Puppy Mill

For the past two years, the American Pet Products Association (APPA), the American Pet Products Association (ASPCA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA) and retailers PETCO and Petland have been working together to reach an agreement on the definition of the term “puppy mill.”

They have agreed to define a puppy mill as:  A dog-breeding operation, which offers dogs for monetary compensation or remuneration, in which the physical, psychological and/or behavioral needs of the dogs are not being fulfilled due to inadequate housing, shelter, staffing, nutrition, socialization, sanitation, exercise, veterinary care, and/or inappropriate breeding.

The new definition stemmed out of a desire to recognize the difference between responsible and irresponsible breeding.  The desire is to stand behind reputable breeders and make sure any sub-standard breeders either raise their standards to an acceptable level, or go out of business.

Now they hope to get others to join the cause.  What do you think?

By now, you should have a rough idea of the dog you are seeking for your family.  Did you decide you want a little lap dog to follow you around the house, a medium-sized sporting dog to go on your epic 10 mile runs, or a giant teddy bear of a dog to sleep at your feet all day?  Matching a dog’s energy, size, and personality to your family dynamic will ensure he will become a permanent member of your pack. Some common options for finding your new pet are Pet Stores, oops litters, Reputable Breeders, Shelters and Rescue Groups.

OPTION 1: Local Pet Store

A local Pet Store appears like a great option to find your New Puppy because they have several breeds to choose from, usually come with a health guarantee  and they are conveniently located in just about every location.  This is where the pros run out in my mind.  Pet Stores deal with moving a product and the more they move the more profit they make.

1. Where did the dog come from?  Since Pet Stores need to move a lot of product (dogs), they need a
   

   Photo of the living conditions in a Puppy Mill (click for a larger image)

   steady supply of young puppies.  Do these puppies come from a large puppy mill or dog factory where dogs are breed constantly and kept in tight living conditions? More litters equals more money for the puppy mill.

2. Long term health and genetic disorders:  Many test exist today that can test for genetic disorders in adog.  I responsible dog breeder would no longer breed a dog if the parents tested positive for certain genetic markers.  A Puppy Mill will have little or no interest in these test as they can be expensive and many of the health issues will not show up for many years in the future.  According to Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Hip Dysplasia cases increases by 75% when both parents were Dysplastic dogs.  If at all possible, it is always a good idea to interact with at least one if not both of the parents to ensure they are well-adjusted and healthy.
3. Improper handling and socializing:  The early stages of a puppy, much like the early stages of a human baby, are extremely important to shape the dog’s personality and behaviors.  Puppies will need frequent human attention and be exposed to new things to challenge them.  Living in a 2×3 glass cage all day is not the proper environment to socialize an animal.  Many pet store dogs will have an up hill battle when it comes to house training and crate training.  They are expected to urinate and defecate in the same place they eat and sleep. A dog, by nature, does not wish to defecate in the same area that it sleeps but will continue to do so once this has become a learned behavior.
4. Cost: You would think since you do not get to see the parents, testing for genetic disorders, or any sort of puppy socializing that they would have a lower purchase price.  The exact opposite is usually true.  Pet Store Pets are commonly price upwards and even north of $1000 dollars.  For this price, you could seek out a reputable breeder that will show the parents are healthy, show testing for common disorders of the breed and provide support after you take your new puppy home.  A reputable breeder will care for and love each puppy and it is common to sign a contract that states you will return the dog if you are ever unable or unwilling to care for the dog.  You could also seek out a shelter or rescue group for much cheaper than purchasing from a Pet Store (more on these options in upcoming Parts).
5. They do little to ensure the puppy is placed in a good home.  You would imagine that if someone was willing to pay over $1000 for a dog that would provide excellent care for the dog.  This is simply not true in many cases.  Expensive purebreds can be found at every shelter and Rescue Group.

I hope you learned a little about the pros…and mostly cons of obtaining your new puppy from a Pet Store.  I know it is very difficult to not take them home because they appear so pitiful in that glass cage but you must consider the long-term effects.  You may be saving that one dog from an abused life but you are providing funds to puppy mills and pets stores to continue operations.  If the customer’s look elsewhere and the business is no longer profitable they will stop breeding.

(Part 2: The Oops Litter)

Having been a passionate dog lover for, oh, my entire life, I had never really tried to define “good breeder.” It was just something I could recognize. Unfortunately the vast majority of people have no idea what makes someone a good breeder, which is why backyard breeders (BYB) and puppy mills (PM) are still going strong.

How can someone without intuitive knowledge recognize a good breeder? Here are some rules of thumb to guide you through the process.* And yes, I’m a dog snob. I’m OK with that and think you should be one, too. You’re making a 10-15 year commitment, so stop kicking tires and spring for the Rolls-Royce!

*Keep in mind that there are always exceptions to the rules so use your best judgement based on your overall analysis of a breeder.

Mission
A good breeder has some kind of mission statement that guides their breeding decisions. While a BYB or PM may have a mission of “make a profit” or “see the miracle of birth” or “I want a Fluffy 2.0″, a good breeder has something much more challenging in mind: make a positive impact on their breed by leaving it better than they found it. Their mission statement often looks something like this: “To breed structurally sound and healthy dogs with amazing family temperaments.” If they have a breed with working instincts they may include something like “with natural working ability.” This mission is backed up by things like health certificates from OFA/CERF, temperament testing, and titles (covered below).

Investment
Look at how much time, money, and energy they have invested in their dogs and breeding program. Good breeders have invested thousands of dollars into their breeding program: buying excellent foundation stock, showing, health testing, training, self-education, maintenance of dogs, etc. They do this knowing that they will never see a profit, and they’re OK with that because it’s not about money; it’s about the mission.

A BYB or PM keeps investment costs low since for them it’s also about the mission, but the mission is return on investment.

Volume, Timing, and Duration
A good breeder will usually have 0-3 litters per year depending on their current goals and the size of their breeding program. They only breed if it’s in line with their mission of bettering the breed, which is why some years they may not have any litters at all. The time they begin breeding an individual dog is normally after the dog has reached two years of age and has had health testing completed (see below for more details on health testing). And a good breeder will normally breed an individual bitch no more than three times.

A BYB probably has 1-2 litters per year, often begins breeding by one year of age, and may breed every or every other heat cycle for an indeterminate number of years. A PM will have dozens of litters per year, begin breeding before one year of age, and often breeds every heat cycle until the bitch is no longer productive.

Health testing
Many people see health testing as a cornerstone to any good breeding program, and rightly so. Genetic disease is a preventable problem in purebred dogs, which means that not doing the proper testing is negligent and detrimental to the breed. Good breeders will do the appropriate testing for their breed, be willing to share the results, and will make breeding decisions based on the results. They will also only breed dogs who meet a minimum standard of good health, which either means passing a test or getting some minimum score. Tests are usually scored by OFA (many conditions) or CERF (eyes only).

For a simplistic example, a breeder has a gorgeous Doberman male but he tests as “affected” for von Willebrand’s, a genetically inherited disease. This dog could still be bred but only to bitches who test “clear” for the gene; this would produce a litter of 100% “carrier” puppies who are not affected by the gene but could pass it on. The breeder keeps one carrier puppy who grows up and is bred to a non-carrier (“clear”), which produces a litter of 50% carrier and 50% non-carrier. Now the breeder can keep a non-carrier puppy who has all the good traits of their original male but no longer passes on the gene for vWD. Because the breeder did health testing, within 3 generations they were not only able to rid their own breeding program of a deleterious gene but also to improve the breed by weeding out the gene while still retaining the excellent traits of their top-winning dog.

