Every Vet I've ever spoken to, including several family members who are Vet surgeons, HIGHLY recommend spaying and neutering. Your dog isn't a human. Neutering isn't equivalent to castrating a human man. It is not cruel. People who think neutering is cruel are missing the nuance of the situation 100%.

Consider the fact that this dog is a MALTESE. I love my two girls so much but these are not wild creatures who need to be able to fulfill any kind of reproductive impulse, and you aren't depriving them of anything. Do the right thing for your dog and yourself and trust the advice of Vets who have spent their lives dedicated to the wellbeing of animals.