KUMA'S BALLS

         

It’s time to begin thinking seriously about having Kuma’s balls removed. He’s going on seven months now, so whatever hormones they’ve provided up to this point will have done their job in offering him a healthy life. Besides Kaizer and our very first dog, Fang the Wonder Dog, the others have been females. We never had Fang neutered, but then he only had one testicle but just having one didn’t prevent him from visiting the ugliest dog down the street when she was in heat and procreating what became our second dog, Tusk who we did have spayed.

          With all the other dogs, we weren’t allowed to bring them home until they had been spayed or neutered. Karma was, of course, over a year old and had had nine puppies so her being spayed didn’t raise any red flags. With Midnite, Mia, and Kaizer, we could not bring them home until they’d had the procedure, so they were fixed very early in life. Now I understand that’s not a good idea because it affects the animal’s future health.

          I already have an appointment at the vet for Kuma later on this year, but the fee is $500-700 for the procedure. That’s a lot of money. A friend told me about the Seattle Humane Society and how you can get your dog fixed for a whole lot less…$150 for a dog Kuma’s size.

          I’ve been looking into this possibility. It’s for low-income folks, i.e., I cannot make more than $68,000 and change in a year. Hell, I don’t make anywhere close to that figure, so I guess I would be considered low, low, low-income. The thing is you have to be able to get on their schedule. They open the appointments for one day only each month. I don’t know if the appointments are available at 12:01 am or at 8:00 am of that day. I’m going to hedge my bets and try the early time and keep at it until I get an appointment for Kuma.

          Not having Kuma’s regular vet do the surgery makes me feel a bit bad because I do like the doctor and all her employees. Still, to be able to save up to $500 or a bit less rather than paying such a huge sum seems to be good sense. I was telling a friend about this today and she was horrified and offered, “I’ve got a pair of scissors I can bring over.” That did make me cringe.

           Kuma is already such a wonderful companion, I’m wondering if having his nards removed will change his personality in any way. We had a very nice cat decades ago that had a complete personality switch when he was neutered. It was like we sent in a wonderful cat and got back a cat from some horror show. A little something else for me to consider. There's also the fact that never having a male dog (Fang the Wonder Dog doesn't count) with testicles before, I have to admit they look kind of cute nestled in his feathery fur when he's spread-eagled on the couch. 

          Anyway, if you rub Buddha’s belly, light candles, pray, think positively, please do so with regard to Kuma’s upcoming appointment…I’d really like to pay the lesser figure rather than the higher one.