Age of neutering controversy

[nicodew]

I have forwarded this info to my local Rottweiler Rescue people and she is forwarding it to a committee, to see if I can wait to have a full heat cycle on my foster girl. I will keep you posted. Thanks again to all of you that gave me links.

You would be suprised how many good ethical breeders are not aware of this. I can only assume that most of them have intact dogs, but nonetheless, not everyone knows about it. I am doing my part to spread the word(to those that are not yet fixed).

[nicodew]

I also want to add that of all the Rottweilr's I have owned over the years, the female that I had that lived the longest was spayed after one full heat cycle. That was also many yaers ago when the breed seemed to live longer and be healthier in general, but it is enough to make me want to wait on spaying our new girl. After losing littermates to osteo in the last 2 years, I want to do all I can!

[brunie's mom]

I honestly think if you are adopting from a rescue then you should follow their rules. If you don't like the rules go buy a pup from a breeder that does not require the dog to be spayed/neutered early. JMO

Also please note that this study was just for osteo...there are many members on this forum that have kept their dogs intact, and/or bred them and the dog did die of cancer.

The study did not allow for diet, vaccination history,genetic history of cancer, etc....I'm sure there are other factors also.

Trish was right ...about 90% of dogs coming into Rottweiler rescue are intact and older then 12 months of age....often this is why they come into rescue, it's because the hormones are raging and crappy owners cannot be bothered to train or contain their dogs. It's much easier to dump the dog.

Gina

[Judi W]

Actually the study was more comprehensive than just the desexing. This is simply one report on one factor. The sample size was also adequate.

[nicodew]

I have to diagree. Like I said, not all breeders or rescue people even know about the NUMEROUS studies that are being done on Osteosarcoma alone. If we were to keep the status quo and not keep educating ourselves, we would never know about the things that you mentioned like diet, vaccinations, etc. Policies can be adapted! I also agree with the other member that stated if you have a good enough screening process, that you feel confident in placing a dog in a home that will feed the dog good food, exercise, train etc. etc., then you can just as easily trust that they keep the dog safe while in season.

We did not seek the rescue group based on policy, we fell inlove with this dog, who we are just fostering with the intent to adopt. I just now found out of this studay 1 month AFTER we got her.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by nicodew

I..agree with the other member that stated if you have a good enough screening process, that you feel confident in placing a dog in a home that will feed the dog good food, exercise, train etc. etc., then you can just as easily trust that they keep the dog safe while in season.

Based on several years of being very active with Rottie rescue group local to me--processing adoption applications, fostering, transporting, organizing and taking part in informational events, et al--my observation is that it is unwise to hand control over to others.

Anyone who adopts from us signs a contract in which it clearly states that if you can no longer keep the dog, Fido is returned to us. This summer one of our dogs turned up in a shelter in FL--our area of operation is New England. We flew a vol there who got the dog and drove Fido back. Fido is now in foster care and is up for adoption. This isn't the first time one of our dogs turned up in a place the dog never should have been.

We give instruction on what to do when you first get your dog home, yet foster M&D's still get calls in the first few days "Help! Rover growls at me when he's on the bed."

Anyone who has spent any time at all volunteering in rescue can share similar stories.

My group screens applicants. My group's application process involves an initial phone interview (the last one I did a couple of days ago was 1-1/2 hours long). We call the applicant's vet. We phone two references. We schedule a meeting in the applicant's house. Then, following adoption, we follow-up 2 weeks later, 3 months, 6 months, and yearly.

We have many, many wonderful families who have adopted from us.

I would not be in favor of my group's changing its early spay/neuter policy.

I hope all those who frown upon early spay and neuter are either active in Rottie rescue or are rushing to volunteer.

[JoJo]

This summer one of our dogs turned up in a shelter in FL-

So much for all your hard work in screening and follow-ups! To me this is one great example of no matter how well you screen your applicants, stuff happens and people are or can be irresponsible. I understand both sides to this topic, for I lost my first rottie (independent rescue) to cancer. But it wasn't Osteosarcoma. I also want to say that he was NOT neutered and he was 5 years old when I got him. Lucky for the breed.....I am a responsible owner. Otherwise there could have been more dogs in the rescue system. I was asked many times...would I want to breed him!!

I truely believe in my heart that rescue groups need to continue with their policies......spay/neuter BEFORE releasing to new adopter. You just can't take that chance of people being 110% responsible or for that matter, honest. The above quote proves that! Not only that, rescues usually don't come into rescue with a history of lineage. So there is always that chance of having a nasty bag of baggage waiting in the wings. If anything, the rescue groups need to explain that fact to the adopters.....health risks.

JoJo