tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91285065816757056572024-03-16T11:52:16.839-07:00Time 4 DogsMusings about all things canineLiberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.comBlogger293125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-37594480131970100662021-07-30T22:28:00.001-07:002021-07-30T22:31:13.533-07:00 The Buzz on Insects in Dog Food<p> </p><h1 align="left" class="western">
The Buzz on Insects in Dog Food</h1>
<p align="left" class="western"><b>Carlotta Cooper</b></p>
<p align="left" class="western">Do you wonder why it’s so difficult
to find a dog food that’s right for your dog? Or why the
information you read about dog foods seems to be aimed at other
people and not you? Maybe it’s because it is aimed at other people.
Maybe we’re reading information put out by public relations groups
and it’s not true at all.</p>
<p align="left" class="western">I’ve been writing about dog food
for over 20 years online, in books, for companies, for blogs, but pet food is always changing. In order to try to stay current with the
latest news, I get newsletters from farm groups, the feed industry,
regulatory bodies, the pet food industry, pet food processors, and
half a dozen other groups involved with getting raw materials made
into dog food and ready for people to purchase for their dogs.</p>
<p align="left" class="western">Do you know what many of these groups
are discussing at the moment? Sustainability and premium packaging.
Making pet food packaging more sustainable. How often do you worry
about these things when you’re trying to choose a food for your
dog? Are they even in your top 10 concerns when you buy a dog food?</p>
<p align="left" class="western">I also read lots of articles aimed at
trying to convince me that insect protein is the greatest thing since
kibble was invented. Who exactly is demanding the use of insects in
dog food? Do you know any dog owners or breeders who get up in the
morning thinking, “Oh, wow. I hope they hurry up and make that food
with the insect protein!”</p>
<p align="left" class="western">In January 2021, the Ingredient
Definition Committee of the Association of American Feed Control
Officials (AAFCO) approved black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as an
ingredient in adult maintenance dog food and treats. Full approval is
expected by August 2021. Use in cat food is expected to be approved
in 2022.</p>
<p align="left" class="western">The European Union is already ahead
of the U.S. in approving the use of insects in dog foods as a source
of protein. Insects have been on the market in other countires in dog
foods for several years. Pet food giants such as Nestle Purina and
Mars have joined the competition with Purina launching Beyond
Nature’s Protein in Switzerland in November 2020. It includes black
soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as one of its protein sources. Mars
announced the introduction of its food, Lovebug, in the UK in April
2021, also using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL).</p>
<p align="left" class="western">(If you are wondering why I continue
to spell out black soldier fly larvae along with the initials BSFL,
it’s because I want to be completely certain that you recognize
this name and the letters if you see them on a package of dog food.)</p>
<p align="left" class="western">Along with black soldier flies,
crickets and mealworms are also being used as insect proteins in dog
foods. At least one company in France that produces mealworms also
makes human food ingredients made from mealworms. EnviroFlight, based
in the U.S., has announced plans to develop a research and
development center in North Carolina in 2022 to develop its
production of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL).</p>
<p align="left" class="western">In Canada, Enterra has opened a
large, commercial-scale black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) research and
production facility in British Columbia.</p>
<p align="left" class="western">The entry of Nestle Purina into the
pet food/insect market has drawn attention to this pet food category
but companies have been moving in this direction for years. Why?</p>
<p align="left" class="western">Analysts for <a href="https://www.petfoodindustry.com/blogs/7-adventures-in-pet-food/post/10218-insect-protein-for-pet-food-buzzing-into-mainstream">PetfoodIndusty.com</a>
suggest that the idea of using insect protein is because of its
sustainability.</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
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</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-left: 0.49in;"><i>The
main reasons for this increasingly [sic] popularity revolve around
sustainability, first in the sense of being able to provide
sustainable supplies of food, especially proteins, for pets and
humans as populations increase globally and demand for protein rises
in tandem. In terms of broader sustainability, including impact on
the environment, insect production has been shown to use
substantially fewer resources in terms of land, water and, to a
lesser extent, energy, and also to create much less waste, than
traditional livestock production.</i></p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western">But there’s more. Insect excrement,
called “frass,” is also a viable product for converting to
bio-gas. And insects that are raised for protein can be fed
by-products from human food that could otherwise go to waste. For
example, a company called Beta Hatch has conducted research that
shows mealworms can safely consume grains contaminated with
mycotoxins. They can turn materials that would otherwise have to be
dumped into a revenue source for farmers and pet food companies.</p>
<p align="left" class="western">Many of these companies are banking
heavily on consumer acceptance – even demand – for insect protein
in pet foods. Where do they get this idea? How many of you would be
willing to buy dog food if you know it uses insects as a source of
protein? Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the public would be happy to buy
dog food made from insects. I just seem to know a lot of people who
have spent the last few years worrying about feeding their dogs foods
with the best ingredients they can find. They worry about how food is
made, where it comes from, who handles it, and every single
ingredient. Now, suddenly, those same people are going to be willing
to feed their dogs black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), crickets, and
mealworms instead of lamb, fish, and bison?</p>
<p align="left" class="western">Pet food is projected to be the
second largest category in terms of consumption of insect protein by
2030 with pets consuming 150,000 metric tons.</p>
<p align="left" class="western">At this time, researchers are looking
to prove the nutritional benefits of insect protein for dogs and
cats. This is part of the regulatory approval process but they will
need to do this anyway if they hope to convince people to buy their
foods. They are also engaged in consumer research to determine if pet
owners in North America and Europe will accept insects as ingredients
in pet foods. Perhaps they should have done some of this research
before they moved ahead so rapidly.</p>
<p align="left" class="western">Before you believe some of the
headlines about the success of insect protein in pet food, remember
that the researchers are still doing the nutritional research; and
the companies are still engaged in consumer research to see if the
foods would be accepted.</p>
<p align="left" class="western">According to one University of
Pennsylvania study, American pet owners said that they would be more
willing to consider a pet food that contained an ingredient such as
insect flour versus dried whole insects. At the moment, many of the
insect proteins being used or studied for pet food are in meal or oil
form. All together, some 70 percent of the study participants said
they would be “willing to try insects in some form.” Ah, but you
know how studies can twist answers.</p>
<p align="left" class="western">We found other surveys online that
had very different responses. In one <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joss.12486" target="_blank">survey from 2018</a>
that asked questions of people in 13 countries, people from eight of
the 13 countries gave resounding “no” responses (Japan, Russia,
Spain, India, Australia, UK, USA, and South Africa). In fact, the
responses in those countries were labeled as “disgust” with the
idea of eating insects. One country was tempted (Brazil). Four
countries were willing to try (China, Thailand, Peru, Mexico). Males
were more willing to try insects than females in most countries. The
study included a total of 7800 consumers, with 630 participants per
country.</p>
<p align="left" class="western">One <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/alternative-proteins-pets-why-caution-justified-anthony-bennie" target="_blank">critic</a>
suggests that there is a political agenda behind this push to feed
our dogs and cats insects.
