| Hey, I don't mean to be nosey... |
 |
| ... but I'd really like some bacon, or some help for FR. |
Posted on 01/08/2004 12:53:48 AM PST by miltonim
THE 100,000 implant testicles for dogs American Gregg Miller has sold might not have done much for the sex life of castrated canines, but they have worked wonders for the self-esteem of guilty owners.
Miller's self-reproach at having his own dog neutered in 1993 led him to develop "neuticles" and give animals a new lease of life, at least in a virtual sense.
"It took two years to get developed," Miller says. "The reason why I came out with it was the trauma that I went through neutering my bloodhound Buck."
Miller asked his vet if there was any implant "so Buck can look the same afterwards". There was nothing. So after a $670,000 investment, Miller's company Canine Testicular Implantation Corp carried out its first "neuticle" implant on a rottweiler named Max in 1995.
"Max is still alive today and still has his 'neuticles'," Miller says proudly.
Since then the company has supplied 100,000 implants across America and in 36 countries around the world including Australia.
The neuticles come in polypropylene, like firm plastic, or in softer silicone. The cost is between $80 and $175, with the operation fee on top.
"It's a male thing," says Miller. "If I lost mine, I would want them to be replaced with the implants."
Miller's business has taken off so much that now he is being asked to provide implants for cats, horses and even bulls in Spain.
One man in Colorado wanted implants for two water buffaloes and the University of Louisiana sought neuticles for 25 rats.
"We do a lot of horses, a lot of bulls. But 90 per cent of our business is with dogs," he says.
But some owners go too far and seek neuticles that are too big for the dog. Miller is disgusted.
"We really try to make sure that the pet is properly sized before we send them out," he insists.
This guy wasted $670,000 because he felt guilty for neutering his pet?!!!
I've got to mark this article for the next time a leftist makes some complaint about money wasted that could have fed a poor, homeless, inner city child.
By my calculations, he has earned about $12,750,000 in sales. Not bad for a $670,000 investment.
OK, from a business perspective he's done well on his investment. From just about any other basis of evaluation the only thing he's succeeded in doing in bilking nut cases out of money...but he has added nothing to improving the world. And it is by that standard that the left should denounce him. On the other hand, as I see it, it's likely that most of the money he's bilking people out of is possibly money that will not be going to PETA now. And that is a good thing.
Hmmm - could these customers being trying to pass off gelded animals as whole? This fellow may have created a whole new kind of livestock fraud.
Are they still classified as bulls when they've been neutered?
I believe they're steers at that point - and even with neuticles, a steer isn't going to do what ranchers buy a bull to do.
PETA seems to have plenty of males in it's sway...although there's no way to determine how many would have donated to PETA if they hadn't invested their money on fake genitalia for animals. It doesn't seem such a stretch to me, however, that someone who would buy such an article for their pets would potentially be a PETA crazy.
And who you calling a (ahem) nut case. You can argue that having a pet at all is frivolous.
I suppose one could argue that having a pet is frivolous, although there are many studies done that suggest pets can be healthy for medical patients and others to have around. What I find frivolous is the spending of money on fake genitalia for animals to assuage "buyer's remorse" in having a pet neutered.
I hope ranchers in the cattle industry dont hear of this.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.