Dog breeders- How do You sleep at night?

jamiejohnston — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 01:00:23 +0000

I know I'm going to ruffle some feathers here but that is honestly not my intention.
I notice there is a huge following of dog breeders/collectors/enthusiasts and it's pretty obvious you guys are passionate about dogs. So my question is simply this- If you are aware of the pet over population problem and the thousands of adoptable dogs being put down every day in the US how do you justify breeding? If you love dogs but you know they pay the ultimate price for what is essentially a hobby how do you feel? I realize irresponsible pet owners put the dogs directly in this situation but if you adding more dogs to the world only contributes to the problem how do you continue breeding?
Well first off when I say breeder I’m not singling out “reputable” breeders but I’m far from excusing anyone. The term reputable is highly subjective and quite frankly relatively irrelevant. The fact is ANY breeding at this time adds to an all too real problem. Unless you plan on caring for the offspring for the duration of their lives you’re adding to a surplus of dogs and cats. Many of you may have good intentions but the fact is there are more animals in the world then there are homes for them and millions of animals of all breeds suffer because of this. It�€™s time to pull back on the reins and make some drastic changes and sacrifices. What might inconvenience a few could relieve pain for so many.
Ashley, In response to your post I see what you’re trying to do but there's a wee flaw in your logic- I'm currently not distributing my children around the country and just fyi I'm not looking to vent at all and I volunteer a tremendous amount of time and money to helping homeless animals.
I suppose the biggest thing I have learned from this post is the fundamental difference in other peoples motivation and my own when choosing to get a pet. Yes, I love dogs and I have 3 but I opened my door to these dogs in an attempt to help them. I do what I do because my heart goes out to those suffering and how straight a dogs back is or how curly his tail might be doesn’t have a damn thing to do with how much I’m willing to do. If consumers can’t bare to have a pet that is less than perfect well too damn bad. The price these animals pay is far too high for this “what can you do for me” attitude people have about what really amounts to a hobby. If you want to process something but a toy. I’m sorry to be so harsh but I see terrible things every day and I fear I’m slowly losing faith in humanity. Even if what you’re doing doesn’t directly effect something you still have to hold yourself accountable for the nature of this beast as a whole.

Are You Avoiding Veterinary Check-Ups For The Family Dog?

jamiejohnston — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:33:08 +0000

Recently, waiting to welcome a friend at the airport, I witnessed many departures and arrivals. The one I liked best involved a young couple returning from some far-off island who couldn't wait to see their "son."

"How is he?"

"Did he sleep?"

"Did he eat alright?"

"Where is he?"

When the "son" was brought forward and turned out to be a tiny, quite excited Pomeranian, we wondered why we weren't more surprised. Then we remembered that it is not at all uncommon for dog owners to regard their pets as children. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with such a situation; neither owner nor dog appears any worse for it.

The trouble is that it often doesn't go far enough. Right now, for instance, with Jack Frost standing in the wings during a harsh winter, many of us are telling one another to get down to the doctor's office for a flu shot, and while we're there, we'll have our annual check-up.

Dogs Require Check-Ups Too

But what about the tiny Pomeranians and all their canine brothers and sisters? They require an annual check-up too.

Indeed, according to no less an authority than thousands of professional veterinarians, a yearly check-up is five to seven times more important to a dog than it is to an owner, because dogs mature five to seven times faster than humans. A dog ages as much in its first year as his owner does in twenty!

Many dog owners put off taking their family pet to a veterinarian until they notice something wrong. The dog won't eat, or he sleeps all the time, or he's biting everybody on the block. Perhaps, had he been checked by a veterinarian long ago, none of these conditions would prevail.

Also, it is well to remember that dogs are subject to many hidden hazards, just as we are. Dogs get arthritis, they suffer from tumors, heart trouble, kidney ailments, etc. Caught in time, a lot of pain can be avoided.

What does a visit to the veterinarian involve? Some owners we've talked to think it's an all-day affair, costing a fortune. Not so. The cost is moderate and the time consumed is seldom more than an hour. Most often, it's a matter of minutes.

The doctor will use a stethoscope, an otoscope, and an ophthalmoscope, the last two instruments for the ears and eyes. He will have a good look at the dog's teeth and gums (dogs can get pyorrhea), he'll check the dog's coat, weight, pulse, and temperature.

Most dogs learn to enjoy their visits to the veterinarian. Incidentally, it's a very good idea to take the dog to the same doctor each visit, just as you would yourself. In their own way, some dogs even demand it!

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Dog breeders- How do You sleep at night?

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