If You’re Not Living in a Wilderness, Then Fix Your D***ed Pet, Already

[riqster]

http://bluntandcranky.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/if-its-not-a-wilderness-its-not-a-wild-animal-fix-your-damned-pet-already/

A rant against those who do not take proper care of their animals, prompted by seeing a dead kitten on the street yesterday.

[life long demo]

1. Thank you, couldn't have said it better

[MrYikes]

2. I think I did.

[Arcanetrance]

3. Completely agree

[AndyA]

4. Agreed 100%

In my old neighborhood, there was a stray cat having kittens constantly. No one could ever determine who was responsible for the cat, or where it lived. I know of one person who inherited two stray kittens who obviously are related, as they have many of the same characteristics. Both were hungry, and one had already had a litter of kittens at a very young age.

People should be fined heavily for not properly caring for their pets. It breaks my heart to see beautiful cats and dogs roaming the streets.

[MarianJack]

5. Our 2 furry boys are fixed!

Our white cat, Spirit, had been fixed at the animal shelter. Up here in Maine, it's required that any pet adopted from a shelter be fixed prior to the adoption.

Our black cat, Oreo, came to us as a stray who was so little at the time that he didn't even completely know how to meow yet. We'd taken care of him within a couple of week.

At first, they couldn't stand each other but now they're inseparable! They are also indispensable members of our family. BTW, K&R!

PEACE!

[a la izquierda]

6. A few years back, I moved into a house in a neighborhood

that had a serious stray problem. One big black cat took a liking to me.mi'd have loved to take him in, but I am allergic to cats, and I have a dog that thinks cats are for hunting (he's a hunter breed). Anyway, I noticed that all the cats on the block looked like him. He clearly slept around. One day, I put him in the car and took him to the spay/neuter clinic for neutering and shots.
What a happy cat after that. And my neighbors ended up taking him in.

[Javaman]

7. I have a "cat lady" that lives down the block.

the cats crank out litters like postage stamps.

We have reported her many times for not taking care of her boat load of cats but yet, nothing has been done about her.

I'm seriously thinking of setting up humane traps and dropping off the cats at the animal shelter.

when I say our neighborhood is overrun with cats, I'm being very polite.

[sammytko]

62. Maybe she needs help funding their spay/neuter operations

I had about 20 cats living here and I slowly caught all the female feral cats and had them fixed. After shots and meds for different conditions, plus the operation - at least 300 each.

I can afford it and now I'm down to 4 strays that wander around and seven of my own. Most of them are lone survivors of some of the litters. It was a sickly colony.

I ran into a cat lady at the vet's office and she had a sick kitty. She said she couldn't afford to get the moms fixed. I really should have helped her. I keep thinking about that. I've helped family members and convinced others to get their pets neutered. At least the females.

[Javaman]

64. The city has been there time and time again...

they have removed cats and spayed and neutered the ones they let her keep.

Then the whole thing starts all over again.

She takes in strays, but doesn't bother with getting them "fixed" because the city will do it for her when they get enough complaints.

There are easily 30 cats running around my block. Two of which just had a litter.

The guy that lives directly behind her, at first tried to help her with the getting the cats fixed, but after a while he began to notice the pattern I mentioned above.

I contacted the animal shelter and asked them about trapping the cats and dropping them off with them.

The were okay with it, and at the same time is looking into legal end regarding this woman's repeated behavior.

[newfie11]

8. Having lived surrounded by national forest

I can say the wilderness is not safe for pets to run loose. Coyotes love cats and small dogs. Cougars like horses and even killed a guard llama. They do tend to run off if several large dogs chase them but don't count on it.

That was in the Black Hills SD 1992-2005

[riqster]

10. Yep, we've lived rural for years

Not in as wild a place as you, but we have coyotes, foxes, eagles, and such (along with hoof-rats). We kept our animals safe and a varmint rifle ready.

Now we're moving into town, so our concerns are now required to skew more heavily towards car-related hazards.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. There are a lot of wild animals in the city, too.

Here in Kansas City we have deer, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, tons of hawks. You still have to be careful especially if you have small animals like cats or small dogs.

And you can't ever let animals run loose. If the dog catcher doesn't catch them a car will. Have to be very careful here.

Also can't leave dogs in fenced yards unattended. People will steal them.

[riqster]

12. True on all points.

Same in our new neighborhood. Evidently dogfighters will steal nice dogs to use as "bait dogs", to train their animals to kill. Barbaric.