BYB and PM don’t normally do any kind of genetic screening (I’ve heard tales of BYB who do, but never seen it in practice), and as such cannot make breeding decisions based on the results. This leads to increased prevalence of genetic diseases and, in turn, increased health problems within the breed.

Behavioral analysis
Most people want a dog that’s easy to live with and a dog with a challenging temperament (reactive, fearful, aggressive, etc) is often the first one to end up at the pound. A good breeder recognizes this and, within the constraints of their breed’s natural temperament, they do their best to produce stable dogs that are easy to live with. Some breeders will do formal temperament testing (TT titles) or therapy work (may have a TDI title, but may not) and some may even do testing on puppies to get a feel for temperament (the Volhard test is popular). The best way to analyze temperament, however, is to meet the dogs in person and determine if you would enjoy living with them.

BYB and PM don’t do temperament testing.

Titles
Conformation titles
Conformation titles indicate that someone other than the breeder agrees that this is a quality example of the breed. The caveat: conformation shows are subjective so a less than stellar dog can still earn a CH title. As a result you should use CH titles as a baseline and then go further by analyzing the dog yourself or asking a mentor to do so. Read the AKC standard and determine for yourself if the dog is a good example of the breed.

Sport titles
This would be along the lines of obedience, agility, flyball, etc. They are an indication that the dog is trainable and that the breeder spends time with the dog one on one. They are also a rough indication that the dog has a stable temperament since it can compete at venues full of chaos, people, and dogs.

Breed-specific titles
These titles are proof that the dog can do what the breed was originally developed for. Terriers may earn Earthdog titles, herding breeds may earn herding titles, hounds may earn lure coursing or tracking titles (although tracking is open to all breeds), sporting breeds can earn field titles. If you want a dog with strong working instincts you may want to specifically look for these types of titles.

BYB and PM don’t normally have any titles on their dogs.

General policies
Frequently a good breeder will have a puppy application that prospective buyers fill out; this helps the breeder determine if you meet their criteria for a good owner. Be honest when you complete these — the truth will come out eventually! The youngest age that a good breeder will release puppies to their new owners is 8 weeks of age. For some breeds, or if the breeder is analyzing puppies to determine show quality, this may increase to 12 weeks of age. Usually they will require you to visit with them in person at least once before you take home your puppy, and the puppy may have to be picked up in person (not all breeders will ship puppies).

BYB and PM don’t have a pre-purchase screening process, often release puppies at 6 weeks of age (which is too young), and will happily ship the puppy to you, sight unseen, for a few hundred bucks.

Pricing
A good breeder typically divides their puppies into two quality categories: show and pet. They may or may not charge more for a show puppy, but if they do it’s because that puppy is legitimately a better example and could improve on the breed. A BYB or PM will often have three quality categories: show, breeding, and pet. This is ridiculous because any dog that can’t be shown due to conformation faults also should not be bred, which is why a good breeder normally doesn’t have a “breeding quality” category.

In my experience the average price for a well-bred pet puppy is $1500. This, of course, varies by breed, location, quality, etc. Some good breeders will price high in an effort to weed out less than ideal buyers; if you’re serious then they expect you to pony up the cash. If you’re not then they know you weren’t a good fit. Unsold puppies will be kept until an appropriate home can be found; don’t expect a discount.

BYB and PM will price at whatever the market will bear and often offer discounts on unsold puppies.

Contract
All good breeders have a binding contract for each puppy. Typically they will have one for pet quality and one for show quality, but both will state basic care expectations, prevent the buyer from selling the puppy without the breeder’s permission, and give the breeder first rights to reclaim the puppy if the buyer can no longer keep it. Basically, a good breeder wants what is best for their puppies. If you can no longer provide that then they want the puppy back so they can find someone else who will. It’s not personal; they just just really care about their puppies! They will also provide a health guarantee, usually up to a certain age. For example, they may state that they guarantee against hip dysplasia up to the age of two and if the puppy shows congenital signs of hip dysplasia prior to that age the puppy may be replaced free of charge.

Show puppy contracts may require co-ownership, may have breeding restrictions built in, and often lay out the responsibilities of the buyer in relation to showing and/or breeding. Pet contracts usually require spaying/neutering and do not allow the buyer to breed the puppy. You will likely have to provide veterinary proof of sterilization.

A BYB or PM won’t have a contract, or if they do it be more like a used car affidavit where you get what you paid for. Health guarantees, if offered, are usually limited to 14 days and may not cover genetic diseases.

Read everything! (Photo credit: Nomadic Lass)

Support
A good breeder will provide lifetime support and always be willing to answer any questions their puppy-buyers might have. This goes back to their desire to place their puppies into the best homes possible: the more you know the better off their puppy is. Plus, the more the breeder knows the better they feel about you having their puppy!

A BYB or PM doesn’t provide support once the puppy is sold.

Registration
Assuming the breed is AKC recognized it’s a given that each dog and puppy should be AKC registered. This is not a selling point for a good breeder because it’s assumed to be true, always. Anyone who uses AKC registration as a selling point is not a good breeder.

Also, any registry other than AKC, CKC (as in Canadian Kennel Club, not Continental Kennel Club), UKC, or FCI should not be considered a valid registry. Puppy millers who couldn’t get their stock AKC registered established their own registries that had more lax requirements, which causes unsuspecting buyers to assume that any set of acronyms is a good thing. As a general rule, stick to AKC!

Shots & Deworming
If you look in the local newspaper you’ll see ads proclaiming that the puppies have had their shots and been dewormed as though the breeder were doing you a favor. This is basic health care for any litter of puppies and is to be expected. Good breeders always provide health care to their puppies until the puppies go to their new homes; this usually involves at least first shots (sometimes second) and 1-2 rounds of deworming. Some breeders will not provide shots or deworming based on the natural rearing concept; determine if they’re actually following that philosophy or if they’re just using it as a cover for being cheap.

Do they take Paypal?
Then they’re probably not a good breeder. Since Paypal is so prevalent among shoddy breeders I have a hard time seeing it in a positive light and I’ve never seen any good breeders who accept Paypal.

Related articles

• Thoughts on breed popularity, marketing, and the power of the internet

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Butterfly at Grandma’s colorful feet

            When Butterfly first came home from the shelter she didn’t make eye contact with me or Mom, and I was afraid she wouldn’t be able to bond with us. They told us not to expect too much from her after spending her whole eight years in a puppy mill. She was afraid of being picked up or petted, but she licked my hand to say hello, so we started there.

Butterfly’s tongue

She was hyper vigilant even in sleep, curling up in a ball, waking at any noise. The first time she was able to sleep on her side, with her legs stretched out and her belly exposed, I knew what a triumph that was. A few weeks later, she started to do a little move where she twisted her head to expose her neck and chest for scratching. And then, just once, she rolled entirely onto her back.

But she has been a social butterfly with other dogs from the very beginning, especially in contrast to Cricket. Butterfly will walk up to any dog, big or small, yappy or shy. She doesn’t let Cricket’s fear or standoffishness deter her. The other day we took the girls out for a long walk around the neighborhood. We went to the left instead of the right this time and met a male dachshund and his human mother. Cricket kept her distance, because she usually does. But Butterfly was drawn straight to him. She sniffed his nose. Then she sniffed his butt. He peed obsessively against the telephone pole on his lawn.

Butterfly clearly liked him, but whenever he tried to sniff her butt, she hopped away like a good southern belle, exclaiming, “well, I never…” But she didn’t want to leave. When we finally convinced Butterfly to leave, she was in a great mood. Her hips twitched from side to side, and her nose and tail were up in the air.

