Longtime readers may remember that I am against mandatory spay and neuter for pets. Especially male dogs. For years the politically correct people who work with animals have claimed that one of the reason male dogs should all be castrated is that unneutered male dogs are more aggressive than neutered male dogs, and hence more likely to start fights.
The most common type of altercation involves neutered males aggressing toward intact males. Neutered males smell like females. The scent of an intact male cause many neutered to react negatively toward them since intact males smell male. The scent of an intact male can cause tensions to rise even before the two dogs engage each other because intact males retain the ability to mate and give of the scent of male, which can be considered a threat to neutered males.
I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this in real life. My old dog Puff was never neutered and never started any trouble with any dog male or female, but as the neutering trend wore on, neutered males would just up and attack him. One time an owner told me that it was my fault her dog attacked my dog, because my dog had not been neutered.
Sometimes I worry that those who believe in not leaving people alone will attack those who believe in leaving people alone.
What a paradox.
MORE: I almost forgot about gender being a social construct. Surely animals know that, right?
Comments
5 responses to “Is it anthropomorphic to call it envy?”
if cats and their off spring were alowed to breed with in two years the earths surface would recovered in cats.
I think you need a word beginning with P in front of envy (or, more accurately, a word beginning in B…).
@Captain – too true. We’ve got an overload in my neighborhood due to a neighbor who feeds them and doesn’t do spay and release.
@Eric – there’s a difference between a male (or female) animal kept indoors and away from potential mates, and a feral one.
Cats…
I was going to make the same point. A fertile female will present you with six kittens every spring. Tomcats can be really destructive and get in vicious fights, shredded ears, missing eyes and so on. Much as I like the idea of keeping pets natural, it won’t work for cats. If only there were something like kitty Norplant. Drastically reduced fertility, maybe one kitten every two years, something like that. Moot point in my case, anyway, my cats all came from cat shelters and were pre-fixed.
Kathy and MMM, I’m not talking about feral animals but owned animals, especially dogs. If the animal is allowed to leave its yard or is allowed off the leash, my comments simply do not apply.
Thanks!