[leftyladyfrommo]

15. They steal them to sell.

Sometimes to research centers, or for dog fighting, or who knows what else. Sometimes they steal them and then wait to get a reward.

Our animal control officers were stealing dogs. They have a quota to meet each week and if they were behind in their quota they would just lift a dog out of the fence and claim it was wandering around.

There are no honest people left.

I never leave my dogs outside unless I am right there with them. If my neighbor's children are out in their backyard my dogs are in the house. I won't take any chances with them. They mean too much to me.

[wercal]

34. Holy Cow!

[SharonAnn]

33. That's why cat overpopulation isn't much of a problem there.

[newfie11]

40. Very true. Nt

[mountain grammy]

9. Our local "Pet Pals" handed out $50 vouchers for vet services to spay and nueter.

There were only 3 takers and, yet, I hear people whine about not having the funds to take care of their pets.

[newfie11]

13. Our humane society got a spay grant

For 500 cats that lived out of town (farms).
Any cat was spayed or neutered free.
So I was talked into taking 2 sweet kittens some idiot dumped out in town on a busy road.
They were supposed to be barn cats lol.
Didn't happen, they joined our other two ( old) kitties on the house. It's getting pretty crowded with 5 Newfies, a Pom, and. 4 kitties lol.

We had our vet do the kitties neuter and saved the money for someone else's kitties.

[narnian60]

39. THANK YOU!

[baldguy]

14. Amen.

The Cone of Shame only lasts a few days; your furry friend will get over it.

[leftyladyfrommo]

16. Just don't get them neutered too early.

They should be at least 6 month's old. Spaying too early can have some pretty serious health side effects.

[sammytko]

63. not necessarily - have a "highway" kitten that was spayed at two months - maybe younger

This kitten was supposedly thrown out of a car on the freeway. Well a whole litter. The ones that were caught made it to the shelter.

A friend of my other half's adopted one and of course some people take on things they know nothing about. The adoption lasted a couple of days. Other half brought it home. Tiny kitten but already had the notched ear and still had surgery mark. It is a female. She is huge now. Beautiful cat.

The notched ear is a sign that the feral cat has been fixed if it is returned to the colony.

[leftyladyfrommo]

68. Neutering too early can cause uretha problems.

My emergecny vet was telling me about that. The urethra doesn't develop right and the cats can have serious urinary tract problems. He said they just have to euthanize them because there is no way to fix it.

Young animals need the hormones to develop properly. Dogs can have serious joint problems if neutered too young. Their joints are not stable and can cause muscle or ligment tears.

All the vets I know say not before six months. And the large breed dogs should not be done until later than that.

[sammytko]

70. This is from an ASPCA article in support of early neutering.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter/early-spay-neuter.aspx

No conclusive controlled studies have ever been done to determine the best age to neuter dogs and cats. On the other hand, current research does show that spaying before the first heat prevents the development of mammary gland tumors. Since females can go into heat as young as four months of age, they should be spayed before then to receive that protection. Early-age, or pediatric, neutering is currently performed on animals who are six to eight weeks of age and who weigh at least two pounds

Short-term safety was documented in 1993 when doctors at Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston published protocols for safe surgery and anesthesia in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Other studies have since confirmed their conclusions, and in December 2000, JAVMA reported that researchers at Texas A & M University found no increase in physical or behavioral problems in cats for at least three years postoperatively. Veterinarians have been safely performing the surgeries for shelters since the 1980s, adding to the growing body of supportive anecdotal information

The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association are just two professional organizations that support pediatric neutering. Veterinarians at the ASPCA have been neutering all shelter animals who weigh at least two pounds before adoption.

[leftyladyfrommo]

75. We will have to agree to disagree on this.

Last edited Thu May 16, 2013, 11:27 AM - Edit history (1)

I have border collies and the border collie people discuss this alot. Almost everyone is waiting until later - closer to a year. Or until the growth plates at the end of the long bones are closed. But these are working dogs and it is very important that their joints develop correctly or they end up crippled. There is always a lot of stress put onto their joints and they need to be strong.

I just had this same discussion with my vet. And also another vet I go to and another one I just know from the border collie world. They all say not before 6 months. And not until later with working and hunting dogs and large breed dogs. They also have said that mammary tumors are the main reason for earlier spaying. If you spay before the first heat cycle there is practically no danger of mammary tumors and the chance increases with each cycle. But you have to weigh that against the need for the hormones in the proper growth of the joints and bones and muscles.

I don't know about cats but I would wait until they are at least a few months old.

