critizsm for spaying bunny…

[ADEE]

Has anyone had this happen to them before? Im getting the feeling (on another forum) im getting critizsm for spaying Rain, comments are made implying it wouldve been less invasive to neuter a male before spaying a female, I did relay there are no male rabbits here the spay was not done to prevent babies, it was done to lower her chances of developing cancer later on in life. This is a forum that has many show owners and a few who breed rabbits also so im not so sure spay is as widly suported and encouraged there.

 

I had posted Rains post surgery pictures to help other people see what it looks like and how well shes healing, it was supposed to be a helpful thread and instead im starting to get heat about it. I know what I did was the right thing for Rain but what supporting information can I share to hopefully get more people to consider spaying their rabbits, not even for the benefits of less chance of cancer but to help with the rising number of homeless rabbits. I did have one response “omg why would you do that to her, thats so painful! i would never spay my rabbit” It saddens me to think people think ive done something invasive for no reason, I know the stand here for why people do it but can someone help me express to them the reasons, perhaps statistics or something more concrete?

 

Thanks!!

[Beka27]

that’s frustrating. i love the Dana Krempels article… http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/spay.html

it might not matter what you post, not everyone is going to truly understand or care. they are, after all, JUST disposable pets (<—major sarcasm!)

i hate to sound mean and i DO NOT wish their innocent bunnies harm, but remember that 8 out of 10 of those people will be posting in a couple years that their bunny died, and they’re not really sure why. or they know why and they chose to euthanize rather than spend the thousands of dollars on surgeries and cancer treatments.

you did the BEST THING for Rain. there is no guarantee that she (or any of our bunnies) will live to a ripe old age. bunnies are fragile creatures and can pass away under the best conditions and care, but you’ve greatly increased the likelihood that she will be around for many, many years.

post some info about spay/neuter and if you can even help just one person make the right decision, it will be worth it.

[ADEE]

Thanks Beka, I will certainly read and post the link. I know nothing guarantees long lives but its worth it to me to do anything i can to at least help her live a healthier life. Easier IMO to spend a bit to get her spayed now then to try and fork over hundreds to thousands on treating cancer that was preventable. Thanks for your help. I totally agree with the last line you said too.. even if we help get one spayed it will be worth it.

[rabbitsmba]

OMG – seriously? Holy cow!

Spaying Rain was the BEST thing you could’ve done for her! An unspayed rabbit has an 80% chance of developing reproductive cancers by the age of 5. Spaying your bunny saves their life!

I’ve had a few “run-in’s” with breeders and people who show rabbits on other forums as well and it shocks me 1) how little they really know about raising a healthy rabbit and 2) how stubborn and relentless they can be. I certainly don’t mean to classify EVERY breeder and shower of rabbits in this category, but I was completely floored at the naitivity, ignorance and condesension that would surface.

*cough*craigslistpetforum*cough*

[ADEE]

I totally agree, I cant tell you how many times I look at craigslist and shake my head at all the rabbits that are being given away or sold, and how many of them are the result of an oops litter, wanting to try breeding, exc. Its sick and makes me so angry. I understand why some would be critical of me spaying Rain because many of these people on the forum im talking about do breed their rabbits and to them Rain isnt worth anything because
a: no pedigree
b: mixed breed and not ideal “type”
c: cant reproduce because shes spayed

Sad reality that in many instances (not all) rabbits are show materials and baby makers, not beloved pets.. Rain is as much a part of our family then a dog or cat would be. Shes housed in our living room, has only stepped in grass outside ONCE in her life with us and gets non stop affection. My children would be DEVASTATED if their childhood pet dies when they arent even old enough to understand what cancer is. We want her to stick around as long as possible.

[RabbitPam]

Adee,
If you are able to edit your post like we can here, you might add a line at the very top saying Rain was fully anesthetized in a professional surgical environment and never felt pain. Careful instructions and medications were given for her continued comfort upon recovery. Within days she was fully recovered and doing binkies.
Was it you that had her tatooed while under, or is that the new bunny that’s coming? Either way, you ONLY had a tatoo performed while the bunny was anesthetized, far less painful than what many breeders do.