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-left: 0.49in;">What's
the connection between insect protein, "fake meat" from
plants, and lab-engineered "beef and chicken cultures?" The
answer is, none of these has any long term data to prove that it's
optimal or healthy for canines or felines. It's an example of the
attitude that says "they're only dogs and cats, let's try it
with <em><b>them</b></em><em> </em>and see how it goes."</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-left: 0.49in;">… <span style="font-weight: normal;">If
this were only about new frontiers in the science of nutrition for
humans and animals, it would seem like a reasonable and necessary
exploration. We don't know what the near or far future brings, and
science </span><em><b>should</b></em><em><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></em><span style="font-weight: normal;">move the needle forward
to discover new food sources as future insurance, both for people </span><em><b>and</b></em><em><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></em><span style="font-weight: normal;">pets. But there is an
element of </span><em><b>politics</b></em><em><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></em><span style="font-weight: normal;">on the plate here as
well, and mixing politics with nutrition should give us pause.</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-left: 0.49in;">The
political agenda is one that originates from the radical philosophy
epitomized by PETA and supported by many other so-called "animal
rights"groups. This ideology openly advocates for the eventual
elimination of all animal agriculture on planet Earth. After all, the
reasoning goes, how can we in good conscience feed <em><b>meat</b></em>
to our carnivorous companions when the planet is running out of food,
and the evil meat industry is right up there with private automobiles
as the perpetrator of planetary destruction?</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-left: 0.49in;">The fact
is, there is currently no worldwide "food shortage." Hunger
is indeed a serious problem but it's caused by poor worldwide
distribution, poverty, and government intervention, not a lack of
production ...</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">Personally,
I’m a pet food cynic. Politics may drive some groups. I usually
tend to think that companies look at the bottom line. Using insect
protein in pet foods must be vastly cheaper for pet food companies
than buying meat protein or even peas, legumes, and lentils.
Companies can toss around terms like “sustainability” as much as
they like but I’m not feeding my dogs insects in order to fatten
their bank accounts. I doubt that there is actually much of an outcry
for insect protein in pet foods at all. Don’t believe everything
you read online.</p>
<p align="left" class="western">For the last 15 years or more, pet
food marketers convinced many people that they needed to feed their
dogs a grain-free diet, whether it was nutritionally appropriate for
their dogs or not. Now some owners are facing a backlash with dogs
experiencing a dietary form of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) that
appears to be due to shunning grains. There was never any research to
backup the switch to grain-free diets unless your dog actually had an
allergy to a specific ingredient. Grains were needlessly vilified for
more than a decade. It turns out that corn, which has been called a
garbage ingredient and filler for years, is one of the best
ingredients you can have in your dog’s food because it is a source
of the amino acid compounds that your dog needs.</p>
<p align="left" class="western">Before dog owners rush to embrace
insect protein at the expense of more traditional forms of animal
protein in their dog’s diet, let’s try to learn from this lesson.
Wait for peer-reviewed, unbiased animal studies to prove that insect
protein is beneficial for dogs and that it doesn’t come with
harmful side effects later. Your dogs depend on you to make wise
decisions for them. Their lives depend on you and what you feed them.</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
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</p>
esheverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08853201547274397852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-10202225932013388712018-08-20T13:56:00.001-07:002018-08-20T18:51:06.563-07:00Bo Bengston, There You Go Again!<div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6nVp0_B8WzY/W3srAoDO1HI/AAAAAAAAZaY/povy0LECy8IGZIkFS4V63pf389bjNBPZwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/grey-792782.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="436" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6591909769337820274" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6nVp0_B8WzY/W3srAoDO1HI/AAAAAAAAZaY/povy0LECy8IGZIkFS4V63pf389bjNBPZwCK4BGAYYCw/s640/grey-792782.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Bo Bengston is at it again. In 2014 we did an extensive report on his two blatant anti-breeder misanthropist opinion pieces printed in Best in Show Daily.*</div>
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Now, the malice monger is denigrating greyhound racing; a time-honored tradition and exactly what the dogs are bred for! Mr. Bengston, a long-time whippet breeder, owns the "Sighthound Review" journal and recently posted this opinion on the Facebook page for his magazine (My comments in bold): </div>
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<em>Several fanciers have asked why SR turned down paid advertising on behalf of the racing Greyhound business in Florida, one of the few states in the U.S. to not yet have outlawed it - although a proposition to do so may be put on the November ballot. We did offer to publish the ad provided that only hobby racing was promoted. This offer was rejected, naturally, since the group behind the ad represents the commercial Greyhound racing business.</em></div>
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<strong>And What is wrong with a commercial business? That's the American way! How else does one pay for kennel upkeep, dog food and veterinary bills? How does one afford show expenses, if you choose to show? And Hobby racing is OK, but commercial racing isn't? What's the difference? If racing is cruel, surely it's cruel regardless of whether or not money involved? Isn;t the risk of injury just the same? Accidents can happen anyplace or time, they don't happen only if wagering is involved. </strong></div>
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<em>Anyone who knows Greyhounds will be aware that they love to run, even at the risk of serious injuries. We do not doubt that some individuals in the racing business take good care of their dogs, at least as long as they run profitably, although living conditions are often unacceptable. Also, although advances have been made in the re-homing of ex-racers, any activity that discards dogs not yet past half their lifespan can hardly be in it "for the love of the dogs."</em></div>
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<strong>How do you know what the living conditions are like in Florida kennels? Have you visited any? Since you live in California, I doubt it. How many who show their dogs re-home them once their show career is finished? Yep, LOTS of them. I suppose they don't love their dogs? What's wrong with giving your dog a great home once it's career is over, whether it's a show career or a racing career? Rehoming signals that the owners cares about the well being of the dog and wants it to have a happy home with love and attention. Oh, the horror!</strong></div>
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<em>However, what will ultimately convince anyone who loves Greyhounds that commercial dog racing must end is that the figures do not add up. Greyhound bitches on the average produce 6-8 puppies per litter, and those that do not make the grade as racers are discarded. How many thousands of Greyhounds that have been put to sleep in the past we'll never know, but it's a frightening number.</em></div>
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<strong>Proof, please, that puppies are being killed. Anyone can speculate. If they are only interested in money, why would they kill puppies who could be sold for a decent amount of money? And, if puppies go to homes, what's the problem?</strong></div>
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<em>I would like to believe that the individuals who submitted the ad were in good faith, naively believing in their own story. However, the abuse heaped upon me and Sighthound Review for refusing to publish the ad makes this difficult to believe.</em></div>
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<strong>Sounds to me like you are the one who naively believes a false narrative. How dare you insult others you don't even know! </strong></div>
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<em>If this stance is unpopular and puts us on the same side as a few organizations we do not otherwise support, too bad. Commercial Greyhound racing must end; anyone who disagrees with that cannot honestly say they love dogs.</em></div>
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<strong>You,sir, are not the appointed judge or jury of other members of society. Go ahead and team up with HSUS, ASPCA and other groups that would take your own dogs from you in a minute, you would receive poetic justice as your fate. Unfortunately, it's our descendants who will suffer the effects of your foolishness. </strong></div>
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<em>You wouldn't want bull fighting to be legal in the U.S., would you?</em></div>
