Why should I neuter my dog?
This is a question that we often get from sitter and owners who work with Rover. Help the community out by answering them in our forum!
2 Answers
There are many reasons. I would suggest volunteering at a shelter or rescue for at least one month straight.
When you see grown dogs that at one time were cute puppies, you gain an understanding beyond statistics. You see shelters who euthanize because they simply do not have enough resources or space or personnel to care for the animals, your heart bleeds. You see rescues desperately trying to find homes for dogs that no one wants, you realize how much of a full-time job it is. The problem isn't little puppies, most dogs at the shelter are 1 or 2 years old. The problem is what do you do with those puppies when they're a year old and now they don't listen and their owner may not want to invest time in them.
Until you go through the struggle of trying to find reliable, loving homes for multiple dogs: it will never ring true for you. So yes take at least 30 days and actively try to find homes for 30 dogs. Try it and see if your opinion changes.
In addition to the societal reasons for neutering, there are health and behavioral reasons.
A neutered male can't get testicular cancer, and is less likely to mark inside the house or pick fights with other dogs. (However, recent research has shown that leaving a male intact at least a year in large-breed dogs protects against bone cancer.)
A spayed female is much less likely to get mammary cancer, and won't go through the hassle of heat cycles (dripping smelly, bloody fluid and attracting intact males) or get uterine infections.
A note of caution: many agencies are gung-ho about early spaying and neutering, which is admirable from a population control perspective, but from a medical standpoint it is better to wait until at least 6 months of age. When done early, it adversely affects the pet's growth and development.