Neuticles
Encyclopedia
Neutering
Neutering, from the Latin neuter , is the removal of an animal's reproductive organ, either all of it or a considerably large part. The process is often used in reference to males whereas spaying is often reserved for females. Colloquially, both terms are often referred to as fixing...
dogs and other domestic animals. Creator Gregg Miller
Gregg Miller
Gregg Miller, inventor of Neuticles, was born in Independence, Missouri on April 28, 1953.He is a graduate of Truman High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Central Missouri State University in 1976....
won the 2005 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine
Ig Nobel Prize
The Ig Nobel Prizes are an American parody of the Nobel Prizes and are given each year in early October for ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research. The stated aim of the prizes is to "first make people laugh, and then make them think"...
, a parody of the real Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
, for his invention. As of September 2007, more than 240,000 pairs of the patented product had been sold, in all 50 U.S. states and 49 countries.
Miller developed the idea for Neuticles in 1993, after his bloodhound
Bloodhound
The Bloodhound is a large breed of dog which, while originally bred to hunt deer and wild boar, was later bred specifically to track human beings. It is a scenthound, tracking by smell, as opposed to a sighthound, which tracks using vision. It is famed for its ability to discern human odors even...
Buck caught the scent of a bitch in heat, disappeared and turned up days later 30 miles away. Miller had Buck neutered to stop his wandering. Following the procedure, when Buck went to clean himself, he realized something was wrong and acted "extremely depressed" for three days.
The first commercial Neuticles were implanted in 1995. Neuticles are made from Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
–approved materials and are designed to replicate the weight and feel of the animal's natural testicles. They are made of solid silicone
Silicone
Silicones are inert, synthetic compounds with a variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant and rubber-like, they are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medical applications , cookware, and insulation....
and are not gel-filled and therefore cannot leak.
Several companies have tried to copy the patented prosthetic. In a June 2000 press release, CTI Corporation, which manufactures Neuticles, cited an investigation revealing that companies in New York and California were pirating Neuticles. CTI warned of health risks to the animals getting the pirate product and reminded the public of the years of research that went into the product's creation and the development of the surgical technique used to implant them.
Neuticles have been endorsed by a number of national, state, and regional humane societies, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty towards animals...
(ASPCA). "Who can argue with a perfectly safe surgical procedure that encourages pet owners to neuter?" (ASPCA Animal Watch Spring, 1997) The Spay/Neuter Incentive Project & Sanctuary praises Neuticles as eliminating one of the last reasons people are reluctant to neuter their male pets. The demand for such a product is more common than previously thought. Houston veterinarian Kenneth Williams says that for every 200 dogs neutered he gets one inquiry or request for implants.
Miller and Neuticles have received worldwide publicity. Among other national news coverage including CBS News, NBC News ABC World News Tonight, The Daily Show, to Tell the Truth, The David Letterman Show, The Tonight Show and hundreds of newspapers and radio outlets-they were featured on an episode of the Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. Penn Jillette is a raconteur; Teller generally uses mime while performing, although his voice can occasionally be heard during their performance...
show Bullshit! which featured the extremes people will go to in order to meet their own concepts of their pets' desires.