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<strong>What an assinine comment. It doesn't even deserve an answer because it is so insanely stupid, but I'll try. You are equating the intentional infliction of physical injury and death with racing, which of course is a false narrative. Didn't you yourself admit greyhounds love to run? And since that is true, you yourself support "hobby racing" so gee, maybe you support bullfighting too? Your twisted arguments are insane.</strong></div>
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<em>**** all comments, both in support and opposition to this post, are automatically Hidden from public view and deleted once the admin sees them. Anyone using abusive language or threatening statements will be immediately banned from the page and reported to Facebook***</em></div>
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<strong>Typical of all autocrats, no dissention or discussion is allowed. I can only hope and pray that your subscriptions dry up, your bank account withers away, and you have to worry about how to support yourself and your dogs. Maybe then you will view puppy sales and income from your dog hobby as most breeders do....as a beneficial way to provide a service to your fellow citizens, and a necessary method to afford to keep your dogs.</strong></div>
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<strong><span data-mce-style="font-size: 13.3333px;" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">*You can read "Best in Sanctimony<a href="http://www.time4dogs.blogspot.com/2014/07/best-in-sanctimony.html?m=1" target="_blank"> here</a>.</span></strong></div>
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Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-82920193479764074562018-08-17T11:11:00.000-07:002018-08-17T12:00:50.632-07:00Waters Lights Fires<div class="mobile-photo">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">WATERS UNDER INVESTIGATION</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Threatens Nation's Dogs on her 80th Birthday</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In the wake of public death threats against the nation's dogs, animal right activists were successful this week in persuading Congress to open an investigation into Maxine Waters for animal abuse and terrorist threats against dogs. Waters celebrated her 80th birthday with her supporters, a big cake, and enough candles to burn down the rest of the State of California. The camera was rolling, but bless her </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">heart, she was apparently clueless due to age-related sight and hearing impairment.<br />When asked what she wished for her birthday, she mused "I think dogs do not deserve to walk our streets; they are racist, they are sexist, they collude with Vladimir Putin. Dogs should be removed. Impound them! Impound them!"<br />"With this sort of inspiration, I could take these dogs out tonight." Waters exclaimed as she blew out the candles on her birthday cake amid the applause of her half-dozen remaining supporters. "I can't stand these dogs out everywhere you go. No Peace No Sleep! Let's make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. If you see any dog in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them, and you tell them they're not welcome anymore, anywhere. We're gonna win this battle; God is on our side!<br />Impound forty five! Impound forty-five! Impound forty five!"<br />Representatives from PETA, alarmed at this obvious call for killing America's dogs, immediately invoked support of the public, soliciting letters and signature on petitions demanding Waters be investigated for inciting animal cruelty by the public. Only PETA, the Humane Society of the US, and local dog pounds should be allowed to kill dogs, they maintain. Dog Pound Workers Local 666 concurred, stating "This is an egregious attempt to deprive dog pounds of their sole source of income."</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Animal Abuse is a felony punishable by jail time. Had Waters' rant been directed simply toward human targets, it would likely have avoided the scrutiny of Congress.<br />The President responded today in a Tweet "Maxine Waters, the leader of the Democratic Party, is a very low IQ individual. Her brainless senile threats against our great supporters are one thing, but when she threatens the nation's dogs, that absolutely crosses the Red Line. She will Make America Weak Again, Big League!"</span></div>
Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-39467497489296290542018-08-15T16:29:00.001-07:002018-08-15T17:16:48.730-07:00We Still Don't Get It!!<div style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I've been absent from this blog for a while, going through some life changes, but still involved in fighting the good fight for protection of animal ownership. I read a couple of articles today about the threats to dog ownership. I have to shake my head in wonderment at how much we DON'T understand about the situation we are facing.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Not really.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The animal rights nuts have constructed a "divide and conquer" strategy for us. They have coined the term "responsible breeder" and pitted the "responsible" against the "irresponsible." And we have happily fallen right into their web.</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Now of course, there is no definition of what is "responsible" and what isn't when it comes to dog breeding, and there never could be. </span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Health and welfare standards are met? That should arguable be what we are going for, but of course, that's doesn't display our halos properly. We rush to point out that we register dogs, show dogs, health test dogs, breed only purebred dogs with consideration of generations of pedigrees, etc etc. </span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">That's all fine and dandy, and great for those who want to do it, but who says any of that is necessary to preserve my RIGHT to breed my dog in the way I see fit? Who is anyone to judge who is more "responsible" than anybody else?? </span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KqdARbzbdbY/W3S4Hz6d1uI/AAAAAAAAZZI/DHN3EJhukZQfFQ66sExM5KxLB8x15hAUACKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_9225.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1119" height="263" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KqdARbzbdbY/W3S4Hz6d1uI/AAAAAAAAZZI/DHN3EJhukZQfFQ66sExM5KxLB8x15hAUACKgBGAs/s400/IMG_9225.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">M</span><span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">y goodness, we sure want to assure the animal rights folks that we are truly RESPONSIBLE.....although no one can reach that undefined benchmark, particularly when you are dealing with people who hate ALL breeders. The animal extremists will be happy to draw up guidelines to determine which responsible people can own and breed dogs. Aren't they awesome? And hey, we are happy to help put those nails in our own coffins.</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But on to specifics of the articles I read. The first was an article in a recent "Dog News". The article starts out in a very accurate manner, talking about the "take no prisoners" attitudes of the animal rights groups; how you cannot negotiate with them, and how animal owners need to band together to tackle the threats head on. But then, the article takes a downhill turn. The author decries dogs in shelters, blaming the "problem" on "puppy mills" and "irresponsible breeders." Her only concern is that these darn IRRESPONSIBLE breeders might outlast those sainted RESPONSIBLE breeders. </span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Major Eye Roll.</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">She then wastes the last half of her article advising the reader about how to answer questions from the media. </span><span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Has the media ever asked your opinion? No? Mine either. And I've been involved in dog law issues for 12 years now. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Next, we find a blog praising "responsible dog ownership and responsible breeders." Heck she even has a Facebook group with over 16,000 "likes." A situation in and of itself that tells us how much trouble we are in, if people are gullible enough to think that the "responsible breeders" in this world are anything other than those the Animal Rights crocodile eats last. </span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This author recently wrote a blog article asking "Where are Shelter Dogs Coming From?" While admitting that shelter numbers are at an all-time low, she claims this is due primarily to the beneficial effects of the "adopt don't shop" campaigns. Yikes! Really? What about the fact that breeding has become practically forbidden everywhere? Ya think that might have had an effect? There is a mention of dogs imported for the rescue trade but no acknowledgement that this indicates a SHORTAGE of adoptable dogs. The author then asserts that there is a significant "problem" with dogs entering shelters, and it's caused by....you guessed it....IRRESPONSIBLE BREEDERS who are NOT breeding registered, purebred dogs, and to add to that, we can blame the IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS of the world.</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">In case you didn't notice, I'm fed up with articles slinging around the "IRRESPONSIBLE" epithet. Why, there are animals in shelters! Lots of them. Yeah, rescues import them in droves from other countries, but gosh darn it, those "irresponsible" breeders and owners of the world! Why there should be no animals in shelters EVER! We need a world where EVERYONE is RESPONSIBLE!</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
