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Working at a Pet Clinic, I am exposed to all sorts of pets and pet owners. I see everything from vaccinations to blood work to extreme surgery every day. The most common procedure I see is the spaying/neutering of pets. I see articles stating the importance of spaying/neutering. I see stars on the television advocating for pet population control. I see entire groups devoted entirely to spreading the word on the need for 'fixing' pets.

All this is fine and dandy, but it leaves me asking myself- Should we be fixing our pets, or fixing our pet owners? When I hear the words 'practice responsible pet ownership', it doesn't necessarily lead me straight to the act of removing my pet's sexual organs. It leads me to the thought that I should educate myself on proper pet care, and some common sense.
It seems pretty clear to me that an effective way to keep our unwanted pet population down is to, well, not let our pets make unwanted pets. How hard is it to keep a pet enclosed in a backyard or house or on a proper lease? Maybe owners should be educated more on proper pet holding facilities, or how to keep their animal's promiscuity in check. With all the leash laws intact these days, it seems pretty rare that there is a 'tramp' rambling around town getting cozy with all the 'ladies'.
I'm not saying that spaying/neutering is a bad idea- it's not. It can be very useful in some situations, for instance, if an owner has an abundance of pets in one home, but for most people, it is an expensive and needless operation. It could also lead uneducated pet parents to cause their pets more problems, such as severe infection and several emotional issues, such as trust, for the pet.
Pet owners are so quick to jump on the 'just cut it off' wagon that it concerns me. If they're sick, give them a pill. If there's illness going around, give them a shot. If it's causing problems, cut it off.
The latter goes for more than sex organ. It also goes for toenails, teeth, and tumors. Would we treat a human patient the same way? Just go in swinging without any sort of research or thought? If we love our pets so much, then why don't we give them the same respect we give ourselves?
So in conclusion, my thought for today is to educate pet owners more about proper pet care before going at Buddy with a pair of snippers. Alot of times, pet parents are not prepared properly to have a pet. There is alot of work that goes into owning a pet, and people need to realize that before they go out and buy that cute little puppy. Spaying/Neutering is one of those things that needs to be considered when going to buy a pet. Buying a pet should be similar to having a baby, and take the same time, considerations, and thought. A puppy or kitten is basically a baby, without the schooling and dating. Perhaps it is the owners who need to be fixed rather than the pets.

Learn more about this author, Celeste Rolands.
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