The girls get all tangled with their friend Bella

            Cricket is not a social butterfly. When we’re outside and strangers walk by, Cricket automatically barks her head off. She needs to tell them that this is her neighborhood, her street, her sidewalk, and they have no business near by. Butterfly just stands there and studies them. She isn’t upset by Cricket’s barking. She almost doesn’t seem to notice it. She just seems curious, and like a scientist, she is taking time to patiently examine the evidence.

But in the house, Butterfly barks. She especially likes to bark at the doggy in the mirror. She’ll be walking around in my room, surveying the territory, and then look to her left and see another little white dog. The mirror on the closet is full length so she can see herself down to the toes, and she barks and hops and gets into play pose as if she really believes that another dog has come into the room to challenge her.

Butterfly’s biggest challenge is to teach Cricket how to be her friend. It is an uphill battle, with a lot of grumbling and suspicion and hiding under beds and hoarding treats. But right now, Butterfly is napping only inches away from Cricket on the bed. They are getting closer every day, whether Cricket likes it or not.

Blurry but happy. At least Butterfly is.

]]> http://raisetheroo.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/meet-roo/ Sat, 19 Jan 2013 15:54:45 +0000 raisetheroo http://raisetheroo.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/meet-roo/ Roo is our 16 week old Shiba Inu puppy. She is our 4th dog and by far our most well behaved puppy.

Roo has not had a single accident since we brought her home 5 days ago. She hasn’t chewed or been at all destructive, and she has not made a single peep. Not a bark, a whine, or even a yawn. Roo requires no exercise and is the least demanding dog of our entire pack. In fact, visitors to our home have come and gone without even realizing we have a new puppy in the house.

Roo barely eats and sparingly drinks. Her entire body tenses when she is touched. Roo makes no intentional eye contact and does not respond to our voice, let alone her name. Roo is afraid to be in the house and buries her face in corners or under furniture. The only time we see our little girl come to life is when she goes outside with the rest of our pack. However, when the other dogs come back indoors, Roo sneaks under the porch so she can stay outside where she is comfortable. Despite our eagerness to love and guide her, the only comfort to our little girl is the cold and dark space under our back porch because these are the conditions Roo was raised in.

Roo is a puppy mill dog, and we are her parents who were duped and deceived into bringing her home. Our initial disappointment, frustration and embarrassment after realizing what we had done has turned into a passion to give our little girl a second chance at understanding love.

This year I was not there for opening day and will probably not find myself over at the capitol often, if at all.  I am now a licensed attorney and I am clerking for a judge which means that my activities are limited (rightly so).

The issues I was passionate about in law school, however, are still issues I am passionate about in life after school.  To pick one: puppy mills.  Hawaii needs to do something to prevent puppy mills–or “large-scale commercial dog breeders”–from operating freely in this state.  My opinions about dog breeding are strong, and they are vast, and I’m sure in my coming posts they will become pretty obvious.  For now, a quick story:

The other day I was watching The Incredible Dr. Pol on the National Geographic Channel, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the show had to deal with a sick puppy from a puppy mill.  The show is based in central Michigan–a state that has puppy mill laws in effect and is actually ranked 4th in the nation for it’s animal protection laws (based on a report by the Animal Legal Defense Fund found here: http://aldf.org/article.php?id=2269)–and this particular patient of Dr. Pol’s was a spaniel-type puppy that was sick with coccidia.  A quick internet-search can give you some information about the infection, but basically due to the poor sanitary conditions of puppy mills (among other things) the puppies are infected and get sick.  They will have persistent diarrhea, which can lead to other health problems.

Photo courtesy of http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/the-incredible-dr-pol/photos/

The owner of the puppy said that she knew that the puppy came from a puppy mill, and she knows puppy mills are bad, but that she purchased the dog in order to save the one puppy’s life.  That, unfortunately, is not an uncommon mindset among those who purchase animals from puppy mills.  And THANK GOODNESS Dr. Pol said that because she purchased this one little puppy from the puppy mill, she gave them every incentive to keep doing what they are doing.  It wasn’t a lecture, it wasn’t a glaring admonition of puppy mills, and it didn’t seem to really have much of an impact–but I’m so glad that he at least said out loud what needed to be said.

The phrase “Adopt Don’t Shop” has been used by humane organizations to get the message out about adopting animals versus purchasing them from retailers or private sellers.  Millions of dogs are euthanized every year because there is no room for them at shelters–a process you can witness secondhand if you watch the documentary One Nation Under Dog (**WARNING: that film has graphic images and themes not suitable for all audiences**).

There is no single cause of this problem and so there is no single solution. There is nothing simple about it either.  One part of the problem, in my opinion, is a misconception about what a “shelter dog” is going to be like.  Thus one goal of this blog is to help others understand what the dogs we are fostering are actually like.  Another goal is shaping up to be educational: I hope to maybe highlight some of the ways that Hawaii could increase its animal protection laws to be higher ranked than 47th in the nation (http://aldf.org/article.php?id=2269).

By Laura McFarland-Taylor

originally printed in the Illinois State Bar Association’s Animal Law newsletter

There are numerous problems with the proposed changes (APHIS[1]) to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)[2], which purport to solve the “puppy mill” problem, the most glaring being that it will do no such thing.

It is interesting to me that in all the “pro-APHIS” articles I have read none of them actually quote the proposed changes or the AWA, but I will get to that in a minute.

First, there is no legal definition for “puppy mill” – the term brings to mind Justice Potter Stewart’s famous quote about hard-core pornography: “I know it when I see it”,[3] and citations to animal rights groups[4] claiming victory over the removal of “puppy mill” ads from various social media sites is a hollow victory – great for raising donations, but it does nothing to actually solve the issue of poor breeding or animals kept in substandard conditions.[5]

The following are not legal definitions either, but they speak much more closely to what actually goes on in dog breeding:

Commercial breeder: breeds pet dogs in larger numbers specifically for the pet market and derives all or a substantial portion of their income from puppy sales; may be sold at wholesale as well.

Pet breeder: breeds pet dogs in small numbers specifically for the pet market and does not derive a large portion of their income from puppy sales.

Purpose breeders: breeds dogs for a specific purpose, working, competition, etc. Puppies that do not fit the purpose are sold in the pet market. These may be large produces or small ones or everything in between.

Shipping dogs and puppies “sight unseen” has never been uncommon in any of these categories. The internet actually gives potential buyers more information than traditionally available – of course, there are still scams, but the scams generally have nothing to do with the puppies themselves; as a matter of fact, the scam is usually that there is no puppy at all.[6] Nothing in these proposed regulations can force a buyer to use common sense.[7] Although the USDA claims that it has received “numerous” complaints about puppies bought over the internet, it has not quantified those complaints nor has it provided objective proof that the complaints were true.[8]

The fact is that a lot of the anti-breeding rhetoric is, at its heart, a moral judgment that breeding dogs for money is wrong. [9]

As I said, what I find most curious about those championing the proposed regulations is that they never seem to quote from them – instead relying on an emotional reaction to exclamations of “we’re saving puppies!” instead of facts.[10]

Under the proposed regulations dog breeders who maintain more than four females biologically capable of having puppies and who sell a puppy to just one person at a distance would be regulated as commercial breeders under the proposed regulations.

This seems pretty straightforward until you actually read the regulations: the regulation would control breeders who sell online with 4 or more females of ANY SPECIES. So, for example, if someone breeds rabbits and dogs and has four females that COULD be bred (again, they don’t have to actually be bred[11]), this would affect them. Included in the count are any animals that are co-owned (very common among show dogs) and that do not even live on the breeder’s property.

As a sample of the unrealistic requirements that would be applied to small home-based breeders – Section 3.1(b), Housing Facilities, general, states[12]:  ”Animal areas inside of housing facilities must be kept neat and free of clutter, including equipment, furniture, and stored material, but may contain materials actually used and necessary for cleaning the area, and fixtures or equipment necessary for proper husbandry practices and research needs.”

