Today I have been researching the pros and cons of spaying and neutering pets. To my surprise, one of the big reasons people choose not to spay or neuter their pets is because they want to teach their children about the miracle of birth. I had no idea this is a thing.
So the best I can figure is that generations ago, children grew up in rural areas, and they would be surrounded by birth and death. But as populations shifted to urban environments, this sort of experience would be harder to come by. So instead of deciding to spay or neuter their pet, they would get it pregnant.
Part of me gets it. It’s the miracle of life, and it’s important to educate your children about it. But it’s the 21st century. If you are reading this, you have access to the internet. And with that comes a wealth of documents, photos, and videos of just about everyone and everything giving birth. There is simply no need to have your pet give birth just to teach your kids. And when you consider the millions of animals in shelters who desperately need homes, and the millions of animals who will be killed because they never find those homes, having your pet give birth to teach your kids is a terribly irresponsible thing to do.
So please, spay or neuter your pets. I shouldn’t have to tell you this. After all, Bob Barker told you to spay and neuter your pets after every episode of The Price is Right. Do some research on the internet to teach your kids about the miracle of birth. And take your kids to the shelter to teach them about responsible pet ownership (and maybe find it in your heart to adopt an animal in need–and then spay or neuter that animal). If I hear otherwise, I will be very disappointed in you, and I will think of this Seinfeld clip: