[mattnick]

I just saw the funniest ad at PETAAsiaPacific.com! I think it really gets the point across about being a resposible guardian and the undeniable need for our companion animals to be spay and neutered. You can check it out here: http://action.petaasiapacific.com/e....extras=ea_source_code:papadvsppro~c=papsnpro. In it there’s a rather ‘frisky’ poodle who’s, well, letting loose you could say. Next to it is the tagline ‘Get your F***ing dog desexed’. I think this light hearted ad draws attention to the very serious matter of animal over population & euthanasia really effectively.

 

[Dogstar]

Gee.

I'm sorry, I didn't realize that the shelter was full of health tested, performance proven show dogs. I'll attend to that immediately with my guys, if you'll just tell me where all these dogs with health guarantees and known temperament are in the shelters so I can send my waiting list to them. Collies and German Spitz- my waiting list has specific choices in breeds, and of course many of them have children, so the shelter will have to be okay with that.

PETA is full of idiocy.

 

[mattnick]

Hi Dogstar,

Thanks for your comments.

Personally I don't think you can call yourself an animal lover if you only want 1 particular breed for thier 'look'. I think this becomes somewhat materialistic. However if there are allergy issues or some other factors which require a certain breed you can still find many breeds in shelters and have them notify you if such a breed comes in. Having worked in shelters for over 2 years myself I can say I've seen many purebreeds come through - a by product of irresponsible over breeding. I can also say for a fact that all respectable shelters will give all thier animals health checks, shots, chips and even desex them.

At the end of the day regardless of the breed of dog, they all deserve love and respect. Just because an animal is in a shelter doesn't mean they are worthless. Maybe if you had to euthanise dogs like these day in and day out you may see the value in PETA's promotion of adopting and desexing.

 

[Dogstar]

I'm all in favor of adoption. But I'm also in favor of predictable temperament, and animals in our lives and homes.

No one who actually loves their pets should support PETA.

http://www.pelaqitapersians.com/PETA_article.html

 

[Best*In*Show]

I can also say for a fact that all respectable shelters will give all thier animals health checks, shots, chips and even desex them.

I guess we're not talking about PETA shelters then.

 

[Marsh Muppet]

Personally I don't think you can call yourself an animal lover if you only want 1 particular breed for thier 'look'. I think this becomes somewhat materialistic.

I can't see how an animal lover can rip out a dog's reproductive organs for no more compelling reason than human convenience. That seems more than a little paternalistic. It's bad enough that PETA wants to make that choice for pets, but they want to do it for pet guardians--or in my case, pet owner--too.

You say potato....

 

[Dogstar]

I guess we're not talking about PETA shelters then.

Why would they do that? After all, it's so much cheaper to euthanize, I mean free from human bondage, them.

 

[mattnick]

As do I. I forgot to mention the temperment testing that also goes into putting a dog up for adoption. Most good shelter will 'profile' thier animals to give you an idea of if they are good with other dogs, kids etc. That being said just because an animal is made homeless by no fault of it's own isn't to say that we should let it not have the chance at a home just because we don't know it's previous history. Many animal in pet stores also have behavioural problems and issues. Many pedigrees also have serious health issues due to being a 'pedigree'. Mutts or pedigree they all equally deserve a home in my eyes. Many of the dogs I've rescued have turned out to be the most loyal and loving companions I ould have ever wished for.

As for you link in regards to PETA..it's a shame you have been exposed to such properganda. In this article it states 'Their main objective is to take away your right to own animals. They do not want you to have the companionship of any animals, whether that is a dog, cat, horse, mouse, frog, fish or any other animal that you can think of.' This is a serious misconstrued truth. PETA aims for animals not to be treated as objects or things to be owned. Instead of being 'our pet' they are our companions. We are not thier owners, we are thier guardians. Many PETA employees have campanion dogs and cats themselves. Don't you think it to be a little odd that there own staff would have companion animals if they are against enjoying animals company as this article is trying to portray. Also in regard to the animals which are euthanised by PETA you should first read this: http://blog.peta.org/archives/2009/03/why_we_euthaniz.php

I would encourage you to first do your research from both sides of the fence before you go making such negative accusations. PETA happens to be solely responsible for saving many animals live's both directly and indirectly - people should really have better things to do than go out of thier way to bash an organisation who has a lengthy history of helping and saving animals.

The point of desexing is not for 'human convenience'. It's to stop the huge number of suffering stray and homeless animals. Do you have any idea how many animals are killed every year because of this?? It's no joke..

 

[Best*In*Show]

I would encourage you to first do your research from both sides of the fence before you go making such negative accusations.

Yes, great advice. Take it.

 

[poodleholic]

As for you link in regards to PETA..it's a shame you have been exposed to such properganda. In this article it states 'Their main objective is to take away your right to own animals. They do not want you to have the companionship of any animals, whether that is a dog, cat, horse, mouse, frog, fish or any other animal that you can think of.' This is a serious misconstrued truth. PETA aims for animals not to be treated as objects or things to be owned. Instead of being 'our pet' they are our companions. We are not thier owners, we are thier guardians. Many PETA employees have campanion dogs and cats themselves. Don't you think it to be a little odd that there own staff would have companion animals if they are against enjoying animals company as this article is trying to portray. Also in regard to the animals which are euthanised by PETA you should first read this: http://blog.peta.org/archives/2009/0...e_euthaniz.php

ROFLMAO You've GOT to be kidding! What planet do you live on??!!

 

[mattnick]

I have - I used to work for a pet store and grew up on a farm prior to working in shelters and researching PETA.