Sec. 3.2 Indoor housing facilities, states[13]: “(d) Interior surfaces. The floors and walls of indoor housing facilities, and any other surfaces in contact with the animals, must be impervious to moisture. The ceilings of indoor housing facilities must be impervious to moisture or be replaceable (e.g., a suspended ceiling with replaceable panels).”

Obviously, a home contains furniture and stored material and other equipment not related to animal care. Are the floors and walls of most homes “impervious to moisture “? A private home is not an acceptable licensed “animal area” under the AWA regulations. Most home-based breeders will not be able to have a separate animal facility or “animal area”, and will be unable to comply with this regulation. If they can’t comply with ANY ONE PART of the AWA regulations, they can not only lose their license, but they can be fined and fines can go up to $10,000.

Section 3.6, Primary enclosures, states[14]: (c) Additional requirements for dogs, states: (2) Compatibility. … [P]uppies … 4 months of age or less may not be housed in the same primary enclosure with adult dogs … other than their dams or foster dams, except when permanently maintained in breeding colonies;

And Sec. 3.7 Compatible grouping, states[15]: (c) Puppies … 4 months of age or less may not be housed in the same primary enclosure with adult dogs … other than their dams or foster dams, except when permanently maintained in breeding colonies;

Again, a home-based breeder may not have enough room to separate all dogs and puppies and may be unable to comply with this regulation. In addition, socialization of puppies is incredibly important and is best achieved when the animals are raised together.[16]

What about the “exemptions”?: “This term does not include… any retail outlet where dogs are sold for hunting, breeding, or security purposes;…”[17] As stated by Tina Perriguey, President, United States Working Dog Foundation:

“This ‘exemption language’ provides no protection or exemption for current and future generations of large numbers of working dog specialties.

The working dog world is highly esoteric. It’s simply impossible to draw a bright line in the sand between pet dogs and the producers of working dogs. Many puppies who were sold at retail for use as pets (therefore NOT protected by above language) will grow up to become producers of critically important working dogs.”[18]

Another troubling aspect of the proposed regulations are the requirements that (1) the breeder have someone available from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, 12 months a year, for an APHIS inspection[19], and (2) that the breeder open their home to anyone interested in buying a puppy, raising both bio-security and safety concerns.[20]

Many breeders have jobs outside the home and it is simply not practical or economically feasible to have someone onsite Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

“Parvo”[21] is a highly contagious and easily spread – puppies generally do not receive an initial vaccination before 9 weeks of age (with a booster at 14 weeks) and the vaccine is not immediately effective.[22] It would be very easy for a buyer to inadvertently spread parvo throughout a breeder’s litter.

Most concerning however, is the requirement that a buyer be allowed into a breeder’s home.[23] There is no discretion involved – if a buyer wants to see your puppies, even if they are being raised in the most private portion of your home, the breeder has to allow him or her in.[24]

Many have pointed to the Factsheet issued by APHIS[25] as “proof” that the federal government will not enforce the proposed regulations as they are actually written. Hogwash. There is nothing “ambiguous” about the proposed regulations, and if they are so ambiguous that the USDA has to issue a Factsheet that contradicts the plain language of the proposed regulations, then those regulations clearly need to be re-written.[26]

Then there is the issue of enforcement. An undertaking of this magnitude would require a huge increase in APHIS’s budget – unlikely in the current economic climate. Would APHIS then “farm out” inspections? Very likely it would – and probably to the very entities that want to end the breeding of animals, period, such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)[27] and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)[28]. This is especially so since the head of APHIS is a former attorney for the HSUS, Sarah L.  Conant.[29] These animal rights groups do not have a good track record in conducting these types of “raids”.[30]

Additionally, there is a growing problem with people posing as animal control officers and then stealing dogs.[31]

Finally, these proposed regulations could have a devastating effect on breeders that raise rare or endangered breeds[32] or dogs that are purpose bred, such as Seeing Eye dogs.[33]

No one denies that there are breeders that keep their animals in sub-standard conditions, but painting an entire industry with the “puppy mill” brush does nothing to solve the problem of “bad” breeders, it exponentially expands the reach of the federal government, it places onerous economic and wholly-impractical conditions on people who are “good” breeders, and it endangers the very animals it claims to help.

In January the City of Burbank will again engage in discussion on whether or not to follow 12 other California cities, including Glendale, Hermosa Beach, Irvine, Los Angeles, and others in both LA and Orange Counties, in banning the sale of pets in retail businesses, including pet shops.

The question many ask is simply, “why?”

There is no simple answer.  However contributing justification includes:

• Alleged sadistic treatment of breeding animals and litters at commercial breeders – primarily in mid-western states, through the logistics process delivering animals to retail pet stores
• High number of available rescue dogs, either abandoned or surrendered to an animal shelter or rescue, and subsequent need to euthanize animals which can no longer be housed at shelters due to excessive numbers
• Danger of “in-breeding” by incompetent or unethical breeders
• Obsolete laws and ordinances protecting the safety and welfare of animals

Part 2 of the series “Burbank Takes on Puppy Mills” will focus on the position of animal rights groups, shelters, and adoption agencies and their views on the above topics.  Future articles in the series will try to dig further into the perspectives of pet shop owners, and city council members preparing to weigh in on the issue.

“A pet store that closes its doors is a lost opportunity for shelter animals.” (Elizabeth Oreck)

According to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) a puppy mill is a ”large-scale commercial dog breeding operation that places profit over the well-being of its dogs—who are often severely neglected—and acts without regard to responsible breeding practices.”

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) states there are an estimated 10,000 puppy mills in America, producing more than 2,000,000 puppies for distribution throughout the United States.  USUS also notes there are up to 3,000,000 animals euthanized at shelters annually.

No-Kill Los Angeles, an initiative of the Best Friends Animal Society, states 56,121 animals entered LA city shelters in 2011. More than 17,000 of those animals were euthanized.

Horrible numbers.  Nobody wants to see or think about such a waste of life, and the thought a family pet could come to such an end.  This is the reason animal rights groups such as Burbank CROPS (Citizens for Rescue-Only Pet Stores) and the Best Friends Animal Society are engaged not only in trying to save the lives of animals, but also in preventing the cruelty inflicted on both breeding stock and puppies (this article will focus on puppies, however the same issue applies to cats, birds, and other animals as well).

The Real Problem

Animal right groups, such as Burbank CROPS, do not want to shut down pet stores, as Shelly Rizzotti, Burbank CROPS member explains, they simply want to prevent pet stores from selling or distributing commercially bred “puppy mill” dogs.

No group has an objection to people buying pure bred puppies – from responsible hobby breeders or individuals.  According to Elizabeth Oreck, National Manager of Puppy Mill Initiatives for the Best Friends Animal Society, those sources will normally screen and vet prospective buyers or adopters prior to allowing an animal to join the adopting family.

Responsible breeders will follow a code of ethics, which includes a very detailed set of guidelines for breeding animals.  There are representative specific breeds ranging from the Mountain Dog Association, German Shepard Dog Club, Great Dane Club of America, Golden Retriever Club of America, to the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America and all breeds in between.  A standard clause in all the codes of ethics includes a statement similar to:

Breeders shall not knowingly sell to dog wholesalers, retailers or pet stores, known or suspected puppy mills, or commercial breeders. Breeders shall not donate dogs or puppies as prizes nor knowingly allow any dogs of their breeding to fall into public trust. All advertisement of puppies and dogs, written or oral shall be factual and as forthright and honest as possible in both substance and implication. (Mountain Dog Association).

Anne Gaffney, owner of Burbank’s Pet Haven, goes even further.  She notes that “with all the rescue animals available, people should give those animals the first chance.“  Gaffney continued ”adopting a pet is all about the connection.   You cannot buy a connection, and it is possible the connection between you and a pet may have nothing to do with the breed.”

Laws Regulating Commercial Breeders

There are many laws and codes regulating commercial breeders, including federal, state, and local.  At the top of the regulatory structure is the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), which dates back to 1966.  The US Department of Agriculture website states the AWA regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers.  The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) requires that minimum standards of care and treatment be provided for certain animals bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially, or exhibited to the public.

California has additional regulations including the Pet Store Animal Care Act, Pet Protection Act, Breeder Warranty Act, and according to a City of Burbank Study dated 16 October 2012, more than 50 other laws dealing with mistreatment of animals.

The Burbank Municipal Code, Title 5, Article 14 (Pet Shops), provides very specific guidelines on how pet shops must care for animals.  Officers from the Burbank Animal Shelter do perform periodic inspections, and according to Brenda Castaneda, Burbank Animal Shelter Superintendent, will cite violators for offenses.

An existing loophole in the regulatory environment surrounds the sale of puppies over the Internet.  This issue is being addressed by both congress and the senate at the federal level (HR835/S707), however the issue has not yet been solved, and as of today there is little or no regulation on the sale of commercially bred puppies over the Internet.

It should be noted that animal shelters and rescues are not required to comply with all laws and codes which regulate pet shops and commercial breeders, although all shelters are subject to inspection to ensure the health and safety of resident animals.

The Road Puppies Travel to Burbank Pet Stores

Puppies finding their way to pet stores will normally be bred in a commercial environment in the mid-west, primarily in Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, or surprisingly Amish communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania.  Puppies are delivered at around 6~7 weeks old by the breeder to a distribution or logistics company, such as the Hunte Company, based in Goodman, Missouri.

Hunte collects animals in their Missouri facility during the course of a week, during which time there will be health screening and matching pet shop demand with available stock.  A truck loaded with puppies will then head out across the country, delivering puppies to pet stores, including those in California.

The trip can take several days, during which time the puppies remain in cages, being fed and checked by delivery staff along the route.

A company such as Hunte will deliver an order to a pet shop, and the pet owner will inspect the animals, and either accept or reject the animal at the point of delivery.  If the pet passes arrival inspection, the pet store will settle with the delivery company, and then process the animal locally, sometimes passing through a veterinarian on the way to display in the store.

By the time a puppy hits the display cage, it is normally around 8 weeks old, having been away from its mother for about 2 weeks.

According to Christy Shilling, a CROPS member, the issue is “black and white.”  Shilling continued “This is about factory farming of mill animals.  Those terms are synonymous, of puppy mills, of puppy farms mass-producing animals.  It is cruel, and they do have violations.  That’s what we’d like to stop.  It’s not about attacking one store, but it is about attacking the mills.”

The goal of CROPS is to educate the public, and ultimately of course to stop the practice of puppy mills and retail sales of mill animals altogether.

A Model for the Future

None of the rights groups or individuals interviewed wants to prevent families from adding a pet to their family.  Pets have been part of social and family units since the beginning of recorded history, and it is a healthy relationship.

Rizzotti paints a model where pet stores may still provide pets to their customers, as adoption outlets for rescue animals.  In most cases the business model for a pet store is not in pushing flesh, but rather in selling pet supplies such as feed, toys, and environments.

Rizzotti explains there are still ample pure bred animals available through rescues, including puppies.     As noted, there are breeding clubs and organizations for nearly all types of breeds, all with a strict code of how they raise, handle, and sell puppies.

An example search on the website breeders.net revealed three Yorkshire Terrier breeders within 10 miles of Burbank’s 91501 zip code.  One breeder listed, who asked to remain anonymous, has the following splash on the website:   Adorable tiny male puppies, AKC, 1st shots, Champion Bloodlines, great personalities available to good homes. No Agents, No Pet Shops, & No Brokers, NO SHIPPING.

In a phone conversation with the breeder she passionately explained that her dogs only were only available to buyers she personally screened, and the transfer required a list of steps, including full papers, shot record, visit to a veterinarian prior to accepting the puppy.  The breeder is a member of the American Kennel Club (AKC), and claims complete adherence to AKC

The American Kennel Club has an investigations and inspections program to both ensure the health and safety of animals within member kennels, as well as checking paperwork for compliance with club standards.  Field agents may also conduct DNA testing on dogs to verify the pedigree and parentage of puppies.

While the AKC inspection process has no penal or regulatory authority, if a kennel or breeder has major deficiencies during an inspection, they may lose their membership in the AKC, be fined, or in a worst case the AKC may contact law enforcement to ensure the animals are protected.

What Do Animal Rights Groups Want from Burbank?

Rizzotti is very clear about the objectives Burbank CROPS wishes to accomplish in the upcoming Burbank City Council discussion on pet stores and puppy mills.  That is to support elimination of puppy mills, and prevent pet stores from selling commercially bred animals originating in puppy mills.

Part 3 of this series will explore the perspective of pet store owners selling puppies, and others who do not support the position of animal rights groups on the topics of commercial breeding and pet store sales.

BurbankNBeyond and Pacific-Tier Communications would like to hear from all readers on the topic, regardless of your position.  Please send your comments to savageau@pacific-tier.com

Crossposting is encouraged.
January 7, 2013

HSUS isn’t through with Texas by a long shot! In fact, they have only just begun. The Texas Legislature convenes tomorrow (January 8th) and while we’re fiddling, Rome is definitely burning.

HSUS, ASPCA, PETA, and Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) have lobbied hard in Texas for the past 5 years. Texas is a special target. It took them two legislative sessions to get their Anti-Dog & Cat Breeding Bill HB 1451 passed. Even then it was with threats to legislators and by using questionable committee procedures. So we did give them a hard time. But, they are back for Step Two!

HSUS is partnering for lobbying purposes with two of our largest animal shelters this month and actually using their (nonprofit) facilities for ”Lobby 101″ Events. These shelters have always supported all HSUS/THLN anti-pet legislation so it’s not a total surprise. They are: SPCA of Texas in Dallas (subject of a 20/20 expose) and Houston Humane Society.

To date: Two HSUS “Lobby 101″ Events have been scheduled in Texas regarding the 2013 Legislative Session.

January 5th: Held at the SPCA of Texas Animal Shelter Facility in Dallas.
Katie Jarl (HSUS) and Shelby Bobosky, (new THLN Legislative Director), shared lobbying tips and talked about their upcoming legislative efforts for the 2013 Session.

January 19th: A second “Lobby 101″ Event is scheduled at the Houston Humane Society Facility in Houston.
Their joint email urges subscribers to also save March 14th as the “Texas Humane Lobby Day” in Austin, Texas.

The notice also states that representatives from THLN, HSUS, and ASPCA are conducting the workshops on effective lobbying techniques, and discussing proposed state bills that affect animals; to prepare participants for meetings with their elected officials and to “advocate” for animals. Watch this “advocacy” word because it is animal rights lingo for “eliminate.”

Time to lace up your combat boots, find out who your legislators are, and get ready as this will be a very nasty legislative session for all animal owners.

