Re: [pyrnet] Shelters and Breeders (was: shelters)

[clhenke@juno.com]

Karen, I'm going to try this again, my computer is acting up, and there
is nothing more frustrating than writing, and then loosing the whole
letter before it gets sent out!

First off, I was not even thinking of the puppy millers/pet stores. 
Those people are in a league of their own.  They do not care about dogs,
what they produce, how they produce.  They only care about the money. 
They are the biggest  part of the problem, there is no doubt about that,
especially of the dogs that have serious emotional and physical problems.
 They are not going to care how many dogs are put to death because, they
can keep selling more.  Not buying from them is the only way to stop
them.  We need the law stopping those types.

At the Pet Shop end, I don't know what anyone says about people who would
pay those prices.  I have never figured out why a brouse through the
paper wouldn't give anyone an idea of what dogs in their area are going
for.  Why anyone would willingly pay two to three times more than what
they could pay for a dog in the paper, is just totally beyond me.  I
guess that's the part where "a fool and his money are soon parted" comes
in.  My own brother bought a Cocker that way ( didn't keep the poor thing
for long either ), and to this day it still annoys the heck out of me. 
The news is out on T.V., magazines, word of mouth, and still people buy
dogs this way, and make the greedy puppy millers richer!  So yes, if you
are going to pay $800 plus dollars, why wouldn't you get them from one of
the better breeders?  The people who buy do so on a whim, and don't want
to wait.  Waiting is a good thing, it allows time to think and consider,
and if used well, learn!  In any event, I didn't get in to this end of
it, even though I know all the problems, because while these people are
the biggest contributors to the problem, they do not care about the dogs,
or any particular breed etc.

Now at the other end, are the really good breeders.  And if they are
being honest and barely produce a litter or so a year, then they are not
the problem.  And while it would be nice if they checked to see how many
dogs were in rescue, it probably isn't necessary.  They have waiting
lists, and guarantees, and forms, and take their dogs back and do the
work of re homing themselves.

Next we come to the largest part of the regular world of dogs.  They go
out and buy from a good breeder.  They spend the money, and then they
figure they should be able to recoup their expenses.  They buy one male,
several females, claim they got them from a good breeder and their dogs
are quality, and set off to breed to make a few bucks.  If they have a 3
to 5 generation pedigree they wave it around freely and that is their
claim to fame.  They don't know how it is used, what it actually means,
or remotely have an idea of what they are breeding for.  To those people,
two good dogs constitute other good dogs.  If a problem occurs, they have
no idea why, nor will they attempt to find out why.  I have mentioned on
this list before that I am constantly asked if I breed mine, and people
are appalled when I tell them no, they are all spayed or neutered.  My
guys are clean, brushed, and in their own way, very beautiful, four are
also siblings.  That's all people see.  I have never had one person here
who knows enough about the breed or dogs in general to know that
Kemosabi's coat is too curly, Silver is loosing pigmentation in her nose
and eye rims, poor dear sweet Ranger is barrel backed and slab sided, out
in the front elbows, and way too wide in the rear, etc.  I bought them
knowing what they were, they are beautiful dogs, and wonderful
companions, and in spite of their  flaws, they are as deserving of life
and love as any other.

"Less intent of everyone becoming a breeder" is just that.
Breeders in an effort to get their name out, seem to want everyone who
buys their dogs to breed.  Contracts go out on dogs with future breed
backs.  This may be ok if it is just that, the option to breed back.  But
when people find they can't handle a stud dog, or decide in the end, that
they really do not want to produce a litter after all ( they should be
applauded, less dogs hitting the ground!  But we have breeders pushing
the issue that they "must" honor that portion of the contract and allow
them to breed back.  No matter how gorgeous or perfect the dog, no one
should be forced to get into breeding if they don't want to.  If they
paid their money, and decide not to, then pushing a person to breed more
dogs is the last thing that should be done.  I don't care how good the
dog is.

I absolutely respect rescue, I have never said otherwise.
But I find it ironic that through all of this, everyone walks around
claiming "It is not my responsibility ".  Well the bottom line is, it is
all of us and our responsibility "  When we produce, when we buy, we set
the market.  That which is over produced becomes cheapened in value, not
always in Dollars obviously.  I used to think that if someone paid
$2,000. for a dog, they would care more about it than the $50.00 dog.  I
came to find out, that those $2,000. dogs are dropped off at the pound
just as easily as the less expensive ones.  People don't care.  So if we
claim to love the breed, we should.  The "I don't have too's, It's not my
problem, I'm not going to stop, Why should I's"  all mount up.  All I
said was that I think it would be a good idea to watch our areas before
producing more.  I also said
" It isn't going to happen".  

Of course, this is just my opinion.  And the list is now getting more
lively!  :-)    Cindy

Shorter form, could not rewrite the whole thing all over again. :-(  
Sorry if I forgot to clarify something.
 
Cindy Henke
clhenke@juno.com
Ennis, Texas

"All knowledge, the totality of all questions and answers, is contained
in the dog."  ~ Franz Kafka

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