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<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<br data-mce-style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">NEWS FLASH. </span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Dogs get out of yards. They got old or injured and need to be put down. Maybe they just plain don't fit in the family, whatever! That's the JOB of the shelter, to take care of these situations. Not to run around looking for bogeymen and pearl-clutching about this TERRIBLE PROBLEM of animals in shelters. </span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The numbers of dogs entering shelters is MINISCULE compared to the human population in this country. This is borne out by the fact that shelters and rescues have to import dogs from other countries to support their sales base!</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">On another note, for many years public relations programs have been promoting the concept of taking your animal to the shelter, instead of just turning it loose if you find you can't keep your dog. Yes, people used to actually do that, thinking they would be taken in by some kind-hearted person.....and often they were. But more often, they weren't. And you thought that IRRESPONSIBLE people were a recent phenomenon! </span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So a public education campaign begged people to be </span><span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">RESPONSIBLE and bring their pet to the shelter where it could be re-homed or euthanized if necessary. And now, the public is being told it is IRRESPONSIBLE to take your dog to the animal shelter. If you doubt that they feel that way, just talk to any shelter worker. They literally FOAM with hatred at anyone who would actually bring them an animal! </span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div data-mce-style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #1d2129; font-size: 13px; background-color: #eff1f3;" style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Shelters exist for a reason; we have pets in our lives. We are paying them good money to care for, re-home and euthanize if necessary. The day that we no longer need shelters will be the day we no longer have pets. Is that the ultimate goal? I hope not, but I suspect we in the Dog Fancy will allow the Animal Wrongists of the world to decide that for us. They've gotten a great head start!</span></div>
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Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-68520616888740794272018-01-11T10:47:00.001-08:002018-01-11T13:10:47.122-08:00Moral Preening in the UK<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Having taken a hiatus from the crazy world of dog law, I had just about gotten my mental health and blood pressure under control when a friend forwarded me a link to a Pedigree Dog Defence Forum from the UK on Facebook. Apparently there’s a new law under consideration which would require puppy buyers see the parents of any pup they are considering. Why not, they were remarking. Sales in pet stores are disallowed, and this is the” responsible” way to go. After all, THEY are wonderful breeders who all follow this practice anyway. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">SIGH this attitude is nothing new to me. I hear these comments all the time from many show dog breeders here in the US.......Thinking their way is morally superior and a willingness to sell others down the river who disagree. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I USED to breed dogs. I don’t want strangers coming to my house. People have been robbed of their pups and even killed by lookie Loos posing as pet buyers. Not to mention Animal Rights kooks who harass, demean and threaten breeders especially if they know where you live.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Laws in our country are creeping incrementalism towards the elimination of breeding by any means. Pet store sales bans, then elimination of anyone “commercial” because of course they aren’t as saintly as those who lose money breeding dogs. Next, you classify the remaining breeders as “commercial” based on some arbitrary number like bitches owned or litters produced annually. Now the hobby breeder must comply with commercial breeder rules. Who in their right mind would remain a dog breeder, or even consider breeding in the first place, under such conditions? And so, we march down the path toward extinction. Extinction of breeders. Extinction of entire breeds. Extinction of dogs purposely bred to serve man. After all, these breeders believe that breeders should instead serve the dog and eliminate his role as our helpmates. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Rescues” get preferential treatment when they import puppies and purebred dogs, sometimes even stolen from their owners yards! I have been to many many municipal hearings, county hearings and even our state capital to try to educate legislators about the hazards of knee-jerk, feel-good laws that actually end up harming dogs and the people who love and breed them. “Reading the comments here is very painful,” I remarked. “People don’t seem to understand or care about the consequences of such matters or their actions in supporting them.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">So in support of my own good health , I left that group of nutters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. </span><br />
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Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-87926328764179834822017-04-01T07:42:00.001-07:002017-04-01T16:17:42.451-07:00Words MATTER - SHOP! Don't "Adopt!"<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">Think it's "cute" to say you "adopted" a "rescue" who is now your "furkid?" Well, it's not really "cute" at all if you give it some thought.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">The words we use matter.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-weight: normal;">Did you know that the state of California passed a law a few years ago that removed the word "pound" or "impound" from all prior animal legislation and replaced it with the word "shelter?" Like it or not, words have definite meanings that affect public opinion and form the cultural zeitgeist. Why do you think they legally cha</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-weight: normal;">nged the word "pound" to "shelter?".....even though they maintain the right to capriciously kill in the so-called "shelter?" Because the name you tag something with forms it's public image. Perception becomes reality.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline;">Animal Rights people co-opting the terminology we use is very dangerous, it's not benign, and it's aimed squarely at legally removing our ownership rights. "Rescue" implies animal abuse. "Adopt" infers a status equal to humans. "Guardian" instead of "owner" means the pet has inherent rights that supercede your right to determine his care and destiny. If pets are "fur kids" the state can step in and mandate how you care for them down to minute details. Kiss your pet ownership rights goodbye.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">The "Adopt don't Shop' mantra has been very successful at demonizing breeders. it's time to turn it around! Get a great pet....SHOP! Shopping is a good thing. Most shoppers thoughtfully research before they make a purchase. When it comes to a pet, research prior to purchase is important. Avoid those "adopt-a-thons" where impulse buying is encouraged, and you might just end up with a dog who doesn't suit your lifestyle or home situation. SHOP...and get the dog that is right for you to OWN!!</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-9362742935614095652015-12-23T16:55:00.000-08:002015-12-23T17:05:44.219-08:00Insanity in Santa Paula<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Neuter Nannies are at it again. Santa Paula is the next city in
California poised to mandate that owners and their
veterinarians inflict unnecessary and harmful surgery on pets in the
community. Up on the agenda for the next city
council meeting is a delayed vote on a mandatory
spay-neuter-microchip ordinance.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the hearing two days ago, not just
one but TWO local veterinarians (they are the experts, right?)
testified against mandated neutering of pets. Despite the evidence
presented that spay/neuter has adverse effects on health, the city plans
to amend and pass their proposal. As long as they toss a few
“exemptions” into the pot to remove some objections, they have no
qualms about squelching the right of an owner in consultation with
his veterinarian to decide what is best for his dog's health.
</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HH-QWH0ytfc/Vns-mqvd5LI/AAAAAAAAKuU/2WQT8Gzq1js/s1600/04%2BOakland%2BHeather%2BBOB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HH-QWH0ytfc/Vns-mqvd5LI/AAAAAAAAKuU/2WQT8Gzq1js/s400/04%2BOakland%2BHeather%2BBOB.jpg" width="385" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiss nice dogs like this goodbye when the neuter nannies sink their talons into your community</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The local shelter, “Santa Paula
Animal Rescue Center” boasts of being the nation's first
open-admission no-kill shelter. According to the claim on their
Facebook page, 99% of the animals who enter their shelter, LIVE. Yet
representatives from this group are still not satisfied. Like most
animal rights fanatics, they want to spay-neuter pets into oblivion.
