Shock Admission RSPCA and Labradoodle Breeders Neutering Puppies at Six Weeks Old
RSPCA and Breeders Shock Admission
Please Sign My Petition to Stop This Barbaric Practice
Would you consider neutering this puppy?: He is just six weeks of age.
The RSPCA spays and castrates at this age, and apparently believes it is ethically and morally acceptable to do so. As do some breeders, rescue centres and a few vets.
There is a breeder in Cardiff called Lisa Carson that neuters her Labradoodle pups, both standard and minis, at six to seven weeks of age. Please remember that name and never buy any animal from her.
The day she can show me scientific proof this has a long-lasting benefit to these poor pups she and her vet have to my belief abused and caused future medical problems. Then I will apologise.
She is not the only one. I want the names of breeders and vets that are doing this and I intend to name and shame every single one of them.
I personally believe what the vets are doing is unethical. The KC and nearly every other rescue organisations have condemned it.
She states it is a contractual obligation from the Australian Labradoodle Association. Simply do not be part of an organisation that suggests this horrific practice. There are only a few members in the UK.
She is not the only breeder in this country to follow this disgraceful practice. I really hope she can sleep at night. However, I know of no other breed other than Australian Labradoodle where this is happening on a regular basis.
She has stated it is to keep the bloodline pure? Unless I am sadly mistaken, Labradoodles are not pedigree dogs, they are what is euphemistically known as mongrels.
The two main kennels involved in the breeding of the dogs in Australia have apparently been discredited. And I believe are no longer operating.
Why is it only Australian Labradoodle breeders do this? Don’t other breeders also have their breeds best interest at heart?
If I was a cynic, I would say they did it to limit the number of Australian Labradoodle puppies on the market. Thereby keeping the vastly inflated prices artificially high. More profit for the breeders.
Once again with my cynic’s hat on, I could say they are greedy, grasping, misery pedlars that badly affect both mentally and physically the very dogs they claim to uphold. How dare they?
Is that why these dogs are so ludicrously priced? from £2000 to £3000. Some for breeding purposes have been sold for far higher amounts.
Choose a puppy who has been neutered at this age at your peril. See what the leading rescue charities and the Kennel Club have to say about this disgusting practice at the bottom of this page. Then if you feel strongly enough about it let the RSPCA and Lisa Carson know what you think.
I wrote this article in 2012 and this woman is still peddling her bundles of misery in 2017. And the RSPCA has gotten worse not better than they were 5 years ago.
Are you aware that the latest Kennel Club survey shows a chilling drop of 11% in our dog’s lifespan over the last 10 years? (6) Dogs Dying Early KC Survey. Neutering is one of the reasons this is happening.
Read below (2) What The Angry Vets have to say about neutering. Plus an in-depth investigation and study (4) using 1552 pedigree dogs belonging to 11 common breeds and over 6,000 dogs of various breeds recruited via an online survey
The results are both shocking and surprising, (though not to me), and show that the majority of our veterinary profession appears not to understand the outcomes of the very procedures they recommend for our dog’s behaviour. In nearly all cases aggression increased with neutering in both male and female dogs. The opposite of what we have regularly been told.
I wish these vets and breeders would all just live by a simple code of practice “First Do No Harm”. If they imagine that it has no effect on the young pups then why is it that my records show that early neutering is the cause of very high-levels of medical and behavioural problems.
£13.50 – £23.50
£3.50 – £15.99
£8.00
That and the fact that many well-known vets and oncologists are stating that dogs that are neutered early can have severe medical conditions, cancer, spay incontinence, bone hip and knee problem are just some of them. Welfare organisation and the Kennel club have stated their horror at learning this was done to puppies at this age.
If you are concerned about this and other aspects of health, then read this as well I have recently written about the very real dangers of (1) Annual Dog Vaccinations. Read this and prepare to be shocked and frightened regarding the health and well-being of your dog.
The picture on the right shows a three-week-old puppy. Would you 3 weeks later, take this pup from it mum and put it through a major operation?
I saw some posts on a forum recently where this breeder in Wales Lisa Carson trotted out a previous client to confirm that the dogs she bought were perfectly healthy.