Appeals for funding our HB 1451 lawsuit, two lobbyists this session (other side has at least 10 lobbyists each session!), getting our own legislation passed, and other lobbying expenses in Austin, has fallen far short of our $150,000 goal … only a pitiful $20,000 in our piggy bank. Without funding, RPOA’s hands are tied. Texas animal owners must make some serious decisions whether they want to fight or throw in the towel. RPOA has established the structure to be proactive instead of always “reactive” but it takes money which isn’t coming in. I know we had the holidays, but …

Remember these names below because we’ll meet them often in Austin this Session. HSUS has a new Texas state representative, Katie Jarl, who recently replaced Nicole Paquette.
THLN has a complete turnover of leaders: Shelby Bobosky is the new THLN Legislative Director, replacing longtime legislative director Robert (Skip) Trimble. Skip is still treasurer.
Rick Bosquet has replaced Monica Hardy as THLN executive director. Yolanda Eisenstein is now THLN president, replacing longtime president Cile Holloway, who remains in an advisory capacity.

So there you are! That’s what we face thru the end of May when our legislature adjourns, with HSUS at the helm.

I’m sure we’ll hear more about this one!!!

_______________________________

Greeley woman with 15 dogs in U-Haul found not guilty of animal neglect

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/front-range/greeley/greeley-woman-with-15-dogs-in-u-haul-found-not-guilty-of-animal-neglect  (follow the link for the video)

GREELEY, Colo. – The Greeley woman at the center of an animal neglect case after 15 dogs were seized from her U-Haul has been found not guilty.

In August, Greeley police took 15 Lhasa Apso dogs from Lynn Robbins and charged her with a total of 65 counts of unlawful confining of an animal in a vehicle and failure to provide humane treatment.

On Dec. 7, a jury acquitted her of 35 of those charges.  The remaining 30 charges were dismissed after a judge ruled police lacked probable cause when they pulled Robbins over in August.

The dogs have been in the care of the Weld County Humane Society.  According to Robbin’s attorney, Elizabeth Kearney, three dogs died several weeks after they were taken to the Humane Society, eight were adopted out and one was euthanized last week due to medical conditions.

Weld County Humane Society Director, Elaine Wood, told 7NEWS three dogs remain in their custody.

“I want my dogs back.  I want them to come home,” Robbins told 7NEWS.

But that may no longer be possible.

“She did not go through the proper channels to post bond to have her dogs held for her so the dogs were released to us,” said Wood.

Kearney said the Greeley impoundment ordinance allows an animal to be impounded prior to any finding of guilt.  If the owner can’t post the bond, the animal is then given to the shelter.  In Robbins’ case, she was ordered to pay more than $11,000 in bond money each month her dogs were impounded.  By now she would’ve paid $44,000.  Had she paid it, she would not get that money back even now that she’s been acquitted of the charges.

“It shouldn’t be the case because I was acquitted of everything, not only that but those dogs should never have been taken away to begin with,” Robbins said.

The Weld County Humane Society said it spent more than $23,000 in vet and boarding costs caring for the 15 dogs.

___________________________________________

Still think that local humane society needs your donation…I think NOT!!! ALL DONE AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE!!!

Animal seizures and rescues are being conducted by a very sophisticated network of organized crime who have developed a very sophisticated scheme by which they are criminalizing longstanding animal and livestock owners; divesting them of ownership of entire herds of livestock and commercially valuable animals. All of it done at taxpayer expense and thru a highly developed scheme to collect donations. FOLLOW THE ANIMALS ~ FOLLOW THE MONEY!!! 

**Disclaimer in place for this blog…Things said are of my opinion and the opinion of others…Stay tuned, There will be more… Best  -B

Please forward Responsible Pet Owners Alliance’s “PR Newswire Press Release”
below to your personal legislators, veterinarians, local media, and elsewhere. Educating the public regarding our animal issues is crucial.
Other RPOA press releases are also on the link below.
…………………………………………..

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pets-are-not-our-property–we-are-not-their-owners-according-to-animal-rights-extremists-185373252.html
OR
Tiny URL:
http://tinyurl.com/atvb9fq

Pets are not our property! We are not their “owners” according to Animal Rights Extremists.

Elliott Katz, Founding President of In Defense of Animals (IDA), has declared now is the time to get rid of the concept of pet ownership. “Not n our watch,” declares Responsible Pet Owners Alliance of Texas!

San Antonio, Jan 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-US Newswire/ – IDA claims 21 communities have formally accepted the term pet “guardian” instead of ”owner” into their animal codes. Katz considers pet ownership to be an offensive term and likens his cause to black slavery and the suffrage movement that gave American women the right to vote.

Language is a powerful tool. Usage of certain words can eventually lull everyone into acceptance of an ideology. At least that’s what Animal Rights Extremists hope will happen with their campaign to change the term “Pet Owner” to “Pet Guardian.”

Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (RPOA) wholeheartedly defends pet ”ownership” and property rights as freedoms guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. This may seem like a harmless distinction, but it has a potentially dangerous legal impact.

Marshall Tanick, former counsel for American Dog Owners Association, warned of substantial restrictions on pet ownership; such as: 1) Buying and selling pets; 2) Adopting pets from shelters; 3) Pet Limits per household; 4) Law enforcement searches to private homes without warrants; 5) Curtailing participation in dog shows; 6) Prohibition on breeding; 7) Challenges to
veterinary procedures, including spaying and neutering; 8) Preventing appropriate euthanasia or other dispositions; 9) Lawsuits by animals against their owners or keepers, including veterinarians; and 10) Taking away animals from their owners.

Martha Armstrong, Humane Society of the US, has said: “We frequently refer, if not always refer to the person that has an animal in his home as the guardian, caretaker or caregiver of that animal rather than owner.”

US News & World Report wrote: “A dozen law schools now feature courses on animal law, and in some cases, the teaching seems to be a simple extension of radical activism. The advantage of the litigation strategy is that there’s no need to sell radical ideas to the American people. There are almost no takers for the concept of ‘nonhuman personhood,’ the view of pets as slaves, or the notion that meat eating is part of a ‘specter of oppression’ that equally affects minorities, women, and animals in America.
The rhetoric is highminded, but the strategy is to force change without gaining the consent of the public.”

For disturbing quotes from the Animal Rights Movement regarding all animal use, see:

http://www.naiaonline.org/naia-library/articles/quotes-from-the-leaders-of-the-animal-rights-movement/

Source: Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
Contact: Mary Beth Duerler, Executive Director
(210) 822-6763, rpoa@texas.net
DONATE: www.rpoatexasoutreach.org

RPOA formed to preserve the human/animal bond and our historic working
relationship with animals.
…………………………………………….

http://www.care2.com/causes/the-ugly-truth-of-where-those-puppies-in-online-sales-actually-live.html

I always recommend doing your research and asking a lot of questions, especially if you are unsure about where the puppy is coming from. There are many rescue organizations in Calgary that are overflowing with great animals just waiting for a forever home.

Check out Pawsitive Match, ARF, and MEOW Foundation for many dogs and cats looking for homes!

-Awesome Tails

It rained on and off all day and apart from Julia there was one regular walker and a new couple walking at Wiccaweys. There are so many dogs in at the moment that they only get a walk around the field and a later toilet walk, no grooming or cuddle time.

Today there is only Julia and Jenny but at least it is dry. Winter is a tough time at dog rescue centres, many people surrender dogs around Christmas plus the short days limit the amount of time that the volunteers have with the dogs.

Why is there such a need for dog rescues? If people took it seriously when they got a dog they would keep them for life, I know in some cases people’s circumstances change and the dog has to go but that is rare. I have heard bizarre reasons for dog dumping including “the dog doesn’t match the new furniture” or “it is not as cute as when it was a puppy”  Come on people, get a grip! would you dump a child because it crapped on the kitchen floor? perhaps some of you would? if you are not mature, committed or financially secure enough to keep a dog don’t buy one!! My own theory is that the closing of “puppy mills/puppy” farms would greatly reduce the number of dogs being given up to rescues or dumped, people think more carefully when getting a dog from a breeder or a rescue than from a “puppy factory” which is like shopping at Costco!

