Pandemic of Dumb-Dumb Syndrome Continues to Worsen

It's recently come to my attention that no one listens to anyone else, at least when it comes to truly listening. This usually occurs when someone sings a wrong lyric in a song (i.e. "Hold me closer, Tony Danza," or "Lock the cat box"), but it has really started occurring with one particular word that we come across a lot at work. And no, it's not a complicated word like aminophyline (am-in-off-o-lin) or cefpdoxime (seph-puh-dox-ih-mee). It is, in fact, the word, spay. Now, I know what you're thinking. How can someone muck up a four letter word that's plain as day to know how to pronounce? In order to answer that I must first go into the different tenses of the word, and you in the back pouting about the language lesson, sit up and pay attention please.

There are very few variations of the word, "spay," including spayed (ex: My dog was recently spayed.), spaying (ex: Dr. Husband is in the middle of spaying that cat) and the word spay itself (def: a surgical procedure where the ovaries and uterus are removed, also known as an ovariohysterectomy [OHE]).

Now, seeing that there are those few variations of the word, how is it that not one, but several people can get it wrong? The best example I can provide happens - without fail - only on the telephone with people. The most common sentence the mistake is used in? "Yeah, I'd like to set up an appointment to get my (cat/dog) spayeded." Spayded. Yes, that's right, I said it. The fact that someone would use a past tense with an additional -ed on the end is appalling, especially when the word is so freakin' simple. I'm aware that I'm a grammar Nazi, but I could forgive this if it had just been one person. However, there's been a minimum of ten people I have heard this from, varying from white trash to upper middle class. Really folks? Really? I am horrified that the only thing I can do is attempt to subtly correct them and sit back with my face in my palm. I know not all pet owners know what IMHA (immune mediated hemolytic anemia) is, etc, etc. But, and I am begging everyone to do this for their daily lives and not just vet clinic visits, be aware of what you are saying when it comes out of your mouth. It doesn't even matter what it is that you're saying. If you're not sure, don't say it or ask someone about it. Hell, for words you're not sure how to use right there's this thing that's been around for forever called a dictionary. Use it.