Dog and Cat Owners

[kittenkagome]

I have a kitty and he is fixed. My parents were not going to do it at first, but they figured it might help him roam less (He is a garage/outdoor cat. His sleeping place is a heated garage). It worked. I think I have heard of vets marking the animals that they operate on, but I think its pretty rare. Most of the time if you have your vet do it they will just put it in their records whether or not the animal has been fixed, and that eliminates the question. If you have any more animals that need to be spayed or neutered, just ask about their policies (like Im sure you will) and ask for paperwork proof instead of the mark, that way you can give it to your vet and eliminate any confusion about the subject. Beyond that point, getting your animal fixed is always a good idea (unless some medical problem prohibits it). It cracks down on the unwanted pet population, and , oddly enough, eliminates some cancers. Mostly because certain parts are not there anymore. Its just less that can go wrong. 

[vmcutshall]

My dog has never been spayed , but we do not let her out when she is in heet. I don't want puppies either. I always keep my pets with the same vet that I trust.

[vicogden]

I'm not currently an owner because I travel a lot.  But all my previous pets have been spayed or neutered.  I'm in line with Bob Barker: get all your pets fixed!  I'm in Thailand right now and there are so many dogs running around looking for food it's not funny.  In fact, it's crazy!  Obviously everyone won't follow these guidelines, but if a few of us do, it'll be better for the pet community as a whole.

[batmobile]

Are all your dogs and cats fixed? 

I just took my kitties in to a county run, mobile clinic advertised at the library.  Due to my current circumstances I qualified for a grant which made it much more affordable than I expected.  It was just in the nick of time too as my one male had just come of age as my female went into heat, just days before their appointment.  Whew!  He got to her well enough she stopped being in heat.  I know she was a couple days pregnant, but the doctors said she wasn't.  (I've had vets tell me that before and they were wrong each time.)   

What gets me this time is that they marked their beautiful, pristine white bellies with a green dot tattoo without my consent.     I understand why they do it, but you should ask the owner before you permanently mark their animal, not after.  When I found my boys, stray-born under my home, they were losing their belly fur due to bird mites.  (Mom was a good hunter of mourning doves.)  I was so delighted to see them grow back all their fur and have unmarred white bellies.  Now they have an ugly green dot in the middle, where the female incision would be.  (The female has one next to her stitches too.)  I hate green and would have refused this mark.  My house cats stay in 24/7/365 and do not need this.  Why do vets think they can make decisions about our four-footed children?!  If a pediatrician did this sort of thing the parents would be outraged and the doctor would be in danger of losing his license.

The lessons here:
Get your dogs  and cats  neutered.
Watch for programs in your area and/or ask about grants.
When you take them in for neutering ask questions.    You should know and have say so over everything they are going to do to your four-footed children.
Keep your animals contained or leashed.  It's safer for them and your neighbors.

yeah my dog ace is not fixed, but i think he may wanna keep his nuts now lol.

[CharmedPhoenix]

I have a kitty and he is fixed. My parents were not going to do it at first, but they figured it might help him roam less (He is a garage/outdoor cat. His sleeping place is a heated garage). It worked. I think I have heard of vets marking the animals that they operate on, but I think its pretty rare. Most of the time if you have your vet do it they will just put it in their records whether or not the animal has been fixed, and that eliminates the question. If you have any more animals that need to be spayed or neutered, just ask about their policies (like Im sure you will) and ask for paperwork proof instead of the mark, that way you can give it to your vet and eliminate any confusion about the subject. Beyond that point, getting your animal fixed is always a good idea (unless some medical problem prohibits it). It cracks down on the unwanted pet population, and , oddly enough, eliminates some cancers. Mostly because certain parts are not there anymore. Its just less that can go wrong. 

I had never heard of marking before and silly me I thought they would get the owner's consent before doing such a thing.  Their thinking was to identify the fixed animals in case they got out and picked up so they wouldn't have to endure exploratory surgery to see if they were fixed.  (Yes, even the boys, incase their testicles hadn't descended.)  That's a great idea if you're dealing with outdoor cats or ferrels, but mine stay in 24/7/365.  I live in a rural county and this was a mobile clinic out of Santa Fe.  The nearest holistic vets are about an hour away and very expensive.  This clinic was a blessing.  I just wish vets would regard the owners wishes more.  They're worse than people doctors.  Pets are all the kids I'm going to have and I choose to raise them in as natural a way as I can.

[dwggs]

Yes all my pets are spayed and neutered ... 3 cats and 1 dog.

I have always been a responsible pet owner and have done this as soon as possible.
No unexpected puppies or kittens for me.

[ssmsurvey]

I can understand your concern over the 'tattoo', however, having worked as a Vet Tech for years, I applaude them for doing it. Unfortunately, not everyone treats their pets as family and in these hard times many pets are given away or abandoned. I know from experience that it can be difficult to find a spay scar on a female cat so the tattoo is a great idea. With the males, even though the fur on their *bleep* grows back, a good Dr or Tech should be able to notice they are empty. So the tattoo on them doesn't seem as necessary.
Sometimes it is just more effecient to 'mark' all the animals instead of asking, especially in a clinic situation where they spay and neuter as if on an assembly line. Hopefully, their fur while grow back and you will hardly see it.
Be thankful they are okay. Some of those clinics do a horrible job and some cats don't make it.
Good on you for getting them fixed!

[ramona6904]

A lot of communities have vets that volunteer their time to do low cost spay and neuter surgeries, or they do it free if you qualify.  Check with your local Humane Society or aa local shelter group.  Where I live, the humane society has reduced price spay and neuter certificates for their animals, but will  alsogive them out to the public upon request.

[dymondzncurlz810]

I can understand your concern over the 'tattoo', however, having worked as a Vet Tech for years, I applaude them for doing it. Unfortunately, not everyone treats their pets as family and in these hard times many pets are given away or abandoned. I know from experience that it can be difficult to find a spay scar on a female cat so the tattoo is a great idea. With the males, even though the fur on their *bleep* grows back, a good Dr or Tech should be able to notice they are empty. So the tattoo on them doesn't seem as necessary.
Sometimes it is just more effecient to 'mark' all the animals instead of asking, especially in a clinic situation where they spay and neuter as if on an assembly line. Hopefully, their fur while grow back and you will hardly see it.
Be thankful they are okay. Some of those clinics do a horrible job and some cats don't make it.
Good on you for getting them fixed!

Well said  I've also seen these green marks on lost dogs and it is great. There was a family that lost their dog a county away from us and we found it and when they put up the LOST ad there was no questioning that the dog we found was theirs. They didn't need a picture, just a short sweet description along with "Lilly has a green tattoo on her belly". We called, they got the dog back asap. Very convenient.