But just think about this. How well would a human baby or child develop if it was neutered? Those hormones play a very important role in the growth of all animals.

[hamsterjill]

17. No Kill begins with No Birth

Spay and neuter without exception!

[gaspee]

18. And in 15 to 20 years, there will be no pets

I agree people with no business breeding should spay and neuter their pets. I agree with strict regulations on breeding. I have 5 generations of health tested, tempermentally sound, CH dogs and I know where every single dog I've bred in almost 20 years is right now. I've taken back dogs as old as 13 when their original owners either died or could no longer keep them for any reason. I donate a lot of time and money to my breed rescue.

I also have a pet supply store and it's all I can do to be polite when I explain to people breeding their mutts, pit bulls and pet store purchased dogs why they should spay and neuter. Backyard breeders/lazy pet owners/puppy millers give dedicated, serious people a bad name. Like I said, I have no problem with strict regulation. I wouldn't be against DNA matching all pets (it's cheap) and I do it with all of my dogs. Would be pretty easy to track where the pets are coming from that way.

I spend way more money on my dogs then I do selling puppies when I breed an occasional litter. Placing puppies is the worst part of raising dogs, IMO, but with 3-5 in a litter, you can't keep them all. It might be harder to get a puppy from me than to adopt a child, LOL!

I have a very genetically healthy breed, but with careful breeding, all breeds can be genetically sound. (I have Shiba Inu, btw)

There are a lot of people out there breeding pets who shouldn't be, that's for sure. But there are also people who have dedicated their lives, time and money, hell, their entire being, to pets.

Only extremists who hate pets wish for there to be no pets.

[geek tragedy]

19. Who's arguing for no pets, i.e. the extinction of the domestic dog and house cat?

There will never, ever, ever be a problem of zero cats and dogs being born. Spay and neuter programs push in the direction of it being manageable.

[gaspee]

20. The poster I responded to

Is advocating for no birth. The logical conclusion is no birth = no pets in 15 - 20 years.

[gaspee]

21. My contract

Requires spaying and neutering of all pets. Obviously, not all dogs I breed are placed as pets. Select few from each litter end up going to show homes, where if they prove they meet the requirements for breeding (health, temperament and confirmation, in that order) then they go on to parent the next generation.

I don't place show dogs in homes who kennel, either. My show dogs live the lives of pets who show for a small portion of their lives. In fact, right now in my bed, there is a 15 year old, a 10 year old, an 8 year old and a 4 year old, lounging around and leaving fur everywhere. The youngest and the great grandmother of the youngest are sleeping together in the sun right outside the window from where I am typing this.

[pnwmom]

42. Post 17 is arguing for de-sexing all pets without exception. n/t

[hamsterjill]

24. No one should be breeding while pets are dying at animal control.

And I don't appreciate the label you're trying to pin to my post with your last sentence.

Your opinion? Fine....but I have a right to have one, too. I see hundreds of pleas on a daily basis for dogs and cats to be pulled from the local pound so that they won't be killed by 5:00 p.m. that same day. The majority of those pleas go unanswered and the pet dies because there are too many animals and not enough homes, rescues, etc.

Sorry, but I see it as a math equation when you get down to the basics. We have too many and anyone who is adding more is part of the problem. Should this city, this state or this country start to run out of adoptable pets, there would be PLENTY of time to deregulate spay/neuter requirements.

[gaspee]

38. Well, people are assholes

My state is already bringing in dogs from the south because the people around here spay and neuter their pets. The people who dump dogs shouldn't ever be allowed to have another one.

Other people being assholes isn't my problem to fix. And I've probably rescued more dogs in one year than most people ever do.

If you have an extremist position, be prepared to defend it.

[pnwmom]

43. It is already happening at many Humane Societies, such as those in the Pacific Northwest.

We have plenty of cats, but de-sexing campaigns have been so successful we are now importing many dogs from other states -- lately, primarily Chihuahuas from California.

And California imports stray dogs from Mexico.

I'm not arguing against spaying/neutering campaigns. I'm just saying that they are highly successful as they are, and we don't need even more stringent measures. Not everyone wants to adopt a Chihuahua from Mexico or a Pit bull from LA.

If do-gooders want to do more, they should concentrate their efforts in Mexico or in US counties where they still haven't adopted spray/neuter campaigns.

[Duppers]

47. I agree! There'd be plenty of time to deregulate.

If ppl want pets, they can adopt from many shelters, especially those in areas where ppl don't care enough about the over-populated pet problem.

