Dear Dog Lady,
There are two sweethearts in my life besides my wife and three daughters. They are my two pit bull terriers, Spanky, a black and white male going on 5 years old, and Tyson, a slightly smaller brown and white terrier who is 3. Tyson was neutered when he was very young; however, Spanky never had the operation. He is not aggressive and very well adjusted.
I have spoken to several doctors who advise me to have the procedure done. But I don’t want to hurt or traumatize my dog at his age. Could you share any opinions you may have in helping me to make this important decision? Many thanks for your interest and wisdom.
-- Ron
Dear Ron,
Step up and neuter your dog. Dog Lady sides with the doctors. Overall, it would be better for you to snip Spanky.
Although Spanky seems happy and well-behaved, you never know when the hormones will kick in to high gear and Spanky will act out aggressively according to instinct. Neutering your dog is the only responsible thing to do.
We anthropomorphize our pets. We imagine they have human feelings about these things. Men, especially, wince when they think of neutering their male dogs. Trust Dog Lady. Spanky will never know what hit him -- or snipped him. The neutering procedure is an easy outpatient surgery at the veterinarian’s office. Spanky will be a trifle tipsy afterward from the anesthesia but once he sleeps it off, your dog will be a better-adjusted animal.
Spanky is in the prime of life at 5 years old. It is inhumane to keep him un-neutered in surroundings that do not encourage his frisky instincts. He’s got the hormonal drive to do what comes naturally. Should Spanky roam your neighborhood looking for conquests? Do you want Spanky sublimating all that sexual energy into other predatory pursuits? Of course not. Neutering your dog will help him stay sane in body and mind.
Dear Dog Lady,
I live in an apartment with no backyard. I walk my beagle and diligently pick up after him. Do other people have the right to tell me I can't walk my dog in what I perceive to be public, city-owned space, i.e. grass walkways between the street and the sidewalk? And what, exactly, does "curb your dog" mean?
-- Tracy
Dear Tracy,
The phrase “curb your dog” originated in New York City in the 1930s – a time of fewer cars and more gutter space. Today, with clogged streets and curbs blocked by vehicle tires, the quaint order means to steer your dog away from private property -- buildings, fences and stairways – and playgrounds where children congregate.
