YOUR SAY: If you can't afford pet care basics, don't get one
SUNSHINE Coast Daily readers debate issues regularly with polarising opinions on many topics.
But there's one thing most agree on: pets should be desexed to stop the barrage of abandoned animals.
Daily reporter Kathy Sundstrom wrote an opinion piece earlier this week, calling on compulsory desexing.
> IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: DESEXING OF PETS SHOULD BE COMPULSORY
"There are 97 different adverts for dogs for sale on the Sunshine Coast," Kathy wrote.
"Some of these are litters so the number being sold and needing a home is likely to be in the hundreds.
"There are also 10 adverts for dogs looking for a home on the Sunshine Coast from 4 Paws and a further 18 at the RSPCA in Noosa.
"The number of cats is much higher.
"But until demand outstrips supply, the rules need to be harsher to encourage most dog and cat owners to do the right thing.
"There needs to be a requirement to ensure all animals are desexed."
Dozens of people commented commented on the story. Here is a snapshot of your Facebook conversation.
OPINION: Puppies are adorable and watching the "miracle of dog-birth" is a wonderful, bonding family experience. But it...
Posted by Sunshine Coast Daily on Thursday, 2 July 2015
> HERE KITTY! CAMPAIGN OFFERS CHEAPER DESEXING OPERATIONS
Ashleigh Jensen: How about they just put a ban on breeding pets for a while until the tens of thousands of dogs in refuges and the dogs and cats being killed in pounds are re-homed
Dylan Brady: Pure breeds are filled with problems anyway go get a mongrel and you will never have an issue except the fact that they will always love you and that's no issue to me
Indea Kelley: If you can't afford desexing at $260 then you shouldn't even own the animal. The costs for pets doesn't end at desexing. Yes vets are extremely expensive but unfortunately we need them. It is common knowledge how expensive vet bills are , if you can't afford to keep your pets healthy and give them everything they need, including desexing , then don't buy them in the first place.
Katie Rogers: Desexing should be subsidized. My cat was only $80 to have desexed (male) so that meant we could use what we save on vaccination, food, toys, flea treatments, worming etc. People shouldn't be judged on whether they can afford desexing. Frankly, not many people that have pets can. I have a pet despite the cost of vets and these animals in shelter might actually find homes if these places were more affordable.
Tamara White: $300+ to desex your pet is so cheap so if you cannot afford to pay that then don't have a pet as it is expensive to own a pet top quality food, vet bills it all adds up. Fines should be in place for people without registrations to breed animals. Too many people breed animals for no reason or just too selfish to desex.
Jess Leeroy Armstrong As a busy uni student and a mum to three little ones, we don't have any pets because we know we just don't have the time! When the time is right we're hoping to get a rescue dog, bypass all the puppy training and offer the best suited doggy a second chance.
Crystelle White It should be compulsory except for registered breeders. I have heard people say "Oh we will just let her have a litter of puppies then get her desexed" or "I can't do that to him". The number of unwanted pets and strays is so sad.
Nicole Zemler Bring in compulsory desexing for pets. Sure, puppies and kittens are cute but killing tens of thousands of unwanted pets in shelters each year isn't so cute. It's disgraceful.
Jenny Timms I'm all for responsible breeding ... Where producing healthy puppies (both mentally and physically) is priority and finding them well matched forever homes. So selling puppies and kittens in pet shops needs to stop as this also doesn't fall into this remit
Iain White Maybe vets shouldn't be so greedy in the cost to desex our animals, $280 $300 per animal (female dog) this is without a joke, it takes the vet what 30 min to do the procedure and councils wonder why people don't get their pet desexed
Tamara White Over people making the cost of desexing an excuse not to. The cost is cheap vet bills can be over a $1000 if something happens. Vets are expensive for many reasons. So if you can't afford to be responsible for your pet then don't get one simple.
Shayne Allanson It's very rare to see pedigree or even purebred dogs in our pounds. Mostly staffies-cross bred mastiffs and working dog breeds.