Bear in mind that not only did you do the right thing for her health, but a reader may see your post, understand exactly what’s involved, read about her successful recovery, and decide NOT to join that forum – just find another one (like this one) and get their own bunny spayed. The net reaches more people than we realize – just look at the stats on each post viewed vs. replies here.

[ADEE]

Our new rabbit (coming tuesday) was tattooed unfortunately she was awake for it so i cant go there with that :/ the breeder did the tattoo, but she also has done quite a few of them and im sure without a doubt she made it as quick as she could, its also much smaller then the shelters do that ive seen online.

Yes, its amazing to see the masses the internet reaches. I posted the link Beka shared and hopefully we will get some positive feedback. I know what I did for Rain was the best, i just hope other people will consider it, lets nip this over population thing in the butt, honestly. I would much rather see her in discomfort for a couple days as opposed to seeing her develop cancer down the road and really be miserable for who knows how long!! Rain did very well with the surgery and we plan to have Faline spayed as soon as shes old enough too.

[osprey]

I have participated in several other online forums about rabbits,and I left one because of the breeding discussion that made me uncomfortable.  Some of these breeders house their rabbits outside in large wire rabbitries.  When a rabbit gets to be 2 or 3 years of age, they are no longer good for breeding so they sell them to “pet” homes.  Some of them advocate improving the breeding lines by culling (killing) babies that have bad teeth or other minor medical issues.  They also give their low quality babies to pet stores for pet sales or snake food.  The whole thing sickens me.  The individual animals have no value other than their appearance.  They see us, the rabbit pet owners, as merely an outlet for their excess stock, a way to make a little money for them to continue their hobby.  They would also never spay a female because they would not spend the money.

 

[kimberleyanddarren]

yes its really bad what some breeders do, its disgusting. Spaying is certanly whats best so dont worry what anyone else says

[ScooterandAnnette]

Breeders of any animal are just an entirely different type of person altogether I think. Unless you’re in the business of breeding for personality as pets, but for those who breed for purity and pedigree etc, I just don’t understand them. It’s a good thing the pets can’t understand what’s being said because I think they’d develop quite a complex and possibly see about filing lawsuits based on discrimination. I mean you’d never say to a PERSON oh you’re not as good as this other person because you’re not purebred . Okay well some would but it’s generally not acceptable. But for pets it’s okay to do that.
About 2 years ago we took Bailey to a rabbit show in one of the local malls – we weren’t entering him in anything, we just brought him along with us while we looked at the other bunnies. Some of the breeders thought he was just the cutest little thing, but I clearly remember the one who looked at him in my arms, wrinkled her nose in disgust and turned away. Yeah thanks lady, oddly enough I don’t need your approval to love my bunny for who he is. Similarly last year we were at a dog show in Edmonton and I saw a dog that looked something like my mother’s. This was a chow so I started a little conversation with the woman, asked her about the dog etc, and when I mentioned that my mother had a chow/lab cross it was like I’d just told her that oh yeah by the way I ran over your children in the parking lot. Absolute horror and disgust. I just don’t understand people like that.

Spaying Rain was something you did because you love her, and you want to give her as great a chance as possible of living a long and happy life. Breeders – in general – OWN their animals. We’re owned BY them.
– Annette

[ADEE]

Well said Annette, thanks so much for those comments.. as for the breeder who stiffed her nose at you, we have rain who is as mixed as they come hahaha… we love the rabbit for who they are, not what breed they best represent.

[kralspace]

Very well put, Annette, I wish I had such a way with words.

As for that breeder, I wonder how pure HER pedigree was…hehehe

It just goes to show that pet bunny owners love them for who they are, not what they look like. One of my guys, Simba is supposed to be a purebred Lionhead who was purchased by his late owner from a breeder for $500, but my $5 Toby from the Waco Shelter is just as precious, and it doesn’t make any difference to the rabbits.

