Dogs bite when they feel threatened, are in pain, or when they are trying to protect their “turf” or guardian. The turf can be a yard, car, office or home. The guardian can be the adult responsible for the pet or a young child. There are several preventive tips parents can use themselves and teach children to keep the whole family safe.

1. Never go face to face with a dog. Many people like to look a dog in the eye and put their face next to the dog for kisses. Even with familiar dogs this is a horrible habit. Dogs are pack animals by nature. Even with the nicest dogs this action can trigger a perceived threat and possible bite to the face. Within the pack, dogs use eye to eye, and face to face gestures to determine the pack leader.

2. Don’t reach for a dog. When visiting a friendly dog, even if you’ve been with the dog on several other occasions, don’t reach for the pet. Allow the dog to come to you and smell you. Keep your fingers in a gentle balled fist. If the dog is happy to see you, slowly and gently rub its head with you balled fist. If the dog is still happy, then it’s ok to pet with fingers extended. By allowing the dog to come to you, you are letting the dog know, you pose no threat.

3. Gently ball your fists when meeting or greeting a friendly dog. Keeping your fingers in a fist protects you and your children. If a dog tries to bite and the hand is open, the dog can easily grab hold of a finger or thumb and cause damage. Extensive and irreparable nerve damage can occur to an open hand. When the hand is in a fist, most dogs have a difficult time getting their mouth around the fist. If a dog still manages to bite your fist, your fingers and thumb are protected.

4. Be more vigilant as your dog ages. As a dog ages, it may develop painful conditions, such as arthritis. Even the nicest dog can react with a quick bite if a child or adult touches a sensitive area, or the dog is not feeling well. Keep this in mind when you have company and ask them not to pet your dog, or educate them as to safe ways to pet your dog.

5. If you are walking and an aggressive dog runs at you do the following: Stand perfectly still, ball your hands into fists and hold them tight to your sides or cross them tightly over your chest, look away from the dog at all times. If you are walking with a young child, turn the child’s body and face into your body, ball your fists and hold your child’s head tight into your body or thighs, stand still and look away from the dog at all times. Make sure your child’s face is buried in your body and that your child cannot look at the dog. Talk quietly and calmly to your child as you continue to look away from the dog.

Picking up your child can increase danger because a child’s dangling feet are an easy target for an aggressive dog. The aggressive dog will run right up to you, may even jump on you, and bark ferociously, but as long as you do not move, the dog will realize you are not a threat. Eventually the dog will quit barking and walk away. No doubt, this is a terrifying experience. Your instincts tell you to run, but running is the easiest way to trigger an attack. Once the dog walks away, slowly walk away. If the dog returns, repeat the process. If you live in an area with weak leash laws, create safety songs for children so that they will know what to do when a dog approaches them. It would also be good to practice what to do when an aggressive dog approaches you or your child.

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll greatly reduce your likelihood of being bitten by a dog.

For more free pet care or animal welfare tips, visit PetCareRCA.com PetCareRCA.com Kate Garvery is the founder and director of the Pet Care Resource Center of America. She is also a freelance writer and provides professional writing services for individuals and business owners kategarvey.net kategarvey.net Kate is the author of 3 non-fiction books and more than 40 non-fiction articles.

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The favoured choice of many people who wish to own a dog is a Golden Retriever. They are a proud, obedient dog, but their main trait is as excellent pets, especially where children are concerned, which makes them a favourite choice for families. You will not end up disappointed if you resolve to own a Golden Retriever regardless of what your intention was for making that decision.

Golden Retrievers enjoy the company of people and so make loyal friends, are calm, well mannered, easy to train and extremely affectionate due to their intent to please.

They have many positive traits including loyalty, affection and ideal children’s pets, but they also have a loud bark whenever they are disturbed by abnormal situations making them excellent watchdogs.

Golden Retrievers shed their hair constantly right through the year and more in the spring, so regular brushing is essential. The quality and condition of the coat is important in assessing the health of a golden retriever puppy. Daily brushing with a bristle brush is essential and special attention should be given to the dense undercoat

Getting wet is a favourite pursuit of Golden Retrievers, similar to Labradors, as they love the water and take every opportunity to get sodden. In the beginning this will be a novel source of amusement. But when they constantly finish up either wet or muddy, it could eventually cause frustration.