Statement from the HSUS: "Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets. Spay/neuter is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, ensuring that every pet has a family to love them."


Yet, there are those on this thread who'd argue with that.

However, this is not to say that I don't agree with breeding some CH dogs. Just use common sense.

[wercal]

36. I think we're a loooong way from having no pets

I volunteered at the animal shelter for a while. The intro gave us some fibures about how many animals were 'inprocessed' every day, and how many were adopted every day. The difference was obviously the number put down every day. I can't remember the stats, but my jaw hit the floor. They were putting down at least a half dozen animals a day.

All I could think is why the hell don't people spay and neuter.

I understand you're a breeder...but the vast majority of us aren't, and should spay away.

[pnwmom]

44. The majority of animals put down are cats -- and dogs with problems.

People who want a dog aren't going to adopt a cat simply because there's a surplus of them.

[hamsterjill]

48. No, this is not true.

Come on down to San Antonio, Texas and let me walk you through the local Animal Care Services. Perfectly adoptable dogs and cats (without any problems!) are put down on a daily basis because there are no homes for them.

Animal rescuers in this city are working our butts off to save any that we can. I have rescued numerous dogs and cats that came from breeders, who put them out for some small imperfection.

So, what's your address and where I can send about fifty of them that are slated to die TODAY?

[pnwmom]

49. The King County Humane Society regularly gets imports from California

because our spay neuter campaigns are so successful. I don't know if we have space for dogs from Texas ,too, but you could try.

The question is, why don't spay/neuter campaigns work in San Antonio?

[hamsterjill]

50. That is a good question.

Unfortunately, a great deal of the opposition to spay/neuter comes from a local group, an arm of the AKC, which refuses to get on board because they insist we are going to run out of animals! Much like the firearm advocates, they refuse to give up their "rights" to breed. To me, it's not about a "right", but about the advisability of doing it.

And yes, we do have organizations that are actively transporting dogs to other areas around the country. It's a very expensive process, but there are at least two groups in town that were formed for that purpose. We are grateful that there are areas who have the ability to take those dogs, and we are hoping one day to get to a point where we don't kill adoptable animals. But we are far from that point sadly.

[pnwmom]

51. Another question is whether Texas is importing dogs

from Mexico, as California does.

Maybe we shouldn't be importing strays if we can't take care of our own.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-21-dog-imports_N.htm?csp=15

Agencies in Southern California created the Border Puppy Task Force after they saw a surprising number of very young dogs being brought across the border from Mexico. The task force estimated that during a one-year span, 10,000 puppies entered San Diego County. The collection of law enforcement and animal welfare agencies has targeted "puppy peddlers" and their sometimes dangerous importing and selling practices.

SNIP

The Department of Agriculture closely monitors dealers who sell to pet stores, whether the dogs are raised or imported from other countries. Department spokesperson Jessica Milteer says her agency has no authority to monitor people who import large numbers of dogs and sell them on their own.

SNIP

Marianna Massa travels to Puerto Rico several times a year to screen dogs for the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, Mass. She said it would be difficult to argue against the program if people saw how strays live in Puerto Rico.

SNIP

Some, like Strand, say it's silly and dangerous to go overseas for dogs when there's plenty of strays here. About 4 million dogs are put to death by injection or gas every year in the USA.

http://time4dogs.blogspot.com/2011/03/its-raining-dogsfrom-other-countries.html

Ever hear of "Compassion without Borders", "Save a Sato", "Save a Mexican Mutt", "Dogs Without Borders"? These are just a few of the many groups who make a living importing dogs from other countries. There is even evidence now surfacing that some of these dogs are intentionally bred for export to the US!


Visit the website of the Taipei Abandoned Animal Rescue Foundation. The director of this group lives in...surprise! CARLSBAD California. They place dogs all across the United States.....from from Snohomish County, Washington, to "Pets Alive", a no-kill shelter in Middletown, NY.

The New England States in particular have a severe shortage of dogs. They rely heavily on groups like "North Shore Animal League" and "Save a Sato" to supply them with pets. But, many other other areas import as well.

Shelters are exempt from many import laws and have no federal requirements to quarantine the dogs or ensure that they are free of parasites and diseases before they place them.

[hamsterjill]

60. And San Antonio has sent dogs to Chicago before in a transport.

See my other response to you, please, regarding Houston and that situation.