Kathy

[ADEE]

thats insane anyone would pay that kind of money for a rabbit… but hey thats just my opinion

[kralspace]

My opinion also, ADEE. In the end he was just as unwanted as any you find in the shelter. I agreed to take care of him while my friend’s father was in the hospital ungoing cancer treatment (it was her dad’s rabbit), then when the father passed on, nobody in the family wanted him, so my group grew by one more.

[ADEE]

im saying to buy him from a breeder for $500 seems like an awful lot lol.. thats great you took him to be part of your family at least he went to a good home

[bunnytowne]

Breeders are a different type of people. They breed to meet the show standard. Whatever bun doesn’t meet the standard are sold as pets or slaughtered for food. Yes people do eat buns. As we eat beef and goat and lamb and chicken. I have eaten rabbit when I was little we raised them. Thats neither here nor there.

Now about them giving you grief over this that is rediculous.  There are some good breeders out there who breed for both meeting show standards and personality. My friend does that. And No they dont’ eat the buns.  They are vegetarians. I got my Ruby from her. She breeds for personality too. Which I high commend her for. And she does rescues. She jsut received 5 Dutch buns. Took them to the vet and is trying to get them a home. She doesnt’ over breed the does she gives them a time of rest from breeding. Tho I know a breeder who has small cages holes they call them and the buns aren’t well taken care of. There are about 100 buns there and they cannot all be socialized. You just know they are not getting proper attention. My friend keeps her breeding small and gives them attention from birth. So that is a big difference in types of breeders.

Also she is getting 2 of her buns spayed because they don’t meet show standard but they are her pets. She can’t part with them.

So I take it there are 2 types of breeders the ones who care for the buns welfare and the ones who care about their winnings. I dont’ think you will be able to get thru to those people on the website who care about their winnings. Sadly.

You did the right thing for Rain and for your situation. Sometimes we meet a wall on those other groups sites. Some of them are probably shocked at having a bun as a housepet and litterbox training. Weird but true.

I know you care about buns everywhere. But sometimes we just can’t reach thru to people and get them to understand. The breeders look at it like if they spay they can’t breed the doe. And they may not plan on breeding for a while but want options open if they change their minds. And yes neuter is easier to do. But that doesn’t mean WE won’t spay our females.

OH also if the females are bred the chances of cancer go down.

Anyway parent of Rain. You keep on doing what you are doing. We agree with you that it is the right thing for our buns. Putting Dana Krempels articles link on their site might open a few eyes.

Othewise ask them to stop flaming you if it keeps  up.That might help. Then again it might not.

Oh I do have some yahoo groups I go to that include breeders and some that are for pet owners. I can ask the breeders questions that I can’t really ask on pet sites and vice versa. Like how long it takes for a lionhead to grow his mane back in.

[JK]

Oh I’m so sorry you got criticism but you absolutely did the right thing!  It is totally irresponsible NOT to spay/neuter your pet for a number of reasons, the major one is so as to contribute to the millions of unwanted animals in this world.  Have these ignorant people take a look at all the rescues and shelters that are bulging at the seams with unwanted animals and all the stories of  idiots getting 2 rabbits that turn into 29 or more because they didn’t neuter/spay them!  Don’t get me going! Sorry if I’m blunt but we are overwhelmed with tragic stories every day due to overpopulation.

[Nicci607]

hi ADEE!! I think I know which Forum you are talking about…   Its a crying shame there is so many ppl out there thinking that way. Its very ignorant and naiv. The whole thing sickens me!!! I thought I’d share with you all this comment I got as a response to what I had posted about how I feel about Breeding, though:

 

“You have to understand that the world is very over croweded with homeless rabbits because of IRRISPONSIBLE breeders.

As for RESPONSIBLE breeders, I personally think that they should not stop breeding. Without responsible breeders who put their whole lives into producing well bred & up to the standard rabbits….we wouldn’t have such lovely breeds out there.

Reality…irrisponsible breeders will always be around, the rabbits will always be euthanized to control the population.

It’s life.”

