Buzzwords, Revisited.

Just WHAT is a "puppy mill"?

A breeder who has “x” number of dogs and/or “x” number of litters? OK, who

decides how many “x” is? Has anyone noticed that the noose is tightening

and that it takes fewer and fewer dogs to be branded a puppy mill ? Or that

the definition doesn't just mean wire cages, feces, bred till they drop, and

all the rest? It's reaching out and touching all breeders, and it’s

spreading like a cancer. So now California is apparently "overrun" with

puppy mills. How many do you think there really ARE in this state, or even

in the entire country? Most of the true puppy mills are clustered in one

or two midwestern states. Everywhere else? Close to zero.

Blahg

Normally I don't blog just to blah-blah-blah. There's already plenty of that sort of activity out there in cyber-land! I like to ruminate a bit over an idea before I put pen to paper....er, I mean cursor to screen....and produce something that not only holds interest for the reader, but will also challenge some of the currently-held precepts of modern dog culture.


But as I am slowly released from the grip of the flu, and rejoin my canine companions, I feel the urge to shout joyfully to the heavens. So here is my jubilant howl..Woo-Hoo!  I once again have Time 4 Dogs!

Now, who can remain "blah" with faithful friends beside you, raptly anticipating your recovery?

Blahg?! No more!

Just Say "NO" to Terrorism

A guest blog from Diane Amble....thanks Diane! Beautifully stated.


I am aghast at the sugestions that WE fanciers provide and support ANY kind of model dog breeding laws!


Have you NO IDEA what "they" (unfriendly, clueless legislators with
heavy influence from ARs) will do to your "Model Law" before the vote?

They will slice it, dice it and poison it until it is your worse nightmare!

You THINK YOU can stop that from happening to your "Model Law"?

Black Helicopters

Dog fanciers....and yes that includes everyone who fancies their dog, for whatever reason or purpose...must stand together. There were thirty-plus states with restrictive legislation proposed (just in 2009) to limit our ability to own, breed or even simply keep the family dog intact because we so choose.

Where is everyone?

Four people showed up last night for a protest outside a home in Beverly Hills, where Pedro Nava, candidate for Lieutenant Governor, was holding a fundraiser. If you live in a cave somewhere and don’t know Nava’s position regarding anti-pet legislation (AB 241, anybody?), let me mention a few names from the guest list...Wayne Pacelle, Judie Mancuso, Rolf Wicklund... Need I go on?

Yesterday was the last SatuFour people showed up last night for a protest outside a home in Beverly Hills, where Pedro Nava, candidate for Lieutenant Governor, was holding a fundraiser. If you live in a cave somewhere and don’t know Nava’s position regarding anti-pet legislation (AB 241, anybody?), let me mention a few names from the guest list...Wayne Pacelle, Judie Mancuso, Rolf Wicklund... Need I go on?

Yesterday was the last Saturday before Christmas, and Nava and his buds must have realized a lot of people would have other commitments they couldn't get out of, so I do wonder if the date was a deliberate choice. And yes, I’ll admit I was one of those people, but the event also wasn't announced until a few days ago. Had I known earlier, I would never have accepted an alternate invitation. Believe me, I would LOVE to have been there - I still have the signs from the last one, so I would have been good to go, and the opportunity to sneer at the Navaland chimp and his parasites was hard to turn down.

But FOUR PEOPLE? In the entire Los Angeles area, only four people were willing and able to make the trek to Beverly Hills to fight for the future of our dogs?

It’s amazing to me, and incredibly disappointing, that all those dog show folks who moan about lack of money (but can afford those expensive dog magazine spreads and rising entry fees), or lack of time (but can take time off to get their butts to those dog shows), the ones who have yet to make it up to Sacramento even once (gas prices, ya know), who expect the few of us to handle everything for the rest of them (but don't even donate the cost of membership to the California Federation of Dog Clubs, PetPac, or any of the other groups that are doing so), the ones who will whine and complain the loudest when these laws hit them in the head like a two by four, the ones who, when they're not yapping on about their newest champions, upcoming litters, egotistical handlers, yada yada yada, while sitting ringside, munching on Doritos at their set up, or scouring the vendors for the latest grooming products, are self-righteously insisting they're out there fighting the big fight with the rest of us. Yeah, they've got the flyers, under that old issue of Dog News or Canine Chronicle or the Gazette. And the buttons? Got those too...somewhere in their tack box or on top of their crates or at home behind the grooming table...anywhere but on their lapels.

If it was just about them, I wouldn’t give a crap if they drowned in dog shampoo. What makes me the maddest is, if we lose this war, it will be BECAUSE of these people, the same ones who will blame US for not doing enough.