As I mentioned in another previous post, San Antonio has at least two groups dedicated to "transports". They take dogs on death row in San Antonio and transport them to other areas of the country for adoption. One of the places that they have taken dogs before is Chicago...and Chicago is not "no kill" either.

So there is a LOT of confusion, a lot of deception, and a lot of misunderstanding about all of this.

The bottom line for me is this: I don't think any healthy, behaviorally sound, companion animal should have to die anywhere just because there is not space somewhere for that animal.

[pnwmom]

52. If Houston can help rescue stray dogs from Mexico, why not from San Antonio?

It doesn't make sense that you're killing dogs in San Antonio while we're importing strays from Mexico.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Stray-dogs-in-Mexico-finding-homes-in-U-S-1514183.php

MEXICO CITY - Thanks to the kindness of strangers in Texas, Chucha, Nena and six lucky companions will be traveling this week to America — land of freedom, opportunity and bacon-flavored treats.

These four-legged migrants faced a grim life on the streets — or an almost certain death at the pound — until they were rescued as part of a new Houston program aimed at drawing attention to the struggle of stray and abandoned pets in Mexico.

snip

[hamsterjill]

59. No, it doesn't make sense, but it happens

There are some groups who are sympathetic to the animal situations in Mexico and they try to bring some of those animals to Texas. No, we don't need any more animals when we are euthanizing thousands. But considering the deplorable situations in Mexico (animals are routinely electrecuted for euthanization), then it's hard not to be happy that a few get a shot at a better life.

None of this "makes sense". That's part of the problem. Houston has not reached "no kill" status yet either, and is in fact, probably just as bad or worse than San Antonio.

I'm at work right now and don't have a lot of time to research, but I'm attaching a link from 2011 that explains a little more about Houston. Yes, that's 2011 - - - but nothing much has changed.

http://pawsitivelytexas.com/harris-county-texas-animal-shelter-kills-81-percent-of-their-animal/

[sammytko]

66. Hi, hamsterjill! I'm down the road south of san antonio. I have 5 rescue pups living with me now

Its really sad what happens to animals around here.

There is a definite throw away animal mentality in these parts.

A Facebook friend from san Antonio posts links to the various animal rescue organizations and the pets they have for adoption or foster.

Y'all are doing an awesome job against some great odds!

[hamsterjill]

69. Well hello!!

By "south", which direction? 281 or 35?

I have several animal people friends who are in Von Ormy and further south. Great people who work their fingers to the bone to help abandoned animals!

Frankly, I've been surprised at the lack of understanding on this thread, but I suppose that is my own naivete. Hopefully, there really ARE other parts of the country who are doing better than we are. And I suppose if posters live in areas where things aren't so desperate, that they would tend to have a different viewpoint than me, or else not understand all of the sadness, etc.

Unfortunately, there are also areas of the country that are worse that us (almost unimaginably, but worse).

I appreciate the kind words, and appreciate the fact that you are giving 5 rescue pups a loving home!!!

[sammytko]

71. in between - Hiway 16!

I also have seven rescue cats

[duffyduff]

56. Just have mandatory spay/neuter and see how long pets continue to exist.

That's why I utterly despise animal rights people--they aren't for animals anyway, and they will lie to make sure domesticated animals don't exist under the guise of "overpopulation" or "cruelty," or "responsibility."

[wercal]

58. I never advocated mandatory neutering

But it is the responsible thing to do.

If you are a bona fide breeder, fine....most people don't do it for other reasons though - don't want to spend the money, too busy, etc.

I've neutered all of mine...and I'm confident the pet population won't suffer.

[duffyduff]

55. That's the real goal of animal rights people, but they won't tell you the truth.

To them "owning" pets is akin to slavery, and never mind how important they are for enriching the life experience.

[pnwmom]

72. That is true for some of the leaders but not everyone in the organizations.

I don't think they all realize what the desired goal really is.

But we will never have a solution to "overpopulation" of animals in this country, no matter how successful spay-neuter campaigns are, if we continue to take in limitless amounts of animals from countries that don't have these programs.

[stuntcat]

53. yup

saying that would lead to no dogs and cats is as ridiculous as saying that if WE stop making copies of ourselves then soon there will be NO HUMANS!

EGAD No more of the most brutal Earth-rapingest animal-extincting disease of a species ever to evolve in our galaxy.

Long as so many thousands (probably millions) of cats and dogs are being put to sleep every year we need to spay and neuter every one of them we can.

[duffyduff]

57. It isn't ridiculous, and I think you know that.

PETA's Ingrid Newkirk believes just that very thing. So do many others of the people-hating, animal-hating extremists of the animal rights movement.

