Reputable Breeders Chafe Over Law Aimed At Puppy Mills


June 25, 2009
posted by Rae and Mark @ 4:19 am

OregonLive.com reports on breeders’ reaction to a new law, intended to clamp down on puppy mills:

http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2009/06/reputable_breeders_chafe_over.html

We are all for anything that reduces the number of breeders, whether they are “reputable” ones, or puppy mills.

You see, the problem is, there are already way too many dogs in the US today, and they are being abandoned and dumped at rescues and shelters at an alarming rate.

These organizations mainly do an excellent job with limited resources, but even some of the no-kill shelters still end up having to put dogs down - there are simply too many unwanted animals for them to cope with.

In spite of their good work, latest figures indicate that anywhere from six to twelve million dogs are murdered every year.

In addition to that, many of these breeders are now creating what can best be described as “designer dogs”, mixing all sorts of unlikely breeds together, and manufacturing what you’d have to call Frankenstein dogs in some cases. What else could you call a Chimation (that’s a Chihuahua and Dalmatian mix, in case you didn’t know)?

There is, quite rightly, a great deal of adverse reaction to the very thought of genetic engineering of babies, so how come people are happy to play God with our pets?

You only have to look at the long list of genetic problems that many, if not most breeds suffer from (e.g. breathing problems, dysplasia, eye problems) to see the damage that these sorts of breeding programs create.

There may have been a time, many years ago, when dogs were mainly working animals, when it was desirable to ensure they had certain traits that would help them act as the slaves we humans demanded, but the modern craze for designer dogs, based on looks alone, is simply wrong.

There are already plenty of existing breeds to suit most people’s needs (e.g. how much space they need, how much exercise they need, how easy they are to train and socialize), so there really is no need to manufacture additional hybrids.

So, if you’re thinking of getting another dog, then please go to your local shelter, rescue or Humane Society and get your dog there - all they need is a good home and some TLC.

This way, you’ll be helping to save a life, instead of adding to a growing problem.

There are other less obvious advantages too.

For example, did you know that a lot of dogs, once they die, get sent to rendering plants, where their remains end up in dog food?

If that dog was diseased, as many in these shelters and rescues are, with, for example, Parvo, do you really want that in your dog’s food?

The link between feeding bits of dead cow to cows (especially bone meal) is already proven to be a cause of BSE (aka mad cow disease), so it’s not too far a stretch to see the same thing happening to our pets.

And finally, by rescuing a dog from a shelter, it will use fewer resources, and allow them to take in another dog that may otherwise have to be turned away.

Please, do the responsible thing and save a dog from an unnecessary death -although he may be a mutt, rather than a pedigree, you’ll have a friend for life, and that’s all that matters.

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