to spay or not to spay

Question
My female toy poodle is 3 months old (3#) and I'm not sure if I want to spay her. She will never be bred (or around other dogs), but the Vets always recommend spaying a female. It seems cruel to put her thru this procedure if she really doesn't need it. -- I have had 3 (female) poodles throughout my life (two 4# -lived 10 & 13 years),and my last 'baby' was 2# and lived 16 years!  Can you help with this decision ?  Thanks!  

Answer
Hello!

I'm not sure if I'm the best one to give advice because I'm very pro-spay/neuter.  I have worked at humane shelters and see the fruit of animals that aren't spayed or neutered - and many of them weren't 'supposed' to be bred.  Nature has a funny way of stumping everyone.  Example:  I have a sweet toy poodle named Patches.  When I got her from the pound, I was told she was 6 months old.  I had her groomed right away (she needed it) and the groomer called me and said, "she's at least a year old and she's in heat".  Well, I figured I could handle it, because all my other dogs (4 at the time) were 'fixed' and I had a fenced in back yard.  I was pleased with myself until I looked outside. The little brat had delicately moved her tail to the side and backed her rump up against the chain link fence as if to take any male dog on that came around.  The fact that there was a male husky in the adjacent yard got me moving quickly, and I called the vet and had it done.  It isn't really (at least I've never seen it apparent) a traumatic experience.  It is a surgical procedure to be sure, but I've always had mine spayed.  The temperament seems to be better after spaying, and there isn't the need to wear diapers when the female dogs are in heat and spotting blood all over the house.  Additionally, the recovery is quick AND there isn't the danger of an unexpected litter.

If it was me, I'd do it in a heartbeat, but then I've actually witnessed both spaying and neutering of animals (a friend of mine is a vet).  A dog having its teeth cleaned is no more dangerous than this.  By the way, my vet recommends spaying all females and neutering all males. (of course she is a female ;))

I hope I've helped a bit.  I think besides the fact that the procedure isn't unduly harmful, I've seen the results - the dogs that are neglected, abandoned or just dumped.

Bless you in your decision.  

Kathryn