We don’t want governments regulating dog ownership because they will make it worse but it will happen if people don’t show some sense and raise safe and sociable dogs that the rest of society doesn’t notice. Oh, and pick their poop up when in public because non dog people hate poop.

Wiccaweys dog needing a home today is Shirley basset x

Shirley has come to us from our friends at Limerick Animal Welfare in Eire .

Shirley is a lovely, cheeky lady. Full of fun and with a great sense of humour. She is fabulous with other dogs and loves to play. If anyone is worried or unsure, Shirley will bring them round and have them playing. She is great with people and just an all round good girl.

http://humanewatch.org/index.php/site/post/hsuss_terrible_horrible_no_good_very_bad_day/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed

Dec 28 2012

________________________________
It’s a fact that you’ve been duped into believing there is some ‘rash of animal abuse’ going on-it’s BULLSHIT!!!
The TRUTH is there is a ‘rash of brainwashing’ creating  a rash of heightened belief in the false claim. This is not theory-it’s FACT with most thinking people recognizing this but still so many in the dark!!! Anytime I see let’s stop animal abuse I have to ask “What abuse?!?” Did your neighbor bludgeon his dog or do some other horrendous thing to an animal?!? That would be real animal abuse!!! People being accused because they bring their animals indoors so they won’t freeze to death might not be ideal but certainly is NOT abuse-just the opposite I might add here!!! FAKE!!!
When a case lacks evidence they make it up and use words like deplorable or horrendous (how about stinky or smelly, lol) to make you think it is something other than what it is. This lacks due process and proper enforcement and it never should  have happened in the first place. As long as law enforcement supports these zealous allegations and the courts supporting the claim then we will continue to see people loosing their property to Animal Rights organizations…Follow the animals…Follow the money!!!

These seizure laws are NOT being carried out as intended -to protect a single animal…no where does it state take ALL the animals when no probable cause existed to take a single animal in the first place thus less ALL of them. The law is very specific about this. It’s property rights and reason the animal rights extremists and organizations want to give animals rights thus making it easy for the taking.
PetSmart (the store) no longer sells puppies or kittens but allows these groups to come in to promote the sales of ‘homeless animals’ with no one questioning this ‘new policy’-Hey still selling birds, reptiles and other small animals…They take your donations and support the raids as a form of PR…They provide these AR organizations with funds that support legislation to end all animal usage…Furthermore, YOU the TAXPAYER is funding the raids as justice and civil liberty abuse continues.

“I’ll keep my freedom, my pets, and my money. You can keep the change!” says Responsible Pet Owners Alliance

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Unfortunately little publicity has been given to the Animal Scam that rakes in millions each year to achieve the Animal Rights Movement’s radical agenda to end all animal use and ownership.

“Animal Rights” is an international movement closely aligned with environmental extremists.  The Movement spread to California from England more than 20 years ago and has slowly crept all across the country.  Legislation is their weapon of choice!  Pet shops are being outlawed which threatens all species of pets, not only dogs and cats.

The ongoing legislative battle to regulate pet ownership out of existence in incremental steps is waging in our cities, counties, and at state and federal levels.  It is a radical agenda with a well greased and well financed “propaganda machine” that has duped the media and elected officials at all levels of government.  HSUS is the worst offender as it is not a government agency as some believe, and has no affiliation with local humane societies.

In the past 5 years, the extremists have made tremendous inroads with anti-pet legislation, declaring each victory a “first step.”  They have reared their ugly head in Texas, that last bastion of “freedom.”  To these anti-pet groups, there are no responsible breeders of pets and they want all pet breeding and sales to become unlawful.  Most pet owners do not realize how this legislation will affect them in the future.

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) purchased billboard advertising recently to attack Thanksgiving tradition with this text, “KIDS:  If you wouldn’t eat your dog, why eat a turkey?  Go Vegan.  PETA”  This sick ad transposed a pet dog’s head on a turkey’s body.

For their agenda regarding all animal use (including pet ownership), check out National Animal Interest Alliance’s website:

http://www.naiaonline.org/naia-library/articles/quotes-from-the-leaders-of-the-animal-rights-movement/

Wayne Pacelle , (HSUS) Vegan President:  “We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding …  One generation and out.  We have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals.  They are creations of human selective breeding.”

Ingrid Newkirk , People for the Ethical Treatment of  Animals:  “For one thing we would no longer allow breeding.  People could not create different breeds.  If people had companion animals in their homes, these animals would have to be refugees from the animal shelter and the streets …  But as the surplus of cats and dogs declined, eventually companion animals would be phased out and we would return to a more symbiotic relationship – enjoyment at a distance.”

Tom Regan , (The Philosophy of Animal Rights, Culture and Animals Foundation):  “It is not larger, cleaner cages that justice demands …  But empty cages.”

Contact:  Mary Beth Duerler, Executive Director
(210) 822-6763, rpoa@texas.net

DONATE:  www.rpoatexasoutreach.org

RPOA formed to preserve the human/animal bond and our historic working relationship with animals.

Dozens Of Puppies, Dogs Saved From Puppy Mill « CBS Denver.

Even the salt of the Earth BT is getting in on the meme!

The farther I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole of purebred dogs, the more I’ve learned about the attitudes of others in the hobby.

For instance, I’ve been told that many breeders won’t build a website because they believe anyone with a website is simply breeding for money [probably they also don't know how to build one]. While it’s true that anyone — qualified or not — can have a website and look like a pro, having a website does not by default make you a money-grubbing puppy miller. In fact many top breeders have websites, breeders who are highly respected by their peers.

I’ve also been told by some folks that they don’t want people to know about the breed because then the breed will be ruined. This is most likely based on the negative effect that widespread popularity often has on a breed: backyard breeders spring up from the bushes, puppies show up in pet stores, health testing is a rarity (because BYB don’t do that), and for several years the breed experiences a downward spiral. I agree that trending is not beneficial to any breed, however I don’t think treating your breed like a Disney princess and hiding it away is the solution.

My personal opinion is 1) you should always market your breed to the public and 2) of course you should have a website. Let me explain.

Since the word “popularity” has negative connotations for many dog people (including myself) let’s retrain ourselves to think in terms of marketing our breed to the general public rather than popularizing it. Marketing is the process of communicating the value of something to another person. In other words, if we’re marketing our breed we’re simply sharing with the uninitiated how awesome it is.

How many times have you heard people say “I’ve always wanted a German Shepherd [or Westie, or Great Dane, or whatever] because my neighbor had one and it was the coolest dog I’ve ever known.” When they get serious about buying a dog they might realize they don’t actually want a German Shepherd, but for all those years they thought highly of the breed and spread their positive opinion to other people. You’re marketing the reputation of your breed just by owning one! If you don’t believe this is true just talk to anyone who owns a Pit Bull. Responsible Pit owners are fully aware that, for better or for worse, their dog is a constant ambassador for their breed. More than any other, the fate of the Pit Bull rests squarely on public opinion (a tenuous tightrope to be sure).

The other thing about marketing your breed is that you must bring new converts into the fold if the breed is to have a future. From my own personal experience with the Border Terrier I can tell you that there are very few young people (under 30 years old) involved in the breed. In fact, aside from two Juniors, I’m the only person I’m aware of who fits that demographic in the entire PNW region. That doesn’t bode well for the Border! As the older enthusiasts retire from breeding and showing there must be younger folks to take up the mantle and sustain the breed. Without new people you risk losing the breed to the sands of time.

Let’s look at some numbers, shall we? Here are the AKC Registration Statistics, viewable here. Keep in mind that there are currently 173 breeds registered by the AKC.

