Animal Welfare Professionals

I wish I could post a poll in this forum to find out how many folks know the actual meaning of the word "neuter." If it were being used correctly, we would no longer be tripping over the awkward "spay/neuter" phrase. We would have more space on our pamphlets, business cards and refrigerator magnets. We would stop letting a few squeamish men dictate our speech. We are in the non-profit business of neutering pets. Period. No "spay/neuter" phrasing is necessary to describe that, since the term refers to sterilizing both genders. A spayed or castrated pet has been neutered. We can stop wasting time, money and ink using the "spay/neuter" phrase. I have been using "neutered" in all communication with adopters, and no one has been confused. Your thoughts?

I agree with you. Unfortunately, we get many people that still ask what those words (spay/neuter) mean.  If we use the term "fixed," we get those  that are angry that we didn't use spay/neuter.  But, quick example: while I was typing this, I had a young man stop in to meet a female dog. I told him she's currently at the vet being spayed, and he had no idea what that meant.  :)  I've never  had a squeamish man in regards to the term "neuter" though!  

Agree!  We are doing educational posts each Friday to teach people about feral aka community cats. We often get asked if TNR is just for male cats so we are making a post to talk about what the word neuter really means. 

Castrate may have been the original technical term but hardly anybody uses it anymore. I've never heard it used that I can recall or come across a squeamish man.  The ship has sailed on this one. Neuter has come to mean male specifically, and there's not much we can do to change how the entire country uses it now. Word meanings morph and change all the time, and trying to change them back is a losing battle.

------------------------------
M Saucedo
GIS Analyst
Pets for Life
------------------------------