In the not too distant past the dog breeder was held in high esteem. It was an honor to be considered a breeder. Pedigree dog food advertised as the food of choice of top breeders. The AKC touted the breeder as the BACKBONE of the pure bred dog sports. There were always puppy producers out there but they were never considered breeders. Breeder said it all: the word needed no qualifiers.
Slowly, over time, the Animal Rights extremists changed the language of the dog world. Pets became companions. Owners became guardians. People were told they “bought” from a breeder, but “adopted” from a shelter/rescue. The AR movement found the worst of the sub-standard puppy producing kennels and labeled them “puppy-mills.” Pictures of these sub-standard kennels proved to be a tremendous money-maker for the AR movement. Rescues and shelters joined with them trying to convince the pet loving public that buying from a pet store increased the suffering in “puppy-mills.” “Adopt, don’t shop” became the new mantra.
True breeders tried to distance themselves from “puppy-mills.” They called themselves “responsible.” They raised their puppies with love and care. Puppies’ parents were members of the family, were show champions and health tested. These true breeders were always available to their puppies and puppy buyers.
Today even the most dedicated breeder is hounded by the AR extremist, whose ultimate goal is the elimination of all companion animals. Organizations like PETA and HSUS campaign for legislation to make any breeding illegal or to make breeder permits so expensive that very few home breeders can afford one. AR organizations want all companion animals de-sexed as babies so there will be no new pets. If the AR extremists are successful the only puppies available will be those flown in to the US from foreign countries or puppies from the USDA commercial kennels now known as “puppy-mills.”
True breeders, who pour their hearts and souls into their dogs, struggle to survive the AR onslaught. True breeders still breed the best to the best. They stay up day and night with their moms and new babies. True Breeders spend countless hours handling and socializing their puppies. They agonize to find just the right home for their precious pups. These true breeders need no qualifiers; they need not make excuses. They are BREEDERS. They provide a valuable service to the future of their chosen breeds and to the pet buying public.
Will these wonderful home breeders survive the AR agenda of eliminating companion animals? Will the minds and eyes of enough animal loving people open to see the truth behind the AR propaganda.
That is up to YOU. It is up to each of us.
The Attack on ALL Dog Breeders and Owners Everywhere
For 10,000 + years a mutually beneficial partnership has existed between man and dog. Dogs, of all the world’s animals chose, and in a way, domesticated us. Dogs became our hunting partners enabling more meat and better quality of life for the hunters and gathers. Dogs helped new farmers by guarding livestock and homes. They helped rid the village and farm of vermin that posed a threat to both human safety and stored crops. In the Arctic dogs were a dependable method of transportation.
Today Dogs continue to enrich our lives. Dogs guide the blind and help the disabled with a multitude of tasks. Dogs work with the military and law enforcement. They still have a place on farms and ranches. And for millions of people dogs provide unconditional love, acceptance and companionship.
For all dogs have given us there are some extremists and organizations who would condemn these most faithful of partners to extinction. We all have received literature detailing the horrors of animal abuse or “puppy mills”. Organizations such as PETA and HSUS are famous for their calls to action and pleas for money. What they don’t say in their literature is that their ultimate goal is the elimination of all domestic animals, including dogs.
Their very names are misleading. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) kills more than 80% of the dogs and cats that come into their one shelter. HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) doesn’t have a shelter at all. They are NOT the parent organization of any Humane Society anywhere and very little, if any, of their money goes to any shelter in the country. They are organizations built to Lobby for laws restricting your rights as dog owners and breeders.
Around the country laws are being passed that mandate spay/neuter for puppies that limit the number of animals you can own, that ban certain breeds. Laws are being passed that ban the breeding of any dog or make it so expensive to get a breeding license that breeding becomes impossible. Raids on owners, breeders, and rescues happen with increasing frequency resulting in the loss of dogs, cats, animals of all kinds. Most of these raids do not result in cruelty charges. Some people are losing their animals for simply being over their limit, or nails being a little too long. It is important for everyone who owns or breeds dogs to know the laws in your state and community. It is very important to get involved in your local council. Know what is going on. Know your rights.
There are Yahoo! lists for most states that pertain to animal legislation. There is a general pet law list on Yahoo! that is very active. These are easy ways to begin to learn and to understand.
Apathy will destroy our right to own and to breed.
REPRINTED with Permission of SUMMERHILL DACHSHUNDS AND BASSETS
