Author: Derek

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Spaying: Why it’s better…

(This is an excerpt for an excellent article I found on the subject of spaying – please refer people to this when they give the classic ignorant arguments for keeping their female unspayed – animalman)

The following significant medical benefits can be gained from spaying your dog:

* Mammary (breast) cancer: Females spayed prior to their first oestrus cycle have a significantly reduced risk of developing mammary cancer, a common cancer in unspayed females. The chances of developing this cancer increase if a female isn’t spayed until after her second heat cycle, but they still remain lower than the risk for unspayed females. So if your dog has already gone through her first heat cycle, it’s not too late. Spaying her will still reduce her risk of developing cancerous

Continue reading “Spaying: Why it’s better…”
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Letter of Apology

Merry Browne said that “preconceptions are the locks on the door to wisdom”.  The following article, found by Bernice and Brenda in different places during the same week (?!) clearly illustrates the ignorance prevailing in the world of domestic animals. Thanks to Bernice for doing the editing of the original which had some grammatical problems, and for providing the picture… (animalman)

I’m sorry you are frightened of my dogs and are trying to have them killed because they are pit bulls.

I’m sorry you lack the understanding of this breed’s true history, gentleness with people, wonderful temperament, intelligence and behavioural conformation.

I’m sorry you won’t read the *ATTS stats regarding our breed’s true temperament, in which they score over 83%. That’s 6% more than an average breed.

I’m sorry that you think it’s ok to assume an aggressive dog that resembles a pit bull is a pit bull. I’m sorry you won’t take Continue reading “Letter of Apology”

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The Breeder and the Damage Done

Today, while you work, have tea, conversations with friends, lunch, make arrangements for your weekend, and do all the things that enable you to enjoy life, 822 domestic animals will be ‘put down’ in shelters around the country. And that is a conservative estimate. There will probably be a lot more.

We say ‘put down’ when we refer to animals. We do not use the term ‘murder’ because they are ‘only animals’. In today’s society, one ‘puts down’ creatures of a ‘lower order’, where they ‘belong’ – we use euphemisms as shields, lest we should be ashamed…

And we should be ashamed. We should be ashamed because the measures that could have prevented this have been available for some time, because the ignorance that prevails over this scenario is inexcusable, and because the majority feed the problem and sustain it Continue reading “The Breeder and the Damage Done”

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A Letter from a Shelter Manager

This is an article that appeared a while ago in emails and was published on, among other places, change.org. It is from an American shelter manager but it is nevertheless relevant and applicable to the South African scenario. (animalman)

I think our society needs a huge “Wake-up” call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all…a view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the “back” of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don’t even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it’s not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there’s about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 30% of all Continue reading “A Letter from a Shelter Manager”