And while not entirely on the subject, it will be due to the divisive sniping of a few malcontents who apparently get their jollies cutting down the people who are actually in the fight with them.

And that's my sermon for a Sunday morning...

rday before Christmas, and Nava and his buds must have realized a lot of people would have other commitments they couldn't get out of, so I do wonder if the date was a deliberate choice. And yes, I’ll admit I was one of those people, but the event also wasn't announced until a few days ago. Had I known earlier, I would never have accepted an alternate invitation. Believe me, I would LOVE to have been there - I still have the signs from the last one, so I would have been good to go, and the opportunity to sneer at the Navaland chimp and his parasites was hard to turn down.

But FOUR PEOPLE? In the entire Los Angeles area, only four people were willing and able to make the trek to Beverly Hills to fight for the future of our dogs?

It’s amazing to me, and incredibly disappointing, that all those dog show folks who moan about lack of money (but can afford those expensive dog magazine spreads and rising entry fees), or lack of time (but can take time off to get their butts to those dog shows), the ones who have yet to make it up to Sacramento even once (gas prices, ya know), who expect the few of us to handle everything for the rest of them (but don't even donate the cost of membership to the California Federation of Dog Clubs, PetPac, or any of the other groups that are doing so), the ones who will whine and complain the loudest when these laws hit them in the head like a two by four, the ones who, when they're not yapping on about their newest champions, upcoming litters, egotistical handlers, yada yada yada, while sitting ringside, munching on Doritos at their set up, or scouring the vendors for the latest grooming products, are self-righteously insisting they're out there fighting the big fight with the rest of us. Yeah, they've got the flyers, under that old issue of Dog News or Canine Chronicle or the Gazette. And the buttons? Got those too...somewhere in their tack box or on top of their crates or at home behind the grooming table...anywhere but on their lapels.

If it was just about them, I wouldn’t give a crap if they drowned in dog shampoo. What makes me the maddest is, if we lose this war, it will be BECAUSE of these people, the same ones who will blame US for not doing enough.

And while not entirely on the subject, it will be due to the divisive sniping of a few malcontents who apparently get their jollies cutting down the people who are actually in the fight with them.

And that's my sermon for a Sunday morning...

What's the Buzz?

Uncle George Explains Current Events

"What's the Buzz"?

Today, boys and girls, we will learn all about "buzzwords". 


A "buzzword" is a vogue term that is used in popular culture...usually with the intent to impress the naive. My golly goodness! Such a treasure trove of fun buzzwords to choose from and to use in today's popular culture of animal rights! And the general public, being somewhat naive, is easily impressed by these buzzwords.

Modern animal rights thinking defines dogs as family members; just as important as any two-legged kid, and probably a whole lot more deserving of a great life than your human grandparent. From this family concept, we have developed several trendy ideas. Calling our pets "fur kids", for instance. Get it? "Kids"....with "fur"! Isn't that just too precious! Also, we've taken to calling the dog procurement process an "adoption". This makes sense, considering the fact that dogs are now family members.

Dog News Editorial

There’s an article in the most recent issue of Dog News. It’s by the editor himself, who should know better. Of the four subjects he discussed, three made me see red.

First, he praises the AKC/Eukanuba show to the rafters as the biggest dog show in the world. Having attended several times (although not this year, so I only saw the horrendous treatment of the agility competitors on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXk1e0NgUGc), my very first thought was a stronger variation of “bullpucky.”

HSUS...Deception for Dollars

The grossly misnomered "'Humane' Society of the US" is at it again.

Never mind that the HSUS rakes in hundreds of millions of dollars every year, yet doesn't operate a single pet shelter.

Never mind that over 96% of HSUS's income goes to administration, salaries and political lobbying.
 

Forget the fact that despite blatant political lobbying, the HSUS pays no taxes.
 

You might be a Cheesehead IF....

You might be a "cheesehead" IF....

You believe that dog breeders need state regulation.

Wisconsin becomes the next state to pass an "anti-puppy mill" bill.

Setting arbitrary numeric criteria for dog sales, ownership or breeding is senseless. Someone who sells 24 dogs in a year...or one dog...or never sells a dog.....is not inherently more humane or compassionate than someone who sells 25.

Once most states have these laws in place, the HSUS has admitted that the numbers will be racheted downward with future amendments. You can't sell 25, you can't sell 10, you can't sell 3......Why not just cut to the chase and make it illegal to breed as a hobby...or to own an intact dog?

Terms for obtaining permission from the state to breed are now being dictated by people who know ZIP about dog breeding. The government is assuming total control; regulating if, when, where and how we might be permitted to breed a dog....or maybe they'll just start to say NO.