 

Honestly I don’t feel the need for having “lovely” Breeds out there. But that’s just me it seems. All those bunnies in the shelters are beautiful “normal” bunnies. There is nothing wrong with them. And they deserve a good loving home. For every Bunny someone gets from a Breeder one in the Shelter dies…

Rabbit Rescue People work very hard on trying to save bunnies lifes and then they get this “slap in the face” by people that breed Rabbits. Its not fair.

And if bunnies don’t have certain standards most Breeders will use them for their “delicious” Rabbit Recipes. So I don’t understand why they are always saying “We LOVE Rabbits.” 

Most Breeders don’t endorse Animal Rights either. So that means for the Rabbits…NO HUMANE SLAUGHTER ACT.

 

So, PLEASE don’t shop!! ADOPT!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[osprey]

I read a great quote once on the Craig’s List pet forum.  A guy was writing about his shelter mutt dog that he took out of the shelter on his last day before they killed him.  He said his dog was worthless when he adopted him, and now that he belongs to a family, he is priceless.  I think this sums it up pretty well.

[Deleted User]

You will probably find that most if not all breeders do not spay/neuture for the fact that they are there to breed and breed only.

I picked Luey up from a breeder, however, Luey was dumped on her … When I went to see Luey she had literally hundreds of rabbits in such small cages stacked 10 high … these cages had not much more space for the bunny to lie down, to stand up well forget it .  She charges $50 a bunny .. what a killing I say … money makers … that is all that most of them are there for.

And to top it off … all she fed them was pellets and some type of vitamin … NO Hay or Greens!

It saddened me!

 

 

[TARM]

It’s disgusting really. I would like to see legislation that requires breeders to spay/neuter all pet quality animals before sale…but even if it became law it probably wouldn’t apply to rabbits. It seems that important laws like that only ever apply to cats and dogs. :0(

[osprey]

The California legislature tried to pass a very strict spay/neuter bill for dogs and cats a couple of years ago and the measure was defeated.  Other than the breeders and ‘it’s not natural’ wackos, a lot of resistance came from people representing low income people, because the expense of spay/neuter was considered too high for them to afford.  I think in California rescues and shelters are required to spay/neuter, but of course breeders are not.

With dogs and to some extent bunnies people can still make considerable money by breeding animals and selling the offspring.  People who breed for showing and then sell the pups are in a different class, most of them require S/N and will take a dog back.  The ‘back yard breeders’ as they are know, can charge a thousand dollars or more per pup, and make a nice supplemental income.  Some rescues in the Bay Area held a candle light vigil at the San Jose City Hall to protest the number of animals killed at the city’s shelter, and the breeders were out in full force protesting against the vigil, with brochures and tables of information showing how wonderful the rabbits they produce are.  They felt their livelihood threatened by saving shelter animals.

 

[TARM]

PA breeders are currently fighting animal rights legislation. Here is an actual advertisement aimed at bringing dog breeders together to “combat animal rights legislation”. It’s really apalling considering that many breeders try to portray themselves as responsible people who treat their animals as more than just “stock”.

In light of all the detrimental legislation being
introduced in many states, APRI is hosting a seminar and
gathering of ALL dog breeders to come together in a trade
show and seminar in Pennsylvania to learn about such topics
as the animal rights movement, pending legislation, what is
being done to combat such measures, and how to fight
legislation in your area.

Speakers include Frank Losey, the federal lobbyist who
represents professional dog breeders in Washington D.C. Mr.
Losey successfully amended the Terrorism Act recently to
include protection for breeders against acts of terrorism
by adding the amendment at the last minute, giving the HSUS
no time to react. Hear about his work to counteract animal
rights proposals such as PAWS and other anti-dog breeder
legislation in Washington D.C.

Karen Strange, MoFed lobbyist and President, will speak on
forming grassroots organizations, how to successfully fight
animal rights legislation, and the importance of becoming
involved in order to protect your rights to own and enjoy
dogs.

Joe Gerst, lobbyist and co-founder of Iowa Federation of
Animal Owners (IFed), will speak on the success of fighting
animal rights proposals in Iowa, and how becoming active
can save your interests in dogs.

