[QUOTE=vacation1;8322885]
I do not have a problem with purebred dogs and I’m increasingly coming to believe that breeding REAL pet-quality dogs (as opposed to calling anything that can’t win in the conformation ring pet-quality) is also fine. But the “responsible breeder” community is not blameless in the reality that dogs are still being euthanized for being homeless and unwanted. The AKC and ‘good breeders’ fight tooth and nail against every single law that would restrict the rights of breeders in any way. They oppose the only thing that can realistically end the horrendous mass breeding and slaughter of the pit bulls, breed-specific legislation. They loathe coercive and mandatory spay/neuter, which has had a huge positive effect in the Northeast in breeds other than the pit bulls. They crawled into bed with the puppy mills and the large-scale commercial breeders to oppose regulation and restriction on breeding. And this is NOT just the AKC-as-registry, this is the breed clubs. As regards their breed and their dogs, they may be honorable. As regards society and dogs as a whole, they have a lot to answer for.[/QUOTE]
Well, the regulations are written (and considering the authors, I do believe with intend) to the point where the ‘responsible’ breeders would be put out of business.
Of course, the puppy mill breeders need to go, but even they come in different shapes and sizes.
Years ago my SIL bred Dachsies. What a trainwreck it was, too!
She had several bitches, one unregistered one…
At first she bred each at every heat.
Each was locked away in her own ‘run’ about the size of a twin bed.
Concrete (kennel regulations, right?) hosed of once or twice a day (not really successful in poop removal…), plastic dog house…
As soon as she could (sometimes as soon as 5 1/2 weeks!) she took them to trade day and sold them.
Eventually, after a few losses, she didn’t do the Christmas cycle anymore, and shortly after that, she thankfully quit.
Oh, and as far as Dachsies go, her dogs sucked…character wise.
So yeah, you can make regulations as to how the kennel has to look, but you hurt the breeders that might have a kennel name, but no such thing as an actual ‘kennel’ to keep their dogs.
20 years ago you could also cheat on the parentage, now with DNA, that’s more difficult.
The point is, the wording of the laws is intentionally chosen. The sponsors usually ride the wave of sympathy, the supporters just see what they want to see, not what would actually happen.
I read those concerns over 15 years ago, I don’t think they have changed much (I do miss my old AOL DalPals…)
We have come too accustomed to blame ‘The Breeders’ for whatever.
I think it’s more the mind set of people.
On the one hand, we have folks (like my neighbors) who leave an intact dog to roam the world, but have no problems to just up and leave, dumping the dog.
On the other hand, we have the folks who can’t see that a dog is not a human. That includes the idea that ‘the balls’ are of any importance to the pet dog. As if they missed them.
In other countries the philosophy about pet ownership is completely different.
People have mentioned the European method of dealing with certain breeds (I don’t agree with breed restrictive legislation, as the human on the other side of the leash is the problem. As such, they will just switch to another breed to do their evil thing, or beat a few more hookers to get the $$$ to pay the license)
But the mindset is totally different.
Hardly a dog is fixed, but measures are taken to prevent pregnancies.
My mom owns right now 7 dogs (don’t ask, not yet hoarding…) but only the male is fixed. Maybe the ones the rescue dumped on her are fixed, not sure though.
But even with daily walks, no pups.
Around here though, dogs are not considered as animal, or living thing much.
you get a dog, just because, that completes the picture, then you maybe tie him out in the yard. Or not.
Macho ball attachment, together with meh management and control…add to that the relatively mild winters, bam you got a problem.
I don’t understand the appeal of ‘designer’ dogs.
Unless it’s the good experience the owner had with an accidentally produced one, and they would love to repeat this.
I can understand that, because my mutts have been great dogs, I would not turn down one ‘just like that’ (including my Beagle mutt and my current head ache, Great Pyr mix, even though I do not have the land to fulfill his needs completely)