| MYTH: My dog will get fat
and lazy. |
| FACT: The
truth is that most dogs get fat and lazy because their owners feed them
too much and don't give them enough exercise. |
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| MYTH: It's better
for my dog to have one litter first. |
| FACT: Medical
evidence indicates just the opposite. In fact, evidence shows that
females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier and it
eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer.
|
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| MYTH: My children
should experience the miracle of birth. |
| FACT: Even
is children are able to see a pet give birth - which is unlikely, since
it usually occurs at night and in seclusion - the lessons they will
learn is that animals can be created and discarded as it suits
adults. Instead, it should be explained to children that the real
miracle is life and that preventing the birth of some pets can save the
lives of others. |
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| MYTH: My dog is so
special, I want a puppy just like her. |
| FACT: A
dog may be a great pet, but that doesn't mean her offspring will be a
carbon copy. Professional breeders who follow generations of
bloodlines can't guarantee they will get just what they want out of a
particular litter. A pet owner's chances are even slimmer.
In fact, an entire litter of puppies might receive all of the dog's (and
her mate's) worst characteristics. |
| |
| MYTH: It's too
expensive to have my dog spayed or neutered. |
| FACT: The
cost of spaying or neutering depends on the sex, size, and the age of
the dog, your veterinarian's fees, and a number of other variables.
But whatever the actual price, spay or neuter surgery is a one-time cost
- a relatively small cost when compared to the cost of caring for a
litter and ensuring the health of the mother and the puppies. Most
importantly, it's a small price to pay for the health of your dog.
|
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| MYTH: I don't want
my dog's personality to change or to hinder the herding instinct. |
| FACT:
Spaying or neutering does not affect a dog's natural instincts. A
dog's personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex
hormones. |
| |
| MYTH: I don't want
my male dog to feel less of a male. |
| FACT:
Dogs don't have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will
not change a dog's basic personality. He doesn't suffer any kind
of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered. In fact,
neutering your male dog eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer.
|
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|
Why you should spay or neuter your pet. |
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| Courtesy of The
Humane Society of the United States |
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