Like most breeds of dog once you own a Golden Retriever you have certain obligations to tend to his welfare. A most important requirement is his emotional well being that comes from being with his owner and family and being treated as an essential part of the family group. Neglecting the fact that he requires regular active exercise could lead to problems with his behaviour.

Leaving a Golden Retriever on his own for long periods of time is not ideal and this should be considered when making an initial choice of dog. Surroundings are important and a family atmosphere is ideal, especially if the family includes children who will give him all the attention he needs.

It is easier to school a Golden Retriever puppy than a full-grown dog, which is something to take into consideration when it’s time to acquire your new pet. It can be a satisfying past time although frustration will surface at times and it will take up a lot of your spare time initially. An older dog would be a better option than a puppy if spare time is not readily available. A more suitable alternative would be a Golden Retriever that is already house broken.

The positive characteristics of Golden Retrievers, like companionship and loyalty, make them a superb option. They will want to be included in all activities that you or your family will be involved in. They love being outdoors and doing things with the family, and the more they are included the more they will become loyal and affectionate.

More information can be gathered about

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Yawn. This is what you might think when we start discussing budgeting, but do not be mistaken, ensuring that you manage your finances effectively can make the difference between completing your degree or diploma with the rest of your friends and dropping out of university on your own because you couldn’t afford to feed yourself.

Some students are more fortunate than others and will be receiving financial help from family or funds. Others will be borrowing the largest sums of money that they have ever borrowed so far in their lives (and just wait until you get a mortgage!), accruing debts that will last for years after graduation. It took me almost 8 years to finish repaying my Student Loan! Whilst the repayment of any long term, low interest loans such as Student Loans may be at the deepest depths of your mind right now, you’d be doing yourself a favour by reminding yourself when you’re trying to decide between the Gucci sunglasses or the Prada bag.

Do you know how much money you have as income each month? Do you know exactly how much you spend on the essentials like food and accommodation? Let’s face it, most people reading this will not have a detailed breakdown of their incomings and outgoings. Even if you have a budget set out, do you stick to it?

Okay. Let’s presume that you’re leaving home and are university bound, ready to take on the world. Now let’s discuss how to make sure your finances don’t prevent you from staying there!

Setting a budget is not a difficult thing to do. If you’ve got access to a spreadsheet application then great. If all you’ve got is an A4 pad from the Stationery Box then don’t worry. Creating the budget plan is the easy part. Being disciplined enough to stay within it is the hard part. If you haven’t tasted university life yet then you may not understand, but once you start buying books, meeting people and going out then you will thank me for taking you through this (I happily accept most major credit cards and beer vouchers through the post!).

Firstly, some thinking. Determine exactly how much money you’re going to be receiving each month (doing it monthly gives us more meaningful numbers and allows for weekly fluctuations). Whether it be from a loan, savings, or family, just come up with a ballpark figure. Then create a list of all the things you think you’ll be spending on in any given month. At this point, it’s worth asking someone who owns their own house what they have to spend on. Try your parents as they’re more than likely willing to make you feel guilty about how much time you spend on the phone or how much more it costs them when you don’t switch off the lights.

Here’s a sample list of things for you to consider. Note that we’re not providing any figures because these can vary greatly from person-to-person and different locations.

Incoming

Student Loan
Family contribution
Wages
Other

Outgoing

Tuition fees
Accommodation fees
Electricity
Gas
Water
Landline telephone
Mobile telephone
TV licence
Insurance
Transport (if you are taking your own car then break this down further e.g. petrol, road tax, insurance)
Toiletries
Laundry expenses
Clothing
Course books
Internet connection
Entertainment (think about all of the things you do for fun e.g. cinema, booze, clubbing, magazines, cigarettes)

Once you have your list, input it into your spreadsheet or pad and starting assigning some values to them. Sum up your expected outgoings and subtract them from your incoming. Hopefully, you’ll have a positive number left over. If not, then it’s time to start pruning that outgoings list and dropping what you can or start thinking about earning some extra money from a part time job.

If you’re already working and still feel uncomfortable about your finances then try speaking to your Student Welfare Officer. They might be able to give you specific advice about your given situation. It’s also worth speaking to your bank’s student advisor as they will often arrange for things like interest free overdrafts.