They are NOT honest.

[hamsterjill]

74. Most animal rights people that I know don't think much of PETA.

I don't know a single rescuer who thinks anything positive about PETA. You have rescuers confused with "extremists".

[leftyladyfrommo]

76. PETA believes in euthanizing. Better dead.

If you see the numbers on the cnimals they euthanize it's staggering.

They actually pulled animals for our shelter after telling the shelter people that they would help find them homes. They killed them all in the parking lot and dumped them into a grocery store trash dumpster. And they defend that sort of thing.

The head of tht outfit braggs that she personally euthanized 1,000 animals.

They are also against nokill shelters.

That's just sick.

Go to their website. They are proud of this shit.

[hamsterjill]

61. Thank you for the support of my belief!

I appreciate your response, and the fact that you obviously understand what's going on!

[stuntcat]

73. this:

this is the understanding I have, the three things that effect every species on Earth:

1. Humans are driving many wild animals to extinction. The number whipped out will rise and rise and rise the rest of the century.
2. We're torturing billions of (over-bred, pooping, resource consuming) animals to death every year in factory farms.
3. We're killing millions of cats and dogs in shelters while some idiots breed thousands and thousands more of them, mostly by mistake and some even on purpose! The nasty dirty idiots..


No wonder our species is the one that's convinced itself it's the very image of "God"
Well I hope we are "His" favorite because that's the only thing that could save us from what we're doing now.

I'm just glad for the internets, the only place I can find ANYONE with any grasp of what's going on, or any concern about it anyway And I've got strong feelings today.

[alphafemale]

22. Poor beasties get so worn out and broken down so soon.

Oh...I want her to have at least one litter.

She should know the joy of motherhood.

Bog off wanker!

[Contrary1]

23. I have spent a ton of money

in vet fees on animals that found their way to my back door. Everything from fixing a broken femur to spay/neuter to euthansia for those who came too late for me to save.

I have also taken in countless kittens that were either dumped, or born from very pregnant females who just happened to show up.

I will continue to take care of your unwanted "pets" to the best of my ability. By the way, once they find me...they no longer belong to you.

PS....Assholes shouldn't get/have pets in the first place.

[L0oniX]

25. I am not getting fixed damn it all!

[riqster]

26. Well, a birdbrain is saying it,

So I think my OP stands up.

[L0oniX]

27. Alerting ...for calling me a birdbrain. Why is everyone on DU so mean all the time?

[riqster]

29. It was a pic of a parrot

I was referring to the parrot. Sorry if I gave offense.

[L0oniX]

31. Well the smell is more offensive.

BTW I was joking

[riqster]

32. Wasn't sure, do I figured I'd best assume otherwise

[Viking12]

28. No matter where you live, Fix Your D***ed Pet, Already

Feral domestic cats are one of the biggest threats to wild birds.

[riqster]

30. I did not know that.

Thanks!

[HappyMe]

35. We had a fair amount of feral cats

in the neighborhood last summer.

So far this spring I haven't seen any. I'm hoping there won't be a bunch of them again.

[ileus]

37. I live in the wilderness and all my pets are fixed.

[Skittles]

41. oh HOW I agree

the misery caused by irresponsible humans is STAGGERING

[wickerwoman]

45. And keep it on your own d*** property.

I'm so over my oblivious neighbors' cats digging up my veggie garden and crapping all over everything.

[riqster]

46. Oh, yeah.

Another example of irresponsible pet owners.

[duffyduff]

54. And if everybody did that, there would be no pets left.

That is the ultimate goal of the animal rights people, though they won't tell you the truth about that.

[Arugula Latte]

67. Obviously it's never going to be 100 percent.

The goal should be that every cat (and dog) has a home, but we are a long, long, way from that. Millions of animals are put down every year in this country. We have to do better, and to get there we need to spay and neuter many, many more animals. To reach the point where we're worried about not having enough pets would be a beautiful dream. To say that that "no pets" is the ultimate goal of the animal rights people is just plain wrong, but most sane people would agree that stopping the mass euthanasia of potential pets is a very good thing.

[Egalitarian Thug]

77. That's just silly. n/t

[Dash87]

78. That's not true, because we have breeders.

Pets can be bred and then neutered. This can be done for infinite generations.

Spaying and neutering cuts down on pesty strays and suffering.

[Autumn]

65. I don't care where you live. Fix Your D***ed Pet, Already

that way they are happier and safer.