The SPARC is backing the new ordinance and their representatives
spoke in favor of it at Monday night's City Council meeting.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rescue brigade will continue to cry
“overpopulation” until there is not one single animal entering a
shelter, anyplace. I hate to break the news to everybody, but
that can only happen when there are no more pets left PERIOD. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And
this group also had the temerity to contradict the testimony of the
two local veterinarians, who were concerned about the adverse health
effects of spay and neuter. Here's a quote from a local newspaper
article:
</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 0.27in; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<i><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Representatives
from the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center, meanwhile, urged council
to approve the ordinance. Health problems, such as musculoskeletal
injuries and cancers, occur in many animals whether they are spayed
and neutered or not, they said.</span></span></i></blockquote>
<div style="line-height: 0.27in; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brilliant! Whoever was quoted here probably has his GED. I'm sure he knows better than two local veterinarians about the health effects of spay-neuter. <br /><br />This person is so ignorant that he can't discern the difference between INJURIES and DEVELOPMENTAL problems resulting from lack of hormones. He is unaware of (or just plain doesn't care about) the many, many studies in multiple breeds that prove that cancer risks are many times higher for spayed/neutered animals than those who are intact. And, he isn't going to be paying the veterinary bills for the owners whose dogs become lame, hypothyroid, or aflicted with bone cancer or hemangiosarcoma. When the dog becomes more aggressive towards humans (as studies have found to be the effect of spay/neuter) will he be able to rehome the dog or will it have to be killed? <br /><br />Here's the viewpoint of Santa Paula's esteemed mayor:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.21in; orphans: 1; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mayor
Martin Hernandez said he supported the ordinance, noting that those
speaking against it were not from Santa Paula. He said requiring
animals to be fixed is good for the community, and regulations are
necessary.</i></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"If
laws were for the responsible people we wouldn't have people getting
DUI's daily," he said. "Do you think that people are
tending to their animals more than they take responsibility for
driving under the influence of alcohol? I don't think so."</i></span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, that settles the debate, then. Ignore your two local veterinarians and the reams of knowledgable dog people from the Ventura County-based Kennel Clubs, who will have to deal with your stupid ordinance. Or maybe, their dog breeders could simply refuse to sell puppies to anyone who lives in Santa Paula. There's a great benefit for your community. No pets.</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good for the community? In which universe, exactly? Where is the evidence? Mandatory spay-neuter has NEVER been proven beneficial to ANY community where it has been enacted. In fact, licensing and rabies vaccination compliance DECREASES. Shelter intakes INCREASE. And FEWER dogs are reclaimed from shelters! Low-income people and seniors will be disproportionately hit with the higher costs. It's expensive to have the unnecessary surgery done, and even more costly when the dog gets cancer and dies an early, expensive death. <br /><br /> And “tending to their animals” is equated with foisting unnecessary, life-sucking surgery on them? How stupid is that? Well, we can't expect genius from someone who draws a parallel between animal ownership and drinking alcohol. <br /><br /> As if all this wasn't ridiculous enough, the ordinance also requires the Animal Services Coordinator, who more than likely has ZERO expertise in dog breeding, to administer a written test on humane breeding practices. If you fail the written test, no breeding permit for you. <br /><br />Microchips are fine but they can rarely travel in the body, and the insertion process is not without risk. Again, the owner should have the right to decide if he wants to use a chip or if he prefers a collar with tag or a tattoo for ID purposes.<br /><br />Santa Paula, the latest in the string of Neuter Nanny cities here in our state.<br /><br />The article is here:<br />http://www.vcstar.com/news/local/santa-paula/santa-paula-delays-vote-on-spay-and-neuter-ordinance-276d0d30-ddb4-4e55-e053-0100007f47ef-363296281.html</span>Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-81110578661823666212015-12-22T17:32:00.002-08:002015-12-23T05:32:14.132-08:00The Front Door Dilemma<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been encouraging to note so much
recent shelter success and so many areas where “No Kill” status
has been achieved in recent years. Maddie's Fund believes that the
entire country can easily achieve No Kill status NOW.*
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have more households owning dogs
than ever before, fewer shelter deaths than any time in history, and
more people looking to welcome dogs into their homes and treat them as
valued clan members.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hooray, right? Well, maybe not so much.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've blogged at great length here about
the shortage of adoptable dogs and how many shelters and rescues have
turned to the importation of dogs from other countries to fill the
void.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite shelter shortages, despite the
importation of hundred of thousands of dogs from outside the US each
and every year, despite people who want to adopt puppies being unable
to easily find any, today I sit here and feel horribly pessimistic
about the future of pets in America.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The general public has been brainwashed
over at least four decades to believe that dog breeding is a
nefarious activity. Breeding in order to have puppies, maybe even to
have some puppies to sell, is an Extremely Politically Incorrect
Activity. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The general zeitgeist in this country is a perverse and
strong opposition to dog breeding and selling. In fact, if you tell
most people you want to breed your dog, he or she will look at you
like you have two heads. Planning a litter must surely be some sort
of evil plot to produce animals destined for torture and abuse. In
fact, some believe that a bitch having a litter is abuse in and of
itself. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We continue to see strong forces at
work who wish to ban breeding, who insist that there be laws to
require sterilization of all pets.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This seems contradictory, because It's
clear there is a demand for dogs that grows stronger every day. Where
will the dogs of the future come from? Who will fill the market for
family pets?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I read a blog named “Out The Front
Door” which is No Kill-focused. In a recent post, the author openly admits
that a shelter dog shortage is coming. He (or she?) rejoices at the
coming shortage of shelter dogs. However, he is worried. Very
worried.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People who want dogs might decide
to...hold on to your hat.....BUY one from a breeder. Good heavens! We
can't have that! Why, OTFD hopes that we will continue to import
street dogs from other countries, and even step up the numbers of street
dogs brought into the US.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OTFD prays that breeders in America
will go the way of the dinosaur.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OTFD and indeed, many many of those
involved in shelter and/or rescue would rather force you to get your
next dog from the streets of a third world country rather than buy a
happy, healthy dog purposely bred by a breeder right here in the USA.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never mind the risk of RABIES which is
still rampant in other countries. Never mind that these street dogs, seemingly destined
to be your only option in the pet stores of the future, are bred under unknown welfare
conditions and the absence of any standards. Never mind that our
own American breeders have good health and temperament uppermost on their
priority list and are ready, willing and able to supply the market.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nope, OTFD and others like them don't
care about any of that one whit. They just want you to stop.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stop breeding.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ask you, is this not the quintessence of cognitive dissonance? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's all well and good to get dogs Out the Front Door of the animal shelter, but who is going to provide the dogs that come In the Front Door of your home? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What sort of dog lover doesn't like
puppies to be born? There can only be one conclusion when this
mindset has become so prevalent. These shelter and rescue folks don't
actually like dogs. In point of fact, much like Wayne Pacelle, the
President of the Humane Society of the US, they would prefer that
another dog or cat would never, ever be born!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rescue brigade love dogs so much that they hope
they will all be sterilized and that no one on the planet will ever
breed them. Ever. That's their real goal! Pet extinction. They would
rather no dogs exist than man breed them.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mind boggles. I hope the day never arrives when the animal rights fanatics succeed in removing