A general word about credit cards. It’s more than likely you’ll open a student bank account once you start your course. There are many benefits to be had including free banking, interest free overdrafts, cheque book, debit card, free advice, pens, balloons… So it makes good sense to do so. Often, banks will also start to offer you credit cards and these can be a mixed blessing depending on how you use them. They’re often fee-free and may come with perks such as redeemable points or free insurance. They can also be a good way to start a credit file on yourself so that when you come to request a large loan e.g. mortgage then the lender will have some frame of reference to look back upon. Of course, this can be a bad thing if you default a lot and never meet your minimum repayments. If you can use them sensibly i.e. only use them to buy things that you can afford so that you pay off the full balance each month. Be aware that it becomes all to easy to start maintaining a balance on your credit cards. As a result, you’ll start paying interest at relatively high rates.

Whatever you do, don’t take the hiding-under-the-blanket-will-make-it-go-away approach because racking up huge amounts of debt now will come back to haunt you at some later date. Of course, I want you to enjoy yourself, but just be aware of your (financial) limits!

Louise is the author of learn2study.co.uk Successful Study - the learning guide that teaches students how to study effectively for better grades. This article is brought to you in conjunction with merseyinks.co.uk/ Cheap Epson Photo Compatible Ink and webstarcreations.co.uk/internet_marketing.php SEO Liverpool Wirral Merseyside.

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Calling someone a pig implies that they are dirty, greedy, or otherwise unworthy of our respect. Yet in reality the pig is clean, odorless, and smart. The more we discover about the history and mysteries of pigs, the clearer it is that they demand respect rather than inclusion in our recipes.

What is a Pig?

Beyond the cute curly tail and the portly body, what is a pig? Classification of animals begins broad and narrows dramatically. In the wider sense, pigs are grouped in the order Artiodactyla. This order includes 211 species. All are even-toed ungulates, meaning they have hooves. The order Artiodactyls is divided into 9 families. Hogs and pigs, which are synonymous, make up the family called Suidae. This hog-happy family has 16 species. What is a species, exactly? Michael Taylor, author of Pot Bellied Pigs as Your New Family Pet (New Jersey: T.H.F. Publications) simplifies the science with this definition: “A group of similar animals that will freely interbreed under natural conditions.” (1)

Distribution

The domestic pig that we’re all familiar with is called Sus Scrofa. Originally Scrofa and 15 similar species could be found throughout Africa, across Eurasia south of 48° N and on islands as far away as the Phillipines and Sulawesi. Where humans go, pigs follow. As a result of being introduced to almost every country (generally for hunting) pigs now star in Australia, New Zealand, North America and various islands.

Pig Personality

Writing about the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig in Rare Breeds Journal, Kiyoko Hancock says: “Each piggy has an amazing depth to his feelings, a real ability to communicate, and an affectionate nature coupled with a high degree of intelligence. (2) Although this comment is specific to the Vietnamese pot-bellied variety, these qualities are true of all domestic pigs. Wild pigs may also have these traits, but given humankind’s limited knowledge of many species of Suidae, whatever character distinctions these possess is sheer speculation.

The domestic pig is less of a mystery. Despite this, myths prevail. The most prevalent is that they are dirty. The reality is quite different. “They tend to keep themselves cleaner than most animals,” says the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. (3) Naturalist and author of The Whole Hog (London: Profile Books), Lyall Watson agrees. Recently he told the UK’s Guardian newspaper: “The first thing you learn when you walk with a pig for more than a day is that he has a latrine somewhere. That he will never do it anywhere else. In sties they don’t have much choice.” (4) What about their penchant for rolling about in mud? Far from being an indication of bad manners, this is an adaptive skill. Since pigs have few sweat glands they need this muddy moisture to cool themselves. It also serves to protect them from insect bites and sunburn.

Combine a lack of direct experience with pigs with pigs portrayal on television (think sweet-but-stupid Porky Pig) and it’s not surprising that most people are unaware of the pig’s intelligence. Yet pigs are intelligent. Like dogs they can be leash-trained, house trained and can learn tricks. Even circus tricks. Pigs are capable of walking on tightropes and jumping through hoops. They are capable of remembering things and can solve problems like opening a bolted door. (5)Other special traits include an advanced sense of taste. This is especially useful since their vision is flawed; having eyes on the sides of their head limits forward vision.