Pennsylvania state lobbyist Ken Brandt will speak on
current animal rights legislation in Pennsylvania and what
is being done to protect dog breeders there.
There will be specialists speaking on various healthcare
issues involving dogs as well as updates on various facets
of the dog industry and the outlook for the future of dogs
in America.

Please attend the first seminar and trade show of its kind
to bring together ALL dog breeders to have the opportunity
to learn from the experts in fighting animal rights
legislation and proposals. The future of our dogs depends
on our efforts to protect our rights.
Don’t miss this important opportunity!

[osprey]

Isn’t Pennsylvania major puppy mill country? For them, pups litterally are stock, like raising chickens or growing broccoli.

 

[TARM]

I don’t live in PA so I don’t know the extent of the milling that goes on. I know there are lots of Amish millers but I don’t see them fighting animal rights legislation, know what I mean?

I think every state has its share of millers. I know VA just recently passed some legislation that’s supposed to hold millers more accountable for the conditions their “stock” live in…but it’s not nearly close enough to acceptable to me.

After reading this thread I signed up to work on the bill being drafted for mandatory s/n. I want to see if the language can include rabbits and guinea pigs. Chances are they won’t include it because it’s hard enough to pass for cats and dogs and the chairman of this committee has been working on it passionately for seven long years. We want to do away with spay/neuter contracts and deliver already altered animals out of rescues and shelters. We’ll probably tackle the breeders later.

[Scarlet_Rose]

ADEE I think you’ve already gotten some great support and input from everyone here. Is my memory failing me or didn’t you get your rabbit from a breeder? Irregardless, these people have grown up with a certian notion about rabbits and generically speaking the older genre and “farm folk” view rabbits as stock animals and do not see why one would bother spending so much money on “just a rabbit.” Take it all in stride and know that you are taking the very best care of your animal that you know how and are compassionate enough to consider her later-in-life quality of life by reducing her risk of cancer and tumors.

[ADEE]

one of our rabbits came from a breeder yes, but even she thought it was great we have our rabbit spayed (rain didnt come from a breeder) and intend to have our new rabbit spayed. I do understand where they are coming from, our family even thinks its kinda crazy to spend so much money on a $50, $25, exc rabbit.. Its just sad that people in general who dont share our view on spaying think its so ridiculous to spay the rabbits.. as if they are any less of a family member because they are “just” rabbits.

[ScooterandAnnette]

Posted By ScooterandAnnette on 08/03/2008 8:55 AM

Breeders of any animal are just an entirely different type of person altogether I think. Unless you’re in the business of breeding for personality as pets, but for those who breed for purity and pedigree etc, I just don’t understand them. It’s a good thing the pets can’t understand what’s being said because I think they’d develop quite a complex and possibly see about filing lawsuits based on discrimination. I mean you’d never say to a PERSON oh you’re not as good as this other person because you’re not purebred . Okay well some would but it’s generally not acceptable. But for pets it’s okay to do that.
About 2 years ago we took Bailey to a rabbit show in one of the local malls – we weren’t entering him in anything, we just brought him along with us while we looked at the other bunnies. Some of the breeders thought he was just the cutest little thing, but I clearly remember the one who looked at him in my arms, wrinkled her nose in disgust and turned away. Yeah thanks lady, oddly enough I don’t need your approval to love my bunny for who he is. Similarly last year we were at a dog show in Edmonton and I saw a dog that looked something like my mother’s. This was a chow so I started a little conversation with the woman, asked her about the dog etc, and when I mentioned that my mother had a chow/lab cross it was like I’d just told her that oh yeah by the way I ran over your children in the parking lot. Absolute horror and disgust. I just don’t understand people like that.

Spaying Rain was something you did because you love her, and you want to give her as great a chance as possible of living a long and happy life. Breeders – in general – OWN their animals. We’re owned BY them.
– Annette

Scooter here, temporarily in Australia on business and visiting family including our new little nephew.  I’d like to add that after we got home from the bunny show, we figured that Bailey could probably beat up all those fancy show bunnies that the snobby woman breeder owned.  😀

[Sage Cat]

Every pet every member of my family has had the pleasure of living with, has been spayed or neutered!

