Katie Herzog never planned to become a dog person and she definitely never planned to agonize over her goldendoodle's testicles. But when it came time to neuter Moose, she couldn't find a good answer to a simple question: why? What follows is a reported journey through canine bodily autonomy, the surprisingly short history of spay/neuter as gospel, and what the best available science actually says about cutting off your dog's balls.

THIS EPISODE FEATURES:

Ben and Lynette Hart — U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

James Serpell — U Penn School of Veterinary Medicine

Hal Herzog, Katie’s dad who happens to also be an emeritus professor and scholar of human-animal interactions

LINKS:

Hart et al., "Neutering of German Shepherd Dogs" / golden retriever study (PLOS-One, 2013)

Hart et al., 35-breed analysis

Hart et al., mixed-breed analysis

AVMA statement on elective spaying and neutering

Meghan Daum, "Big Dogs, Big City"

Hal Herzog, Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat

Blue Cross of India