History

When did the pig transform from charging boar to peaceful pet? Many authors speculate that this occurred before recorded history. Yet the exact dates of this history are under debate. Juliet Clurtton-Brock; author of Domesticated Animals from Early Times (Enland: British Museum) believes that pig remains in the Pre-pottery of Jericho trace its relationship with man back to 7000 BC.(6) The World Conservation Union dates the pig’s Jericho domestication back to 8,500 BC and adds Europe, the Near East, southern Greece and north-eastern Iraq to pig-keeping places. Other experts contend that the fossilized records of pig-made hollows indicate that domestication began in the Far East around 11,000 BC.(7)

Fascinating yes. Specific no. More recently, detailed records highlight the specifics of man’s relationship with pigs. In his book, Nicobar Islands (New Delhi: National Book Trust), K.K. Mathur reveals the respect shown by this culture in India. He states that they “occupy an exalted place in the sentiments of the people”, enough for the Nicobarese to compose songs in their honor. Despite this the Nicobarese eat pork and hunt wild pinks. (8) The pet-to-pork transition can also be found in Asia and in Christianity. In Asia, both domesticated pigs and dogs were pets before they were meat. (9).

Mythology

Being that its hoofed feet have left muddy tracks all over the world, it’s not surprising that the pig has also left an impression in mankind’s mythology. A love-hate one, however. Egyptians, while believing pigs to be unclean, thought sacrificing swine to the moon and Osiris would be highly appreciated. Further south, in the ancient Asian area of Malaysia and the Philippines, pigs were though to support the earth yet also cause earthquakes. (10)

Irish folklore imbues pigs with psychic and healing powers. In Southern Ireland it’s long been believed that hogs can see the wind, and that walking three times around a pig cures illness. A pig-positive perception is also shown in the name of Ireland itself. One of the ancient names for this region is Muic-Inis, or “Pig Island”. (11)

Threatened Cousins

The domestic pig’s pink proliferation is in stark contrast to its relative the pygmy hog. Averaging 10 inches (20 cm) at shoulder height and weighing 26.2 pounds (11.8 kg), this native-to-India nest-dweller is aptly named. With less than 150 left, the World Conservation Union lists the pygmy hog as critically endangered. (12) This special species joins Sus barbaratus and Sus verrucos. Sus barbaratus is also known as the bearded pig. This large, grey, migrating pig is named after the rugged bristly hairs that surround his snout. Found in the islands of Southeast Asia, our bearded friend’s numbers are being chopped down along with his habitat. Adding insult to injury, since having his habitat destroyed drives him into farmlands to look for food, he is considered a pest. The 40,00- year-long practice of hunting him also demonstrates a lack of compassion. (13) Today Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), lists him as endangered.

Pigs as Pork

In The Singular Beast: Jews, Christians, and the Pig ( New York: Columbia University Press) author Claudine Fabre-Vassas reveals how from the Middle Ages to the present Christians have defined themselves through eating pork as much as the Jewish have distinguished themselves through not eating it. “The more we enjoy the piglet, the better Catholics we become,” declares one 18th century song. Although for Christians, serving pig as a main course has long been synonymous with serving God, before its’ slaughter the pig was a treasured family member similar to a child. Pig was welcome in the home, fed with care and cared for when sick. (14)

Although though Genesis 9:3 states that “every living thing will be meat for you,” it hastens to add, in Genesis 9:4: “But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” It doesn’t take a scholar or theologian to interpret this. Unfortunately people often interpret things according to their needs. Perhaps God was referring only to raw meat: One could argue that when cooked properly meat has no visible blood, so it’s okay to eat it. Or is it?