All members of my family have been criticized for it – but we stand our ground – Because we love our pets & know it is the best thing for them.

I have started to tell people that if it was it a major operation, including a 3 to 5 day hospital stay, I would have myself spayed!

In fact several of my male friends – including my X – have been Neutered! They all say it was the best thing they ever did!

Take that, stupid breeders!

[kralspace]

good comeback SageCAt. Everybody at my house IS s/n including me, well except for my 21 year old son

[ADEE]

i wanted to get spayed hahahaha, my ob refused to do it! Something about being 22 with two children made him say no lol..

I have already scheduled Abbies spay for September 30th. She will be 2 days shy of 4mos old, we may reschedule it for a month or so later, were getting mixed information on safety of spaying a large breed bun’ that young. Weve been encouraged to wait until she is 6-8mos by a rescue who says its unsafe for her to be spayed before then.. apparently small breed buns’ mature more quickly then large breed? Anyone want to shed some light on that?

[Sarita]

I do think there are some breeders out there who do encourage spaying and neutering your rabbit if they are going to be a pet and require it too. I do think it depends on the mentality of the breeder.

I do think you should wait until she is at least 6 months old since you can to have her spayed.

[KatnipCrzy]

While I am a big supporter of spaying and neutering- and have not owned a dog, cat or bunny that was not spayed or neutered- REQUIRING them to be spayed/neutered for adoption/purchase is not reasonable at all.  Just weaned puppies, kittens and bunnies being required to have surgery at  6-12 weeks old???  While it might be a good time to get a pet and start with socializing- it is not an ideal time for surgery! 

I believe in order to be considered a “Humane Society”- they need to either have a spay/neuter contract with adoption or have the pet already altered before adoption- there has to be pet overpopulation controls in place.

I think education is needed more than anything else.  Most bunny owners would agree that their bunny is worth 10times what the spay/neuter cost- but they most likely paid this AFTER bonding to their bunny.  can you imagine how many less bunnies would be adopted if every owner had to pay &150 on up (before they bond to pet)??  And of course it would cost that much- because if you are requiring EVERY pet to be spayed and neutered they can’t all have low cost spays/neuters.  No vet can take a loss on spayed and neutering every pet!!!

And all the pet quality pets should be altered?  Impossible.  Who gets to decide what “pet quality” is???  The radicals who are pushing for extreme measures- or the idiots that don’t spay/neuter and created the whole mess anyway?  And where do you draw the line- hamsters, guinea pigs, bunnies?  Almost guaranteed typical “pocket pets” would not be covered in such a law.  Most low cost spay neuter clinics will not alter rabbits as they are not considered to be part of the pet overpopulation problem (at least here in the Midwest).

It is one thing to look at something on paper and support it- and totally another to apply it to the real world and limitations of finances and pet owner rights.

 

[ADEE]

wait who said spay/neuter at 6-12 WEEKS?….

 

as far as every rabbit being spayed/neutered… yes they are the third most frequently euthanized pet after the dog and cat. People may not want to pay $150 before bonding with a pet but lots an dlots of people pay thousands of dollars for dogs, it depends on how bad you want that particular pet. I paid 100+ to get Abbie down to our home and that was going on ONE picture.. thats not including the extra $50 its going to cost me to get her spayed… so thats actually OVER what you indicate people would not be willing to do. Rain cost me more then 100 also… it was $25 to purchase her and $40 for spay & $70 for fuel to get her up and back from the spay van… people are willing to do what it takes to give their pet what they need. I wish more pet owners would get their rabbits spayed/neutered.. its not just for over population but what about bonding with an animal, falling in love with just enough time for cancer to kill them… i would happily take the time to seek out a low cost spay/neuter vet. Your right not *Every* vet wants to cover lower cost surgeries but i bet if the individual owner would do some research they could find a lower fee for the sugery within their county. I know i found TWO within two counties. One was for $40 and the other for $50. Abbie will be spayed, and shes SHOW quality.. she came from a well known breeder.. she was bred to show, as PET owners however we chose to make her a pet. no one individual person decides which animal is pet quality.. its up to the family who chooses to adopt them.. even an older rescue bun’ could be show quality and the most expensive pedigree bun’ could end up as a pet.

