PetSugar

How Much Did You Spend to Spay or Neuter?

PetSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:00:50 -0700

Depending on where you live, this average price can vary (as with any other services from daycare to dog walking). Regardless, there's a huge difference between "low-cost" spray/neuter options and ones at a private veterinary clinic. Whether your pet stayed overnight or was out in a flash for laser or stitched procedures, how much did the total package cost you?

Do Tell: Weigh In on Mandatory Spay/Neuter Laws

PetSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:05:06 -0700

Even if your furry friend is fixed, how do you feel about being told to do so not just by vets or animal behaviorists but by the government!? Last week, a statewide mandatory spay/neuter bill (SB 250) passed the California State Senate and is off to the Assembly to quite possibly become law.

In order to keep an unsterilized pet, you'd need a license or else your animal could be taken away from you. Now, I understand the needless death and overpopulation of shelter animals, but this seems a bit troublesome for lower-income families who would sterilize a pet, if not for the prohibitive procedure price. Do you think this bill is a good start . . . or does it do more harm than good?

Source

Have You Spayed or Neutered Exotic Pets?

PetSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:00:14 -0700

It's no surprise that I love baby animals, but I wouldn't want to just wake up one morning to a slew of new pets! Especially since I recall a childhood pal who went from having Roxy and Foxy to having five Guinea Pigs – quite a mysterious result when her mom (thought she) had purchased two girl pets – and how sad we were when her parents told her she could only keep one baby.
Now, I never gave "fixing" much thought in the scenario but a recent article brought this practice to my attention. Most of you spay or neuter your dogs and cats, but what about the exotic pets or small mammals you've owned?

Source

When Was Your Pet Fixed?

PetSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:00:58 -0700

My pup was fixed shortly before his first birthday, much later then many of our doggie pals – when was your pet fixed?

Source

It's Okay, Lil Guy: Ricci's Ramon Gets Neutered

PetSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:15:04 -0700

Even though Ramon doesn't have a cute outfit on this time, he is sporting that telltale neckpiece. I'm guessing this conehead just got his lil snip snip done. I love that Christina Ricci cuddles her smooshy Frenchie close as they leave an animal hospital in West Hollywood – sometimes even the cushiest of carriers won't do! Check out the duo in the full shot when you read more.

Flynet

Would You Opt For a Vasectomy Over Neutering?

PetSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:00:53 -0700

When I spotted this piece on Dolittler about canine vasectomy, I was a bit stumped. I mean I had certainly never heard of this process for a pet, and, I admit, found the concept a bit fascinating. The client mentioned wanted this procedure done to her show dog so he'd be "safe" around her other dogs, but wanted to keep his energy and testosterone for maximum ring performance at competitions. The vet writes:

Though it’s an easy surgery (far less painful than a routine castration, with fewer complications, to boot), it’s clear that we vets have serious power over what procedures become accepted as the norm.

What's your take? If you knew this was an option, would you seek it out?

Is Your Pet Fixed?

PetSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:15:12 -0800

Getting your dogs, cats, and rabbits fixed is important to controlling pet overpopulation in shelters and on the streets. Today is Spay Day USA – Spay/USA is a national referral network that can direct pet owners to local, subsidized spay/neuter clinics. North only spent one night in the hospital and sported this silly collar to protect stitches from this quick procedure. My pup got neutered when he was just about 1-year-old, what about your pets?

It's Feral Cat Day - Have You Ever Seen One?

PetSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:25:00 -0700

Today's National Feral Cat Day to honor those felines that live in the wild. Before you start wishing they all could be rescued and adopted, know that many of these kitties are better-accustomed to living on their own terms in the wild. In areas around the country where this is common, Trap-Neuter-Release plans are enforced to keep a handle on the population.

On a personal note, these kitties have a special place in my heart from my college days, when they were frequently found, fed, and even adopted out whenever possible right on campus. Our pals over at Paw Nation dedicated several posts to this cause, including an interview with comedian Marc Maron about his feral cats:

"You know, I'm not a cat guy, but I'm a 'my cat' guy. If I go to your house, I'll pretend to like your cats, but secretly I'm thinking what a fat, stupid, ugly cat you have. That cat's an indoor cat; my cats are animals. Your cat can't even muster up the gumption to play with that fake mouse you bought it. It's days away from hanging itself on its scratching post. Or dying of ennui."

Don't worry, he's kidding. (I think.) Ever spotted a feral feline out and about?

Source: Flickr User edbrambley

I Need Your Help . . . Dealing With Aggressive Dogs on Walks

PetSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Nothing turns a walk time from rad to bad quicker than a foul-tempered pooch. I'd hazard a guess that very few, very lucky pet owners have never encountered an aggressive dog while out and about - even an attempted lunge is scary stuff - and what if it continues on way too far? Community member Beaner explains:

We've been going in the woods off-leash ever since we had our dog and, last weekend, the same dog went after him for the third time. I told the owner he should leash his dog since he's aggressive, and his response was, "Well I think dogs should just work it out themselves." When I saw him again, and I yelled to scare the other dog off, then leashed mine and walked the other way home. Is there anything I can do?

Get more of the story and offer your own advice when you read more.

Here's where the story gets more ridiculous as the offending owner asked Beaner if her dog was neutered - he is - but, when she asked back, he said "pretty much" even though she could see evidence to the contrary. Umm, horrible. Now, it's definitely a good idea to remove any dog from a dangerous situation but, unfortunately, there are some people that just won't do the right thing and ruin the fun for everyone else. Other than contacting the local animal care and control facility to see if there are any policies regarding aggressive dogs, I'm at a loss about what she can do - any tips?

(If you have problems of your own, don't forget to submit any questions to the Pet Peeves group - and we'll help work them out!)

9 Hero Dogs Who Deserve a Bone: In the LINK of an Eye!

PetSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:40:35 -0700

9 doggie heroes, up close and personal - People Pets
Visual tale of the cat tails - The Cat's Meow
Enter to win a Komfort Pets climate-controlled carrier - Paw Nation
Could chicken embryos produce dinosaurs? - Discovery News
New CT scanner is faster, better, and smaller - PetMD
Chicken + tissues = hilarity - Urlesque
All about "Trap, Neuter, Release" for birds - Dolittler