“With corporate hog factories replacing traditional hog farms, pigs raised for food are being treated more as inanimate tools of production than as living, feeling animals,” says Susie Coston. Coston is the Shelter Director for Farm Sanctuary With over 100,000 members, Farm Sanctuary is America’s leading farm animal protection organization. Their work ranges from legal and institutional reforms to hands-on rescue and refuge. Their 175-acre shelter in upstate New York and 300-acre shelter in northern California is home to over 1,000 rescued cows, chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits, ducks, geese and the star of this article…pigs. “Pigs come to us from many different situations. The largest portion of our current herd actually came directly from a factory farm in North Carolina- on their way to slaughter in Pennsylvania. When these pigs arrived most had very swollen leg joints, from standing on concrete. Most of the pigs came off of the truck walking on their knees- unable to stretch out their legs ful ly. It took months of intense physical therapy with some of the pigs to get them up on their feet again, but all did make it. Of the 40, 30 still reside here at the shelter.” That was 5 years ago. Today these same animals enjoy a warm, straw filled barn and their very own pond, not to mention the expansive pastures of Farm Sanctuary’s essential estate.

Sadly, Farm Sanctuary’s idyllic conditions are not the norm for farm animals. A September 30, 2005 report from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service states: “U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2005 was 61.5 million head… All inventory and pig crop estimates for September 2004 through June 2005 were reviewed using final pig crop, official slaughter, death loss, and updated import and export data.”(15) Sound cold? It’s appropriate language for a heartless industry. Today’s farming is big business, and business is booming. In 2004, the average American ate 221 pounds of meat and poultry, even more than 1990’s 199 pounds. (16) In the hog trade, 50 percent of American hog slaughter is dominated by 4 corporations. (17) Human contact is little more than being pushed into a transport truck for slaughter. Food, water and waste removal are automated. “In order for the industry to turn a profit on the low prices Americans have come to expect, most livestock are kept and slaughtered on factory farms, where animals eat corn- and soybean-based feed — 10 to 30% of which is often radically different from what the animal would consume naturally,” writes Jane Black in “10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You”, which was featured in the October 11, 2005 issue of Smart Money magazine.(18)

And that’s the sanitized version. In Freefarmanimals.org, a Farm Sanctuary website, expert testimony is given from sources such as the Journal of Animal Science. “The Welfare of Sows in Gestation Crates: A Summary of the Scientific Evidence”(19) reveals the horror of modern farm life. While there natural lifespan ranges from 12-18 years, a breeding sow exists for 5. For most of this time she will be kept in a stall. The National Pork Producers Council recommends that this be 9.2 to14 square feet, or approximately 2×7 feet and 3.3 feet high. (20)This does not allow enough room to turn around, but comfort isn’t the goal. Production is.

The sow will leave this gestation crate only for one month periods when it is time to nurse her piglets. This takes place in a farrowing crate, which is about as comfortable as it sounds. Explains Coston: “After being impregnated, the sows are confined in gestation crates — small metal pens just two feet wide that prevent sows from turning around or even lying down comfortably. At the end of their four-month pregnancies, they are transferred to similarly cramped farrowing crates to give birth. With barely enough room to stand up and lie down and no straw or other type of bedding to speak of, many suffer from sores on their shoulders and knees.”

Pet Pigs?

Since pigs are smart and trainable, why not keep them as a pet? Just like getting a dog or cat have different factors to consider, so does getting a pig. “Pigs are not maintenance free animals and are not as easy to care for as a cat or dog,” says the website of Pigs, A Sanctuary ; a West Virginia refuge for abused, abandoned, neglected and unwanted animals that specializes in the care of potbellied pigs and farm pigs. “Vietnamese potbellied pigs have been heavily promoted as house pets — the Sanctuary does not endorse this belief and does not believe that pigs should be raised full time as house pets.” Considerations listed in the Pro’s and Con’s section of Pigs, A Sanctuary, include allowing for the size of a potbellied pig-often over 130 pounds. And if you take on this commitment be aware that pigs live between 12-18 years. During this time, explains the Pro’s and Con’s section, pigs may struggle for dominance to establish themselves as “top pig.” Except without any other pigs around, you or a very surprised houseguest may be the one they struggle with. This can get dangerous. (21)

