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

[JGentzel@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/24/01 1:51:27 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
dgg@star-telegram.com writes:


> Here in TX, though, by far the biggest source of our overwhelming rescue
> numbers is livestock producers who consider their dogs just another cash
> crop. For the most part these are not puppy mills in the sense we think
> of. More like the livestock producer got the Pyrs to protect his stock
> and then says, why not just have some puppies to sell, too.


This is probably very accurate.  On the LGD list there is a large farmer who 
raises multiple types of mostly exotic or rare livestock, etc.  He is very 
open that he considers his Pyrs as one of his most important livestock 
sources of revenue and indeed thinks it is a "cash crop" for everyone.  
Additionally the large groups like the Goat Dairy association (not fully 
correct name but descriptive), actively discourages buying from show 
breeders.  They have bought into, IMHO, the mistaken notion that Pyrs must 
come from working breeders.  So now we have people buying dogs from anywhere 
on a farm and suddenly they are working breeders (most pyrs guard easily 
enough to qualify) and become specialists in working dogs.  

The other thing that is curious to me is there is little emphasis in 
education or communication with these groups.  What I have gotten is "so what 
else is new" reaction when I have talked about their view of us.  I can tell 
you, if we only want to interact with our little group of about  800+ GPCA 
members plus with associated friends and acquaintances this number might 
swell to maybe 2 or 3 thousand, we will have lost the battle there.  Now get 
this picture.  We seem to have little (almost no, there are a couple folks 
who on their own and in positions in the GPCA do try and interact) interest 
in education and interaction with these large commercial flock type groups 
who are very legitimate groups and carry much influence with many thousands 
of folks.  They are recommending that they not purchase from us, but one of 
the "working breeders."  These folks are actually contemptuous of us.  We are 
the breeders who officially represent the breed?  Mostly, "working breeders" 
who are not GPCA affiliated care nothing about rescue, so we rescue their 
dogs.  What is wrong with this picture?   

I am not sure we even have quantified the problem i.e. where is it coming 
from as this thread is doing on a very anecdotal basis.  Darryl and I think 
we know at least part of it, but we have no data or other solid information.  
Difficult to deal with a problem when we do not have the information to 
examine the causes, etc.   

Joe