[TARM]

Pediatric spay/neuter is perfectly safe on puppies and kittens who weigh at least two pounds. They bounce back much faster than 4-6 month old animals.

Spay/neuter contracts aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. What breeder in their right mind is going to repo a pet who is being well taken care of simply because the owners left them intact? Breeders make an insane amount of money selling their companion animals, there’s no reason the cost of a surgery shouldn’t be taken from their profit. And, if they don’t want to lose the money they’ll simply raise the price. People will pay it. What’s another couple hundred dollars when you’re already paying $1000+? Breeders will include SN in their contracts simply because they’re required to. Chances are slim that the majority of them will follow up to make sure it’s actuallyl done.

Incentive for vets to offer low cost SN is proposed to be tax credits (not deductions) which would mean they don’t lose any money. There is one shelter close by that donated space to a non-profit SN clinic so animals don’t leave the building without going through that room. They do spays on dogs for $60 and neuters for $40. They’re funded by donations and grants.

There are proposed to be stiff penalties for people who try to sell or “rehome” litters of puppies and kittens through newspapers and web advertisements. It’s a simple matter of an ACO to scan the ads, make contact with the sellers, and check to see if they’ve been altered. It’ll wind up being much less expensive for back yard breeders to get the surgery than to pay a $1000 fine per unaltered animal. We’re want to deter inrresponsible breeding.

Any animal purchased without the intent to show is pet quality. Breeders know which lines their show quality animals come from. Of course some many small operations will fall through the cracks on this but the mass producing mills won’t. This most definitely won’t be an overnight success but with enforcement it can make a pretty significant dent in our overpopulation.

Rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. will most likely not be included at the beginning. But my intent is to get them included eventually. Once people get used to the idea that it’s mandatory for cats and dogs it’ll be easier to enforce for the pocket pets.

[MarkBun]

SF passed a mandatory Spay/Neuter law for Pitbulls a couple of years ago. However, it has had minimal impact as those who will want to keep them reproductive will do so. And with rabbits, it would be nigh impossible to enforce since they never have to come out into the public.

Anyone who has watched “Animal Cops” will know that the number of SPCA law enforcement officers is a grain of sand upon the beach of the population of the cities they enforce.

[Alicia Conklin]

Posted By ADEE on 08/04/2008 4:44 PM
one of our rabbits came from a breeder yes, but even she thought it was great we have our rabbit spayed (rain didnt come from a breeder) and intend to have our new rabbit spayed. I do understand where they are coming from, our family even thinks its kinda crazy to spend so much money on a $50, $25, exc rabbit.. Its just sad that people in general who dont share our view on spaying think its so ridiculous to spay the rabbits.. as if they are any less of a family member because they are “just” rabbits.

I thought rain did come from a breeder?  Who you had known for a long time so of course you went to him?  And then the other bun Shiloh was from the same breeder.  What happened to Shiloh?

[TARM]

SF passed a mandatory Spay/Neuter law for Pitbulls a couple of years ago. However, it has had minimal impact as those who will want to keep them reproductive will do so. And with rabbits, it would be nigh impossible to enforce since they never have to come out into the public.

Anyone who has watched “Animal Cops” will know that the number of SPCA law enforcement officers is a grain of sand upon the beach of the population of the cities they enforce.

The reason the mandatory SN didn’t work is because the surgery wasn’t required BEFORE the new owners took possession of the dogs. Which is why breeders and shelters need to be the ones responsible for getting ti done.

I watch the animal cops shows…but really…the SPCA is a non profit organization. They may have an arrangement with law enforcement to investigate and/or arresting powers…BUT they are not actual employees of a municipality. I know county and town municipalities are grossly understaffed. The laws need to be in place before the public can appeal to the town or county exec’s office to appropriate funding for humane investigators.

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