The owners of Washington’s Pigs Peace Sanctuary also warn against premature pigging-out. Like Pigs, A Sanctuary, Pigs Peace Sanctuary is a nonprofit 501©(3) organization. Also like its kindred refuge, the Pigs Peace Sanctuary is dedicated to providing a safe home for unwanted, abused or neglected animals in need . Their online FAQ page reveals that getting easily bored is an aspect of the pig’s high intelligence, and this boredom can result in raiding the refrigerator and cupboards and ripping up clothing and blankets to make a bed. (22) Veterinarian Lianne McCloud, a veterinarian and About.com’s resident guide to exotic pets, advises teaching your pig rules and boundaries to thwart bad behaviors and giving positive reinforcement. “Consistent rules, praise for good behavior, and correction/redirection with lots of repetition and patience will help produce a well mannered pig with a good relationship with its family.” (23)While Pigs, A Sanctuary and Farm Sanctuary sometimes adopt their pigs to suitable homes, Pigs Peace Sanctuary is more tentative: “High quality life long homes for pigs are hard to find and the adoption process is difficult,” relates their website. Pigs, A Sanctuary allows adoption of its animals, provided. They request filling out a written adoption application and require vet references. Farm Sanctuary also has high standards, so be prepared. “Adopters must be vegetarian. They have to have good vet references, proper facilities and fencing and a vet who can work with their pigs. That is the basic criteria for all animals from our shelters,” says Coston.

Reader Resources:

Farm Sanctuary is America’s premier farm animal protection organization. It operates farm animal shelters in upstate New York and northern California. Visit www.farmsanctuary.org

Howard Lyman is an ex cattle rancher whose current objective is “to educate people on sustainability and the dangers of current methods of food production”. This is a wonderful website with plenty of eyebrow-raising info from impeccable sources. www.madcowboy.com

Jane Black’s article, 10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You is also an eyebrow-raising must-read. smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=november2005

Pigs, A Sanctuary. Thinking about getting a pet potbellied pig? This site has a wonderful Pros and Cons section. www.pigs.org/article.asp?article_id=3

The Frequently Asked Questions of Pigs Peace Sanctuary offers even more info about pigs. www.pigspeace.org/faq/

Veterinarian Lianne McCloud gives a wonderful summary of the nature and nurture of pet pigs. exoticpets.about.com/cs/potbelliedpigs/a/pbpexpect.htm

References:

1. Taylor, Michael. Pot Bellied Pigs As Your New Family Pet. New Jersey: THF Publications. 1993.

2. Willis, Marguerite. A Straight…Pacific Rim Magazine, 1991.

3. Domestic Pig. Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. Copyright © 2005 Fort Wayne Zoological Society. kidszoo.com/animals/Pig.htm

4. Nettleton, Paul. Dispeller of Pig Ignorance. The Guardian Newspaper. Clutton-Brock, Juliet. Domesticated Animals from Early Times. England: British Museum . © 1981

5. Guardian Unlimited: Science. Thursday, October 14, 2004. guardian.co.uk/life/interview/story/0,12982,1326316,00.html

6. Oliver, William L. R. and Deb Joy, Sanjoy. Chapter 5.3: Pigs, Peccaries and Hippos Status Survey and Action Plan. iucn.org/themes/ssc/sgs/pphsg/APchap5-3.html

8. Clutton-Brock, Juliet. Domesticated Animals from Early Times. . England: British Museum. © 1981

9. Leach, Marian ed. Fried, Jerome. Assistant ed. Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. NY: Funk & Wagnalls. 1972

10. Ibid

11. Oliver, William L. R. and Deb Joy, Sanjoy. Chapter 5.3: Pigs, Peccaries and Hippos Status Survey and Action Plan. iucn.org/themes/ssc/sgs/pphsg/APchap5-3.html

12. Animal Bytes: Wild Swine Zoological Society of San Diego . © 2005 sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-wild_swine.html

13. Fabre-Vassas, Claudine. The Singular Beast: Jews, Christians, and the Pig. New York: Columbia University Press. 1997. Page 147. Secondary Source: Salisbury, Joyce E. The Singular Beast: Jews, Christians, and the Pig-Review. FindArticles. Journal of Social History. Summer 1999. findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/is_4_32/ai_55084008#continue

14.Quarterly: Hogs and Pigs National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board.