dogs from our lives completely.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OWS_zWdaBlM/Vnn5dR_5CkI/AAAAAAAAKuA/oOH0I3a8tPI/s1600/100_0338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OWS_zWdaBlM/Vnn5dR_5CkI/AAAAAAAAKuA/oOH0I3a8tPI/s400/100_0338.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*http://www.maddiesfund.org/no-kill-progress.htm?p=topic37</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://outthefrontdoor.com/2015/01/08/the-coming-shelter-dog-shortage-part-ii/</span></div>
Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-43575714642020362882015-09-10T14:50:00.005-07:002015-09-10T15:13:01.671-07:00The Big Lie from ASPCA<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ASPCA </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sent out a post via email blast this week:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9RGZ5HLwnRg/VfH6zbRzGsI/AAAAAAAAJAc/cp7bS6ImZqA/s1600/Sept%2BPuppyMill%2BControl%2BEmail%2B2015%2Btop%2Bbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9RGZ5HLwnRg/VfH6zbRzGsI/AAAAAAAAJAc/cp7bS6ImZqA/s400/Sept%2BPuppyMill%2BControl%2BEmail%2B2015%2Btop%2Bbanner.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It'll be a cold day in hell when I donate anything to this group.</td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Imagine this scene: More than 100 dazed and frightened puppies are picked up one-by-one out of filthy, cramped, wire cages and crammed into a windowless van. Missing their mothers, they spend a week hurling across Interstate highways—crying, yelping, barking and suffering—until the van pulls up to deliver them through the back-door entrance of a shopping mall pet store. In the pet store, the cute but likely malnourished, impaired, disease-carrying or emotionally scarred pups are left to do what puppies have always done: look for love in a kind, smiling face. They are bought by an unsuspecting person, and the cycle begins again.</span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow, this sounds horrible! Why, they just described the cycle of abuse perpetrated by Retail Rescue! This is EXACTLY what happens when so-called "rescues" truck dogs across the country, and subject them to thousands-of-miles-long journeys into the US from around the world! These dogs are intended to replace puppies in pet stores sourced from breeders. And yes, predictably, many of these "rescued" dogs are sick and malnourished. Some have even been infected with RABIES! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yep, there is no documented history on these animals at all. No way to know what sort of diseases, inherited or acquired, may be lurking. No insight as to inherited temperament. When one of these "rescued" dogs is bought by some big-hearted but dumb, unsuspecting person (like YOU), he is not covered by any "Puppy Lemon Law" protection. That means, when he bites your kid or requires expensive veterinary bills, TOUGH LUCK. You have NO RECOURSE. There is NO GUARANTEE, NO consumer protection, and no financial compensation to you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But wait! ASPCA doesn't care about any of that....in fact, golly gee gosh! I just realized with a little more reading....they actually aren't talking about Pet Flipping "Rescues" at all. </span><br />
<center>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://links.aspca.mkt6276.com/ctt?kn=6&ms=ODA1MzY1NAS2&r=NjA5ODExMTU3MDgS1&b=0&j=NzYwOTc4NzgxS0&mt=1&rt=0" name="aolmail_www_aspca_org_secure_2015_4" target="_blank"></a></span></center>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the tragedy of a puppy mill. Animals bred, born and abused in commercial breeding facilities are the very same animals destined for pet store windows in cities and towns all across America. Scenes like this play out week after week, year after year, but these tragic facilities are usually only brought to light when they are raided by animal welfare groups like the ASPCA.</span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whoa! The ASPCA is trying to convince us that dogs bred by licensed and inspected breeders are all abused! What a crock of manure! If commercial breeders are heavily regulated (and they are), how many do you think need to be "raided"? How many of their puppies are "diseased"? Do they regularly starve and beat their puppies? REALLY??</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In fact, pet insurers charge much lower premiums for commercially-bred pet store dogs than they do for dogs from any other source. The reason? Pet store puppies receive more veterinary care in the first weeks of their life than puppies from any other sources, and as a result, the dogs who come from pet store have FEWER INSURANCE CLAIMS. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Got it, ASPCA?? Commercially bred puppies are HEALTHIER than dogs sourced from small breeders and shelters. How do you like them apples, you lying scumbags? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But wait! The ASPCA isn't finished just yet! They set the stage with fraudulent lies, and NOW.... the HOOK!!! </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With your support today, we can strengthen our work to advocate against puppy mills. We can assist in raids to expose their cruelties, fight as hard as we can to regulate commercial breeders and, most importantly, find loving homes for every innocent animal. Imagine how much suffering we could stop, and how many dogs, cats and other animals we could save, if we eliminated puppy mills in our country. That is what your gift to the ASPCA can help make possible. Please make a donation right now.</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sorry, you two-faced sheisters at ASPCA, but when you LIE claiming that commercial breeders are not already heavily regulated, claim that their puppies are sickly and abused, and slander the name of dog breeders in general, you won't get a dime from anyone who has two brain cells to rub together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No breeders=no pets. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The real goal of the ASPCA....PET EXTINCTION. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-25415225827430110342015-07-27T19:06:00.001-07:002015-09-10T15:14:29.155-07:00AKC CHF Breeder's Symposium<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">AKC Canine Health Foundation Breeder’s Symposium</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><!--?xml:namespace
prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" ?--><st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Veterinary Medicine</st1:placename>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Western</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place> of Health Sciences</span></span></div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><st1:city w:st="on">Pomona</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></span></span></st1:place></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Saturday, April 4, 2009</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I attended this symposium and was amazed at the amount of information presented! After UC Davis, <st1:placename w:st="on">Western</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype>’s <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Veterinary Medicine</st1:placename> is the only other veterinary medicine program in the state of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state>; they have only produced graduates for two years. Their program is the first new college of veterinary medicine in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> in the past 20 years. As conference attendees, we also had the opportunity to tour the clinical learning center during lunch break. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The room was filled with approximately 100 dog fanciers and breeders representing a wide cross-section of AKC recognized breeds. In an eight hour time period there were eight speakers scheduled. Each speaker could easily have spent the entire day trying to cover their subject matter and answering all our questions; but, alas, time was limited. Luckily some detailed information was included with the conference, including the book “ABC’s of Breeding” by keynote speaker Claudia Orlandi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I’d like to try to summarize some of the important points from the seminar for the “Review” readers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This lecture was my favorite!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“Current Concepts Regarding Canine Hip Dysplasia”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Peter Vogel, DVM, DACVS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Specialist in orthopedic surgery, critical care, microvascular surgery and is certified in stem cell regenerative medicine</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">From the syllabus:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“Breeders are an important source of information regarding heritable diseases such as canine hip dysplasia. However, much of what is common knowledge is often incorrect of incomplete. Find out the most recent information regarding the diagnosis and treatment of hip dysplasia and get practical recommendations that you can employ in your breeding programs. This talk will help you understand the limitation of OFA certification, the benefits of newer screening techniques, and give an overview of current treatment to help you educate your clients.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">OFA hip testing was initiated in 1966. After 40 years of OFA hip testing, the incidence of hip dysplasia in dogs has not decreased by even 1%. This is because hip dysplasia is a common defect; it is polygenic (multiple genes involved) and can also be exacerbated by environmental factors such as trauma and diet. Almost all lines of dogs have genes for hip dysplasia. This is probably due to the fact that the majority of dogs are descended from common original ancestors, who were themselves likely genetically predisposed to hip dysplasia. Greyhounds are rarely affected; sighthounds in general have a lower incidence than other races. Standard poodles are one of the very few breeds that are not commonly affected with hip dysplasia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hip dysplasia typically displays some symptoms by age 4-6 months. Symptoms can include pain/stiffness, pop or click of the joint, bunny hopping gait, and “lazy dog” syndrome. The dog will appear to the owner to be lazy, when in reality it does not wish to move because movement is painful. At age 12-15 months, signs and symptoms will disappear, only to reappear later in life when arthritic changes have set in. By then treatment methods are limited and expensive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The OFA hip screening is the least predictive method for hip dysplasia. It does not rule out hip dysplasia. The OFA technique is outdated 1960’s methodology. The OFA screening xray is limited due to the positioning technique used; it is also subjective depending on those interpreting the film. A better method is the Dislocation Index (DI) which is also known as Penn Hip. Another newer and even more accurate method is the dorsolateral subluxation radiograph (or DLS) which is highly diagnostic for hip dysplasia. This technique positions the dog with weight on the knees and measures actual real laxity of the hip socket.