We’re all a little pressed to know what to do with ourselves today. Our numbers are down, as little Millie has gone off to be spayed, which means an overnight stay at the Animal Hospital. All by herself… Alone! (Well apart from the other pets and kennel staff, but that’s not the point). This is the first time we’ve been separated since her arrival early last September so I don’t mind admitting that the house feels kind of empty and too quiet for my liking.
Myfie and Ellie have been moping around all day, though I’m sure it’s jealousy and they’re convinced she’s off having loads of fun, being given bag after bag of treats and walked for miles somewhere, because she’s the youngest and she’s spoilt! No, not really, my senses tell me that they’re actually missing the little minx. Oh how she’d lap that up if she knew.
I don’t like to think of her waking in the night and crying for us, worse still; what if she thinks I’ve abandoned her? That she’ll never see us again? Yeah, ok, I can hear all you cynics out there ‘dogs don’t have the ability to process complex emotions in that way blah, blah, blah’… but do they? One thing’s for sure, if any dogs are able to Millie will be one of them. She’s a total drama queen and a Mummy’s girl. Just because she toddled off happily with the veterinary nurse this morning, wiggling (because she’s far too ladylike to wag) her happy little tail, doesn’t mean she’s going to be ok with the situation post op in the middle of the night! I’ll be able to tell what sort of night she’s had when I see the kennel staff tomorrow. I’m guessing whichever one looks like he/she’s had a rough night out on the town will be the one that spent the night with my princess.
So why decide to put her through it then? Well, we’ve had all our dogs spayed and neutered over the years, to us it makes sense and these are the reasons why:
1) I want to do everything in my power to make sure my little darlings have the longest, healthiest and happiest life possible. If this operation reduces the risk of any form of cancer and disease then, in the long term, this uncomfortable couple of weeks will be worth it. I should also note health-wise this was particularly important for Millie who has an umbilical hernia that is being removed at the same time.
2) We don’t want puppies! Well, actually, the irresponsible part of my mind would love to have a houseful of tiny terrors. Trouble is they don’t stay puppies forever and believe me, three dogs is more than enough work sometimes. I think I’d struggle to hand them over too; being amongst all that cuteness could indeed turn me into (a non murderous and anti-cruelty) version of Cruella De’Ville and god help the person who tried to take one of my precious ‘puppiiiieeesss’. Add that to the massive problem of over-breeding and homeless pooches in packed out shelters, and I’ve got my mind firmly set on the ‘no puppies’ rule.
3) Millie loves her freedom, by that I mean she’s an outdoorsy kind of girl who loves to hide herself in the big back yard. Now, there’s no danger of there being any puppies provided by Myfie (bless him!). Ooh in ‘designer dog’ terms what would that even make? West-Zhu? Shi-West? Haha goddit … shih-sie, go on say it! Hmm a quick Google tells me I was wrong on all counts and of course there’s already a name for them, I give you the ‘Weshi’ http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/weshi.htm but I think my name’s much better, for reasons I will leave undisclosed (for now).
Anyway, apologies, back on track; no, no pups from him but I’ve heard tales in my time of just how determined dogs from miles around can be when they catch the faintest scent of lady during her special time. So that would mean keeping her indoors every time she’s ‘in season’ and to her that would surely seem like a punishment? I have tried to have the ‘birds and bees’ conversation with her, but I lost her after the ‘bird’ word when she ran outside to look for them!
Of course, there’s much more scientific, in-depth research provided into the pro-spaying(?) claims I have made here, and more besides; but these are the reasons that are most important for our family. I’m sure you all have/had reasons for your choices too, but if I had any advice to give; it would be to make them personal. It’s all very well reading a list of facts, but if you are a sensitive soul like me, they aren’t going to help you when the little seeds of doubt (and worry) set in. OK that’s maybe a touch too dramatic (is it?) but I find it helps to really know why you are doing something, it may just be the difference between cancelling that appointment or not.
But what do you think? Do I just need to ‘get a grip’ or were you on tenterhooks all night too? And what about spaying/neutering, what were the reasons you had for making your decision? Drop me a line, it would be great to hear your views…
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