That client was warned by many people including myself, but still went ahead and bought these puppies.
She conveniently forgot to mention that one of them has Hip Dysplasia. When it was pointed out, she said her vet said it, was because of the way it was lying in the womb.
If you believe that you will believe anything. She is still defending her decision to buy puppies that were neutered at such a tender age.
I wonder if they have any idea why these puppies are born with three essential hormones. Progesterone, Oestrogen and Testosterone. Do they imagine those hormones are surplus to requirements, just an inconvenient extra that has been thrown in like the Sat Nav on a car?
Imagine the outcry if it was done to our children at such a sensitive period in these puppies lives. Tinkering with nature at such a young age must have a cost and consequence I believe that it has severe and life-changing effects. As a Dog Behaviourist, I see the effects these actions have on the well being, health and behaviour of these poor dogs.
I kept records of all the dogs I treated for behavioural problems post-2001. The majority of the problem dogs I treated, were neutered before they reached social and physical maturity. The amount and severity of problems I saw increased exponentially the earlier the dog is neutered
It beggars belief that any organisation. never mind a one with a royal appointment, or breeders could even consider removing these little pups from their mother and siblings at such an important and sensitive age.
To put them through a major operation at such a critical and tender age is a national disgrace. In my humble opinion, I believe it constitutes serious animal abuse. I believe these actions may contravene the Animal Welfare Act of 2007. The RSPCA along with other organisations were to some extent instrumental in the inclusion of the “duty of care” part of that legislation. The bill, possibly the most important legislative move on captive and domestic animals since the Protection of Animals Act of 1911, came into effect on 6th April 2007.
It makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met. These requirements include the following:
The need:
1. For a suitable environment (place to live)
2. For a suitable diet
3. To exhibit normal behaviour patterns
4. To be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable)
5. To be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease
I believe the RSPCA needs investigating, as I feel it may be abusing its status as a charity, by what I can only describe as intimidation. Acting as if they have official status when they have no more powers than any other member of the general public. No wonder donations are falling when figures like this emerge of Cheif Executives on £178.000 a year. We donate to help real cats and real dogs, NOT fat cats and dirty dogs! You could be the next innocent victim of their war on pet owners
©Stan Rawlinson September 2012.
Updated regularly as further information on neutering is made public. Last update July 2017
Read further articles
(1) Spaying and Castration Overview
(2) The Angry Vets.
(3) Spaying and Castration The Truth
(4) Non-Reproductive Effects of Spaying and Neutering on Behaviour in Dogs
(6) Dogs Dying Early KC Survey
This is What Some Rescue Charities And The Kennel Club Think About It.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home have stated that they recommend cats and dogs are neutered from around six months of age upwards, taking into consideration the breed and behaviour of the animal. They state “We would not recommend neutering kittens and puppies at 6 weeks old as the animal has not had time to mature and develop properly”.
The Kennel Clubs Geneticist Jeff Sampson, stated quite equivocally,“In our view neutering puppies at 6 weeks old seems totally irresponsible. Regardless of the potential health benefits, which are far from universally accepted, neutering at 6 weeks old is just too young.”
Chris Laurence MBE QVRM TD BVSc MRCVS. Veterinary Director of The Dogs Trust. Has stated that they never spay or neuter at such an early age, and would always wait until pre-puberty ie around 6 months. Dr Lawrence told me that spaying and neutering at 6 weeks could have a detrimental effect on these young pups. He lists early socialisation as a major factor and that these animals can be spayed or castrated at a later time, therefore, why do this so young?
The Blue Cross has confirmed, that if a dog is adopted from the Blue Cross when it is under six months old they will provide the adopter with a voucher supporting payment of the procedure, to be carried out by a vet at a later stage. Alternatively, where practical, the procedure will be undertaken by a vet employed by a Blue Cross animal adoption centre. The Blue Cross has therefore stated that neutering under six months is not advisable!
My personal belief is that six months is still far too early for nearly all breeds of dogs. A great Dane does not mature until 36 months, German Shepherds 18 months, Labs 14 months, Staffie’s 13 months and Jack Russell’s 11 months.