15.U.S.Department of Agriculture. September 30, 2005. usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/livestock/php-bb/2005/hgpg0905.txt

16. Black, Jane. 10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You. Smart Money Magazine. Published: October 11, 2005 smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=november2005

17. Wolfson, David, Beyond The Law: Agribusiness and the systemic abuse of animals raised for food or food production, Farm Sanctuary, 1999

18. Black, Jane. 10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You. Smart Money Magazine. Published: October 11, 2005 smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=november2005

19. The Welfare of Sows in Gestation Crates: A Summary of the Scientific Evidence. Farm Sanctuary. freefarmanimals.org/gc_evidence.html

20. National Pork Producers Council. Swine Care Handbook, p.12.

21. Pros and Cons of Potbellied Pigs. © 2001-2005. Pigs, A Sanctuary. pigs.org/article.asp?article_id=3

22. Frequently Asked Questions. Pigs Peace Sanctuary. Date Accessed: December 1, 2005. pigspeace.org/faq/

23. McCloud, Lianne. Pot Bellied Pigs as Pets: What to Expect. Exotic Pets. About.com. 2005. About.Inc. exoticpets.about.com/cs/potbelliedpigs/a/pbpexpect.html

New View has articles on self-help, green living, animal rights, alternative therapies, spirituality, the arts (vegan artist section), manifestation, psychic powers and more. nuvunow.ca nuvunow.ca

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Every year, hundreds of thousands of cats and kittens are destroyed because they are unwanted. Animal shelters that take in these animals and try to find them homes are overcrowded. With so many animals in need, they cannot support all animals indefinitely. The solution is not to open more shelters, but for cat owners to become more responsible about spaying and neutering their pets.

A female cat can have two litters of kittens each year. The average survival rate is about 2.8 kittens per litter. If her offspring are not spayed or neutered, the result is 12 cats the first year, 66 cats in the second year, and at the end of ten years, the total would be 80,399,780 cats.

“Spay” is the term used for the surgical removal of a female animal’s uterus and ovaries. When a male’s testicles are removed, it is called “neutering.” Both procedures leave the animals unable to reproduce. Besides preventing unwanted pregnancies, spaying and neutering of pets has other benefits for cats and their owners.

Benefits of neutering a male cat

* Neutered cats are less likely to spray strong urine

* Neutered cats will lose the urge to fight

* Neutered cats will be less likely to try to escape

* Neutered cats will not suffer the abscesses from fighting

* Neutered cats will be less likely to contract diseases such as FeLV and FIV

* Neutered cats will not be subject to testicular cancer

* Neutered cats will not likely develop “stud tail,” caused by overactive glands in the tail

* Neutered cats have a decreased risk of mammary cancer

Spaying a female cat prevents mating behaviors such as fighting and yowling/hyperactivity in females. Spayed cats don’t roam the neighborhood as much, protecting them from the dangers of vehicles and aggressive dogs. Their tendency to stay closer to home also provides protection against deadly diseases such as FeLV and FIV. Finally, “fixed” pets tend to be more loving, because they are not subject to the erratic effects of hormones.

One of the biggest benefits of spaying/neutering is that it dramatically reduces the cat’s risk of developing cancers of the reproductive system. A female cat spayed before her first cycle, or heat, has a greatly reduced chance of mammary cancer.
Less than a decade ago, conventional wisdom dictated that pets should be neutered at between 5-7 months of age. Recent studies have found that it is not only possible to spay/neuter cats at a younger age, it actually is better for them. Today, cats undergo spay/neuter procedures at about 7 weeks of age. They recover much more quickly than if it was done later, and ensures that a female does not become pregnant with her first heat.

In the past spaying was limited for a number of reasons

* It was better to let a female cat give birth to one litter of kittens before spaying.

* That female cats in particular, might later develop incontinence as a result.

* That certain behavioral problems might result.

However, these theories have since been disproven.

In the past, animal shelters and humane societies sent unaltered cats/kittens to their new home because they wanted them to start their new life as soon as possible. Usually, owners signed documents promising to have the animal neutered. Some facilities took it upon themselves to follow up with phone calls to make sure the owners were living up to their commitment. The overwhelming number of animals coming and going in a shelter today makes this unfeasible. Instead of allowing their charges to add to the overpopulation problem, most animal welfare/adoption groups routinely spay and neuter animals before they are made available for adoption. A number of municipalities have passed laws so that no animal can leave a shelter unless it has been spayed/neutered.

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Tags: kitten, welfare