ATTITUDES OF DOG OWNERS TO NEUTERING PETS - DEMOGRAPHIC-DATA AND EFFECTS OF OWNER ATTITUDES

A survey of the attitudes of dog owners to desexing male and female do gs was conducted in the Brisbane area. Over 15 800 replies (35% respon se) were returned for analyses and included both demographic and attit ude data. The most common reasons given by owners for not having the d og desexed were that it was unnecessary or they wanted to breed from i t or could not afford it or did not agree with it or that the dog was too old or it might get fat. Nearly twice as many male owners agreed t hat desexing male dogs removed maleness and also more males agreed wit h the question ''Do you equate dog sexuality with human sexuality?'' F emale owners were more aware than males that their female dogs did not need to have a season (oestrus) or a litter before being desexed. Mor e male owners thought that desexing changed a male or female dog's per sonality. A disturbing fact was that 61.1% of male owners and 47.3% of female owners would now not have their dog desexed if it had not alre ady been done. More male than female dog owners were ignorant about wh ether desexing changed personality, made dogs frustrated, or if female dogs should have a season or a litter before desexing. The study show ed a gender bias in owner attitudes to all the attitude questions.