After all, there are plenty of street dogs imported into the US every year from other countries.

"One generation and out" is the ominous portent for domestic animals confessed years ago by HSUS president Wayne Pacelle. Each newly enacted bill presents yet another piece of the puzzle which, when complete, will effectively spell the end of pet ownership.

How to ruin a breed

HOW TO RUIN A BREED

a primer

• Only breed quality dogs that meet an extremely narrow breed standard. The more show points earned, the better.

•  Seek out a popular sire; one who has already produced many Champions.

• Require that every pet be sold on limited registration. Or better yet, be sterilized.

• Withhold papers unless the buyer belongs to the breed club, shows his dogs, does health testing, and otherwise demonstrates proper ethics.

• Avoid breeding older dogs who are plain, even if they are healthy. As a general rule, breed your dogs when they are younger.

• Eliminate any potential carriers of genetic disease. (i.e., every dog ever born)

• Breed for color, fashion and flash. You want something so beautiful that it will take your breath away.

• Once you have achieved the "type" you like, stay within your line. Don't outcross.

• Discourage new people who show an interest. Breeding is only for the knowledgable. 

• Exercise restraint in your breeding activities. A litter or two per year is plenty.

• Always bear in mind that the only acceptable reason to breed is for improvement.

High Volume Breeder = "Puppy Mill"?

Recent articles splashed all over the internet charge that AKC derives most of it's income from "puppy mills". In searching for the demographics involved with AKC registrations, I found this statement from AKC:

"The vast majority of persons who register litters with the AKC are hobby and show breeders. In recent years, more than two-thirds of all persons who register a litter with the AKC, registered only one litter that year and more than 85 percent registered only two litters a year. Litters registered by these small hobby and show breeders account for more than half of all puppies in litters registered by the AKC. On the other hand, persons registering 10 or more litters in a year with the AKC, account for only 2 percent of our litter registrants and only about 20 percent of the puppies in AKC registered litters. Constituency of the AKC, therefore, is primarily hobby & show breeders."

(USDA Animal Welfare Listening Session, March 23, 2005)

This certainly sheds some much-needed light on these false claims of AKC being supported primarily by puppy mills.

So, what is a "puppy mill" anyway?

The Coton de Tulear AKC debate

Recently I received a Coton newsletter that denigrates AKC. It implies that AKC affiliation brings with it popularity, proliferation in so-called "puppy mills" and dogs entering shelters in large numbers. These sorts of claims are patently false.

Breed specific legislation-Arkansas

The City of Hot Springs, Arkansas is voting on a breed specific law this coming Tuesday, December 1st. Bad idea. Worse than that, terrible idea. Why? Here's what I wrote to the city directors, Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau:

No breed is inherently aggressive. Unacceptable behavior of individual DOGS, not breeds, is caused by OWNERS, whether through abuse or training or neglect. Owners. The breed itself is not relative. Statistically, smaller dogs are the most frequent biters, and in the majority of cases, victims are family members, typically children, who have never been taught that animals are not toys.

Other than the fact that I would no longer participate in Arkansas’ dog shows should these laws go into effect, my residency in another state is irrelevant. What matters is that breed specific legislation does nothing to change the actions of irresponsible or oblivious owners. The only result of such laws, every time, everywhere and in every situation, is that a large group of innocent dogs is condemned to death by virtue of its appearance.

Is that really your intention?>

If you agree, by all means let Hot Springs know, but be wary of your own legislature too. If they haven't passed a similar law already, you might want to keep track and make sure they don't. All of these anti-pet laws result in the deaths of more dogs. The opposition will tell you different, but the statistics prove it's true. Every community, town, every city, every state, everywhere that has or had breed specific laws, mandatory spay/neuter laws, limit laws...etc., ends up killing more dogs.

Coton de True Liar

There is a debate raging in the Coton de Tulear community about whether or not the breed should seek AKC recognition. The prevailing attitude among the fanciers in this breed seems to be that AKC recognition will induce popularity for the breed, which in turn will cause them to be bred in so-called "puppy mills" and consequently end up in droves in animals shelters. I read this statement in a recent issue of an online Coton magazine, regarding the effects of AKC breed acceptance:

"The number of abandoned Cotons waiting to die in
shelters will add to the 7,600 AKC Registered dogs that are killed in America's
shelters every single day."

Hmmm.....some quick math and we see that 2.8 million AKC registered dogs are killed by shelters every year! Oops, just one pesky little detail, AKC doesn't even register that many dogs in a year! In 2007, AKC registered just 400,000 litters, and slightly over 800,000 individual dogs.

http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/articles/pdf/ticket_to_ride.pdf