Also to an earlier comment: Desexing dogs and cats isn't about human convenience. It's about preventing millions of unwanted animals from living, suffering and dying on the streets and in shelters as is currently the case.

It's funny because I came to this forum thinking it was a place for people who cared about animals - obviously I was wrong.

 

[Marsh Muppet]

It's funny because I came to this forum thinking it was a place for people who cared about animals - obviously I was wrong.

Your mistake was in thinking that concern for animals = uninformed emotionalism. Most of the people who have genuine concern for their pet animals have taken the time to educate themselves about what PETA stands for. You have either not done that, or you are disingenuously attempting to play on the emotions of the misinformed. What PETA, HSUS, and similar orgs stand for is easy to determine. They actually say what they mean (PETA moreso than HSUS). You should look it up.

 

[poodleholic]

Mattnick, we DO care about dogs, and all animals, it's PETA we have an issue with. I'm sorry that you've fallen for their propaganda, and believe that this organization is about the welfare of animals. Unfortunately, many animals have been brutally killed, and then tossed into dumpsters (an act they got caught doing).

 

[skelaki]

http://www.petakillsanimals.com/
http://www.nokillnow.com/PETAIngridNewkirkResign.htm
http://www.wptz.com/news/17539127/detail.html
http://www.anti-peta.com/

Mattnick, if you are at all interested in understanding what PETA and the HSUS really are all about, these links will get you started. They do not care one iota for the welfare of animals despite the propaganda they put out. No group that KILLS 97% of the dogs and cats that come into their ONE shelter cares about animal welfare.

You have the right to your opinion but you will not find many PETA or HSUS supporters on this forum.

 

[RonE]

It's funny because I came to this forum thinking it was a place for people who cared about animals - obviously I was wrong.

Normally, people come to this forum with a brief introduction, tell us a bit about their dogs and background and explore a bit.

A first post like yours may look, to the cynical among us, like you simply have an agenda you're wanting to push. We are suspicious of agendas - whether they are promoting grey market cell phones or Peta propaganda.

I'm sorry if your welcome here was less-than-gracious. It's probably similar to what you'd get if you walked on to a commercial airline and yelled, "Bomb!"

This is a group that cares about animals - not organizations.

 

[jesirose]

I would encourage you to first do your research from both sides of the fence before you go making such negative accusations. PETA happens to be solely responsible for saving many animals live's both directly and indirectly - people should really have better things to do than go out of thier way to bash an organisation who has a lengthy history of helping and saving animals.

The point of desexing is not for 'human convenience'. It's to stop the huge number of suffering stray and homeless animals. Do you have any idea how many animals are killed every year because of this?? It's no joke..

If PETA would let up on killing them, maybe the numbers wouldn't be so high.

http://PetaKillsAnimals.com

 

[Locke]

What's the difference between a pet and a companion?

To me, they are one in the same. How does PETA make a distinction between the two terms?

Wikipedia (ya, not the best source) defines pet and companion like so:

Pet: "A pet is an animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a household animal, as opposed to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic reasons"

Companion: "Companion may refer to:
Companion (caregiving), a nurse assistant or similar professional who assists a patient one-on-one
Companion (ship), an architectural feature of ships
Companion animal, a pet animal kept for companionship
Companion parrot, a pet parrot that interacts with its owner
Companion star, a star in a binary star system
Companion weapon, an object held in the non-sword hand while fencing
Muhammad's companions, the Sahaba
Companion cavalry, Alexander the Great's elite cavalry
Foot Companion, the primary type of soldier in Alexander the Great's army
Lady's companion, a genteel woman who acted as a companion for woman of rank or wealth
Companion planting, planting of different crops in close physical proximity
A handbook or guide book or compendium e.g. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion or The Oxford Companion to Music
A member of a Holy Royal Arch chapter
A domestic partner
A concubine
An intelligent conversational agent as in the Companions Project"


So.....PETA wants us to either treat our animals like domestic partners, which in my case would mean they would have to feed themselves, walk themselves, groom themselves, teach themselves, vet themselves etc. OR they want us to form a domineering relationship with our animals (concubine), OR they want us to treat them like pets.....

 

[MissMutt]

I refuse to take seriously any organization that riots in front of a dog show in KKK Uniforms for the sake of their cause.

Honestly, if you love animals, there are MUCH better organizations to go out and support.

 

[DobManiac]

Raging hormones make people do crazy things, and animals are no different. Having your dog sterilized now can save you a ton of embarrassment later by eliminating the urge to mate, the tendency to be excessively territorial, and the physical functions that cause animals to mount objects, mark their territories indoors, and go through heat cycles. Plus, sterilization protects your dog from several life-threatening types of cancer and spares your animal companion the anxiety and frustration of wanting to mate but not being allowed to do so.

But most importantly, spaying and neutering your dog prevents the worst kind of "accident": puppies! Sure, puppies are cute, but millions of perfectly healthy and lovable dogs are euthanized in animal shelters every year for lack of good homes. Every new puppy takes a home from a shelter dog or ends up homeless instead. That's not so cute!

Don't you just love scare tactics.

Dogs can be trained to control their impulses just like people. That is what makes a responsible owner, or "guardian." Not automatically signing your dog up for a surgery that has just as many risks as benefits.

 

[RonE]

Just to be clear: Most of us here DO spay and neuter our dogs. I'm not at all sure how I would train my two females to "control their impulses" when they are in heat.

But we don't spay or neuter in response to anything PETA might say about it.