOR would have some wiggle room on the appropriate age as long as reproduction without a breeder’s license wasn’t allowed to occur.

It is a strangely true phenomenon that a large percentage of people who “can’t afford” spaying/neutering seem to be able to afford cigarettes, lottery tickets, candy bars, daily coffee runs and/or soft drinks, cell phones with unlimited text plans, gameboys, computers with home Internet access, and other non-necessities. Yes that’s a generalization, but the exception is pretty rare.

It’s all a matter of prioritization and budgeting. They somehow always manage to figure out a way to pay for dog and cat food, don’t they? Cut out non-necessities, and it doesn’t take long at all to save up enough money for a basic spay/neuter….especially if that’s begun (as it should be) BEFORE the pet is purchased or adopted. (Another often-true generalization is that the same people who can’t “afford” spay/neuter surgery or even basic vaccinations are often proud of the fact that they just spent $500….or $200….or whatever $….to obtain said new pet, and that’s why they request financial assistance from us.)

We already do, Kristy. Every colleague I know (hundreds) charges LESS than what it COSTS US to perform spays and neuters. In other words, when I spay or neuter my own pet, the cost of the drugs, materials, and equipment that I have to pay out of my own pocket to do the surgery is MORE than what we charge clients for the same thing. (And I don’t charge myself for my education, knowledge, or time, obviously.)

The public needs to understand that. We’ve ALREADY discounted spay and neuter fees dramatically, as our contribution to the problem. The public needs to do their part, too.

The problem is that there is so much more to pet overpopulation than just sterilization, sterilization won’t stop dogs from being taken to the pound for any of the following reasons:

* Owner(s) failed to train and/or socialize the dog and no longer want him/her because they don’t behave

* Owner is moving to a place that won’t allow pets or their breed of dog

* BSL is enacted in the area requiring dogs of certain breeds to either be removed from the state or impounded in shelters/animal control facilities

* Owner(s) dump off their dog because they are “too old”, “not cute anymore”, “too big now”, or sick

* Owner(s) dump off dog because their child(ren) aren’t caring for said dog anymore

* Owner(s) is/are having a child and no longer want the dog

* Owner(s) just get tired of the dog

* Landlord enacts a policy regulating pets over a certain size or of certain breeds forcing the owner(s) to get rid of their dog

* Owners don’t make a responsible choice or don’t research the breeds/dog they are interested in adequately

* Owner let(s) their dog run loose and fails to go get the dog when he/she is picked up by animal control

* Owner buys a dog from an irreputable breeder or puppy mill fueling the cycle

What it boils down to is education and a need for teaching people that dogs (and all other pets) aren’t disposable and that they are feeling, living beings as much as anyone. There is one county that has no mandatory altering or licensing and no breed specific ordinances and they have been successful with licensing rates, reducing shelter deaths, and overall increased responsible pet owenrship they do this by educating the public, enacting dangerous dog laws that are not breed, sex, or size specific, and keeping shelters open later and for extended days. If I’m not mistaken it’s Calgary that’s doing this.