      Breed                                   Ranking:        2011                  2010                  2006                  2001

Fortunately for the Border there’s been a slight uptick in registration over the past decade [I correlate ranking with popularity]. Things don’t look so good for the Affen or the Foxhound, however, as they’ve seen massive drop-offs in registration numbers which translates into fewer Affen and Foxhound puppies being born. Without some enthusiastic rallying from the parent club the Foxhound may no longer be a genetically viable breed within my lifetime, which would be a very sad thing indeed. When we read about the histories of our breeds we are introduced to now-extinct breeds that we will never know; wouldn’t it be sad for the American Foxhound to become one of those breeds? Breeds ranked 100 to 173, or 42% of the breeds registered by the AKC, include thirteen terrier breeds. That means that 48% of the 29 terrier breeds are among the least popular breeds registered by the AKC! It’s a very real and frightening possibility that one day the Skye Terrier, ranked at 164, will be a thing of memory.

I say all this to emphasize the fact that some degree of popularity is necessary to sustain a breed’s existence. At some point there are so few individual dogs of a particular breed that the gene pool is too limited to be healthy. So keep on communicating the value of your breed to others (aka marketing)!

Moving on to the website thing, as a child of the digital age I think it’s critical for anyone seriously involved in their breed or dog sport to have a website. People don’t search for a breeder by contacting the parent club anymore. They Google it.

Earlier I mentioned that many very well respected breeders have websites. Here are just a few examples…

Minuteman Miniature Schnauzers – multiple BIS/BISS, Am/Can/Br CH, Devon & Montgomery placing
Foxfire Dobermans – multiple BIS/BISS/ROM, Am/Can CH, Westminster/Eukanuba BOB, DPCA Top 20
Meadowlake Border Terriers – multiple BIS/BISS, Am/Can/World CH, Devon/Westminster/Eukanuba BOB
Myshara Australian Shepherds – multiple BIS/BISS, Eukanuba/Westminster BOB, 2011 #3 Herding Dog
Kimani Rhodesian Ridgebacks – multiple BISS/ROM, Westminster BOB, Crufts Best Dog, 2012 AKC Hound Breeder of the Year

Obviously these breeders aren’t using their websites as a way to make a buck off of their dogs. A website is merely a tool, and like all tools it’s effect is entirely determined by the user. If a breeder wants to sell puppies with Paypal and a Buy It Now button they can. By the same token, if a responsible breeder wants to be a steward for their breed, they can.

Basically a website is used for three things: education/marketing, bragging, and selling. Here’s how I believe a good breeder (such as those listed above) would approach those aspects with their website.

1. Education/Marketing: In addition to sharing the wonderful aspects of your breed you now have the opportunity to share with a huge audience the less spectacular points of living with said breed. Border Terriers are totally amazing except for the part where they can never be fully trusted off leash, have the attention span of a gadfly, and require 30-60min of grooming per week to keep them handsome. You can also get more in depth on health issues, rescue, performance events like obedience/agility, etc. If you want to make a positive impact on the public opinion and knowledge of your breed you now have a highly visible platform for doing so. Education helps people make good decisions, which means fewer people will go to Super Pets Plus and buy a Scottie puppy because he looked so cute with that tartan plaid bow tie around his neck, only to turn him over to the pound 6 months later because he snapped at the toddler and he wipes his stinky wet beard on the loveseat.
2. Bragging: A good breeder has a lot to brag about! With a website they can share the success of their dogs and dogs they’ve bred. Since Eukanuba and Purina are the only shows with prize money these bragging rights are pretty much the only reward they get for spending thousands of dollars on dog shows. In addition to show brags they can also proudly display OFA and CERF health results, not to mention TT, CGC, obedience, agility, and other titles.
3. Selling: This is typically a minor aspect of a good breeder’s website, mostly because they seldom have puppies available. When they do breed they usually have a waiting list so they don’t need to solicit buyers. Mostly you’ll see copies of contracts, an FAQ about what’s involved when you buy one of their puppies, current availability, and information about future breeding plans. In my experience the current/future availability is out of date because the wait list is so long it’s not worth updating the website. And in terms of stud service, imagine how much benefit the gene pool would see if males could be scrutinized by every fancier in the country instead of just folks at local shows.

Breeders aren’t the only ones who should have websites though. With the availability of free blogs (like this one!) anybody who is active with dogs should have a website. People with purebred dogs can brag and educate, marketing their breed to others. People with mutts can share their experience with adoption and training, marketing adoption to others. People who do performance events can share details on improving scores or addressing issues, marketing their sport to others.

In the end it all boils down to engaging the interest of passive dog owners. Most Americans are just people who own dogs, not active dog owners. The more engaged people become as dog owners the better it will be for their dogs. That means people making better decisions about what breed (or mutt) to get, getting the proper training to avoid behavior issues, and making their dogs happier. Knowledge is the only weapon I know of that’s able to conquer ignorance, and most canine suffering is the result of human ignorance.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest” – Benjamin Franklin

 

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Luca was sick by the time we got home and a prompt visit to the vet found him to be full of worms and infection which luckily we got sorted.

Luca started to grow and grow and was soon a normal looking, handsome Golden Retriever. In the early days he used to bully Julia and she wasn’t happy but after he pushed her too far one day she got firm with him and from that day on he was an angel.

Luca suffered another side effect of being a factory product when he developed an elbow problem that required 3 operations costing our insurers about £3000!

As time went on, Luca developed as a very special and loving member of the family. We used to visit our friends farm in Scotland where Luca fell in love with Lis, the most gorgeous Border Collie. He loved the freedom of the farm where he could play and run but he never bothered any of the animals. What a star. One day during a visit Luca discovered that Lis had been unfaithful! and had given birth to 8 puppies fathered by Craster the Bearded Collie. One of these puppies was Indy who 10 months later would become Luca’s much loved brother.

We travelled a lot during Luca’s life in our old motorhome/RV. Luca always enjoyed these trips away as he got to meet new people (he loved people) swim in new seas and run in new fields. Life was good.

Indy came to live with us in 2006 and “The boys” became instant best friends. Luca took charge of all of the toys in the house but once outside that was Indy’s job, they worked out all aspects of life this way. Ying and Yang.  When we began to foster for Wiccaweys their approach to foster dogs was the same. Luca would play and teach fun stuff and Indy taught manners and respect. During their joint tenure as “foster brothers” they helped 14 dogs including 3 blind ones. (not Indy’s favourites)

Just after Luca turned 11 he developed a small lump between his eyes which the vet treated for various things but eventually diagnosed as bone cancer in his skull. When we got the call we were devastated to say the least! The vet told us he had only a couple of weeks to live so we spoiled him and let him eat what he wanted but after 2 months we had to rethink this policy as he was getting fat. 10 months later, Luca let us know that he had had enough and we made the tough decision to let him go.

Luca is buried in our garden where there is a bench where we can sit and remember him and all that he brought to our lives. Luca was very special not only to us but to lots of people who met him and the 14 homeless dogs that he prepared for a home. Even now, 16 months after his death my old Mum will often say ” I am not a dog person but I really loved Luca”  to me that says it all.

This is a very brief summary of Luca’s life as there are not enough words to describe 12 years of friendship and complete joy that he gave to us. Maybe as bits come to mind I will do other posts to give an idea to people of what he was like.

We miss him.

This brief You Tube video is so beautiful and shows how much our pets mean
to us every day of our lives. They are always there for us and exemplify
the meaning of unconditional “love.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA8VJh0UJtg

There is an insidious cancer spreading across this country called “animal
rights” — dedicated to ending all our interaction with animals. This video
demonstrates “why” I do … what I do! Won’t you join RPOA in opposing
their radical agenda?
Mary Beth Duerler
Volunteer Executive Director and Co-Founder