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fully 50% of dog who score OFA “excellent” hips will be found to be dysplastic using DI and/or DLS. 67% of those who score OFA “good” are actually dysplastic, and 100%<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of dogs who score OFA “fair” are dysplastic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">DI technique has some breed-dependent factors (those factors were not discussed).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Another problem with OFA is waiting until the dog is two years old for their final evaluation. Hip dysplasia can and should be diagnosed by age 14-16 weeks and NO LATER THAN age 20 weeks, so that intervention can be done to prevent future painful arthritic changes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If a puppy is diagnosed with hip dysplasia a simple procedure known <span style="font-size: 11pt;">as a Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis can be done. </span>The growth plate of the pubis is cauterized to destroy the growing cells of this part of the pelvis. This results in a change in the angle of the pelvis and is 95% successful in preventing progression of the arthritis resulting from hip laxity. <span style="font-size: 11pt;">This should be done no later than age 5 months.</span> It can be done at the same time as a spay. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A triple pelvic osteotomy can be done to reshape the pelvis; again this must be done before the age of one year and is very effectdive in preventing the progression of hip dysplasia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">OFA hip screening may not even be attempted in most cases until age two years (when it is too late to do any preventive orthopedic surgery), and it will miss most cases of hip dysplasia entirely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Penn hip or DLS should be done on puppies no later than age 20 weeks for the most accurate diagnosis and early treatment of hip dysplasia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Other ways to control the progression of hip dysplasia are weight control, proper exercise and diet. Medications such as NSAIDS and adequan have a proven track record. The benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin have not been clinically proven but those supplements can’t hurt. Stem cell therapy is in its infancy but may also prove beneficial.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In conclusion, the Dr. emphasized that if you are a dog breeder, sooner or later you WILL produce dogs with hip dysplasia. Don’t blame yourself! Even two dogs with perfect hips can produce dysplastic puppies. The genes for hip dysplasia are widespread through most every breed!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Common Household Toxins</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">John H Tegzes, MA, VMD, DABVT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">An excellent overview of this topic. The ASPCA poison control number should be readily available in everyone’s home” 888-426-4435</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Also, the National Poison Control hotline may be of use: 800-222-1222</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Review of the many common toxins found in the home. Activated charcoal should be kept on hand and should be given to your dog if he ingests something toxic (use after consulting with poison control or your vet). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The lecturer told of a case they had where a dog ate snail bait and came in seizuring. They kept the dog alive on a ventilator and after 11 days of touch-and-go status in intensive care, he was sent home. The next day he was brought in again seizuring from eating snail bait. The owner didn’t pick up the bait because she figured the dog had “learned its lesson” and wouldn’t eat snail bait again! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The toxicity of raisins and grapes is very real and serious. Not all dogs are affected. The exact toxic substance within the grapes has not yet been discovered. Nor is it known if this may be a new genetic predisposition in dogs? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Walnuts are often contaminated with penitrem A, a fungal toxin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Macadamia nuts have a neurologic sedating effect</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A new dangerous toxic plant is broomfeldsia or the “yesterday, today and tomorrow” plant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">One of the attendees said her dog was poisoned by eating the inner stalk of the hibiscus flower. She had to search through 20 references on toxic plants before she found one that did list the hibiscus flower as toxic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Canine Reproduction; Managing the Dog and Bitch to Optimize Success</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dana Bleifer DVM, DACT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Owner, <st1:placename w:st="on">Warner</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Pet</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Rose</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">City</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Veterinary</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Hospital</st1:placetype></st1:place>, and owner/operator of CLONE West canine semen bank. Chesapeake Bay Retriever breeder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Preparation of the dog and bitch is essential to breeding success. Avoid flaxseed and soy in food as it may in theory affect hormonal balance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Thyroid test should be done on every bitch prior to breeding. TGAA (thyroglobulin autoantibodies) positive indicates autoimmune thyroiditis which is an inherited condition; in addition, thyroid autoantibodies can pass into the puppies from the mothers milk and attack their thyroid gland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Brucellosis testing should be done periodically on all breeding stock, not just bitches. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Teeth should be clean as the bitch uses her teeth to sever the umbilical cord and can transmit bacteria to the puppy if her mouth is infected. Vaginal cultures are sometimes done but are not very useful because the vaginal tract is full of many different varieties of bacteria naturally. Sometimes you can find Klebsiella or mycoplasma with a vaginal culture; these would need treatment. However, if there is a suspected problem with infection it is better to bring the bitch in at the start of her season for a uterine culture. This is done with the aid of a fiberoptic scope. Routine use of antibiotics during the breeding cycle is not wise as you upset the natural balance of flora in the body. Antibiotics should be reserved for an infectious problem which has been demonstrated by a culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A variety of insemination options were discussed, including the use of fresh, chilled or frozen semen. Ovulation timing using progesterone and LH levels was reviewed. Stud dog management should include a periodic semen evaluation, as well as regular prostate and testicular exams. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“The Canine Genome Decoded: An Introduction for Dog Breeders”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Christopher Irizarry, PhD</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A presentation related to “bioinformatics”: the science of decoding the biological information contained within genes and genomes. The canine genome shares many similarities with other mammalian species, and differs from them just by a few small percentage points. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dr. Irizarry explained how some genetic research is conducted. His team worked with mice and “knocked out” or removed one certain gene from the genome. The chromosome was then replaced into the breeding animal and offspring were tested to see if they were missing the gene. Then if they had two animals who both were missing the particular gene being studied, they bred those together to try to get offspring that were “doubled up” for the missing gene, then they would observe what effect this had. The found a gene that limited growth of muscle tissue (“myostatin”), which, when “knocked out” of the genome and “doubled up” offspring were completely missing this gene, the animals were extremely overmuscled. There were examples pictured of this effect in both mice and cattle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“On Breed Identification: Visual and DNA”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Victoria Voith, DVM, PhD, DACVB</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">An interactive session comprised of a breed identification quiz. Photos of shelter dogs were taken, shelter workers were surveyed for each dog. They were asked<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if the dog was purebred or a mixed breed, and if mixed, what were the primary and secondary breeds. The dogs’ actual breed composition was identified by DNA analysis and compared with the answers given by the shelter workers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We seminar participants also took this breed identification survey. Results seemed to indicate that identification of breed makeup based on appearance is not reliably accurate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“ABC’s of Dog Breeding” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Claudia Waller Orlandi, PhD</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This was the keynote speaker, and all participants received a copy of her book, which is a wonderful explanation of dog breeding presented in a fun and easy to understand format. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Genetics, selection, breeding systems, pedigree analysis, canine anatomy, genetic defects and kennel blindness were all discussed, using an interesting slideshow. The book we received is a wealth of information! You can buy it from the website:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">http://www.abcsofdogbreeding.com/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Some key points: The pedigree is not more important to consider than the dog itself. Also, linebreeding beyond the fourth generation will have little impact on a litter. No one part of the anatomy of a dog is more important than the whole dog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In the seminar, discussion of inbreeding/linebreeding did briefly touch on inbreeding depression, and the hazards of doubling up on harmful recessive genes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Popular sire syndrome is not mentioned. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The harmful effects of homozygosity on the immune system were never mentioned. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In fact, the speaker stated that we would all like to have dogs that are homozygous for all “good” genes. The evidence is available that genetic homozygosity is not beneficial except for being useful to produce some predictability in breeding results. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Inbreeding has been necessary to form some breeds but it has had the side effect of setting in defects into almost every breed. Further culling in attempt to remove those defects results in lack of genetic diversity which is essential for health.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Narrow breed standards and judging for the extreme “stand out” specimens who are extreme in type promotes unhealthy extreme animals. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yes, we want to produce predictable type and soundness; but our dogs also need some genetic variability. Heterozygosity in general produces healthier animals, with improved vigor and stronger immune systems. This will promote vigor, longevity and strong immune systems for our breeds to remain viable into the future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“Grooming from the Inside”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Deborah A. Greco, DVM, PhD</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The speaker is a senior research scientist with Nestle Purina Petcare. Good quality skin and hair coat can be maintained through a well-balanced diet. Her contention is that commercial pet foods are the easiest choice when available for maintaining skin and coat condition in healthy animals. She further believes that caution and care should be used when prescribing supplements or homemade diets to ensure proper nutrient balance. “Food is the least expensive and most important grooming tool available to the modern day breeder.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There was no mention made of melamine toxicity, aflatoxicosis, or the many problems associated with the overprocessed ingredients used in most all commercial pet foods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Erika Werne gave a comprehensive overview of AKC’s CHIC program. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I’d like to thank AKC for this very interesting and valuable symposium; I hope that another will be presented in our area in the near future.</span></div>
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Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-37030156258933324922015-07-27T18:32:00.001-07:002015-07-27T18:32:31.007-07:00Seizure DisordersSEIZURE DISORDERS <br />
<br />
<dir>
By Geneva Coats <br />
Your dog develops a far-away look in his eyes, suddenly collapses and begins
to tremor and shake uncontrollably. Before you have a chance to react, the
incident is over. He remains lethargic and weak for a while afterwards. What
happened? <br />
Seizures, epilepsy, "fits", convulsions, all different terms referring to the
same condition. <br />
A seizure results from sudden uncontrolled abnormal firing of neurons in the
brain. The brain exists in a delicate state of chemical and physical balance.
This balance can be upset by a number of factors. If the balance in the brain
shifts too far, brain cells (neurons) may become over stimulated, and a seizure
may result. This point at which seizures occur is known as the "seizure
threshold". <br />
Seizures are commonly preceded by an "aura" or altered state which may be
characterized by restlessness, nervousness, salivation, and anxiety. The "ictus"
or actual seizure follows next. The dog will become nonresponsive, collapse, and
experience involuntary motor movements such as stretching, kicking, or paddling.
The motions may vary in intensity from mild tremors to severe jerking movements.
Seizures place tremendous stress on the heart, lungs and circulation. The body
temperature may get very high from all the muscle activity, and the animal may
not breathe adequately. This may result (in rare cases) in brain damage and
death. The actual seizure itself may last only seconds or minutes. A seizure
persisting more than a few minutes is an EMERGENCY, which requires immediate
treatment by the closest veterinary facility. The postictal stage is the period
of time after the seizure; the dog may remain lethargic and weak, and possibly
disoriented. <br />
To be considered a true seizure, there must be an alteration in the level of
consciousness. If the dog is conscious, responsive, aware of his surroundings,
or is awakened easily from a sleep state, he is not having a true seizure. Heart
and lung problems can sometimes result in weakness and collapse, and middle ear
infections can cause dizziness. Twitching and jerking motions may occur in a
sleep state, and this is considered normal in early neurological development of
puppies. <br />
There can also be focal or partial seizures, which affect a certain part of
the body. For instance, the face or just one limb may be involved. This may
progress to involve the entire body. The fact that the seizure starts in a local
area suggests that a specific area in the brain is damaged, perhaps due to a
brain tumor or infection. <br />
Seizures are a sign of irritation of the brain tissue, just as a coughing is
a sign of irritation of the respiratory tract. Any of the factors listed below
can trigger uncontrolled firing of the neurons of the brain. When a seizure is
the result of an identifiable cause, the disorder is known as symptomatic or
secondary epilepsy. Seizures may be caused by any of the following: <br />
Brain tumor-more common in dogs over 5 years old. <br />
Head injury <br />
Stroke-can be caused either by bleeding in the brain or bydeficiency of the
blood flow to the brain tissue. Either condition can be associated with
seizures. <br />
Hypoglycemia or low blood glucose (sugar)-common in toy breeds and especially
puppies. Rubbing a small amount of sugar or syrup on the lips, gums and tongue
may be effective in stopping the seizure if caused by low blood sugar. <br />
Hypoxemia - Low blood oxygen, with resultant lack of oxygen available to the
brain. This can be due to poor lung function, or an abnormal cardiac or
pulmonary shunting process in a youngster. <br />
Elevated blood ammonia level due to liver infection, cirrhosis or a liver
shunt. <br />
Inflammatory or infectious disease of the nervous system. This can include
Lyme disease, distemper, rabies, toxoplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted
fever, encephalitis and meningitis. <br />
Ingestion of toxins such as lead, caffeine, chocolate <br />
Botulism-toxins sometimes produced by a bacteria in food. <br />
Exposure to pesticides such as organophosphates (many flea control products)
and metaldehyde (snail bait) <br />
Congenital problems, such as hydrocephalus, which produce increased
intracranial pressure. <br />
Intestinal parasites, which can cause severe anemia and hypoglycemia. Some
parasites also migrate to the liver and brain in their larval forms. <br />
Low serum calcium or magnesium levels- for example, eclampsia in a lactating
bitch. <br />
Blood sodium or potassium imbalances. This can be caused by dehydration or
kidney problems. <br />
Genetic predisposition as in the MDR-1 mutation common to many herding
breeds. This mutation causes a lack of the protein which exerts a protective
function in the blood-brain barrier and limits the entry of many drugs to the
central nervous system. The lack of this protein renders the dog susceptible to
the neurotoxic side effects of several drugs including Ivermectin, Moxidectin
and Loperamide. <br />
Kidney failure and high levels in the blood of uremic toxins <br />
Hyperthermia as a result of fever or heat stroke <br />
Thyroid hormone deficiency or hyperactive thyroid. <br />
Seizures are a common disorder in dogs. When tests are done and no reason can
be found for the seizure, the disorder is referred to as "idiopathic epilepsy".
The term "idiopathic" means that there is no cause for the problem, and that the
seizures are not the result of another disease process. This is the type of
epilepsy which is usually considered to have an inherited basis. <br />
Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common canine seizure disorder, occurring in
up to nearly 6% of all dogs. The problem is more prevalent in some breeds than
others. There is a suspected genetic basis for idiopathic epilepsy in German
Shepherds, Belgian Tervurens, Keeshonden, Beagles, Dachshunds, Pugs, Poodles,
St. Bernards, Irish setters, Siberian Huskies, Cocker Spaniels, Wire-Haired Fox
Terriers, Labrador and Golden Retrievers, and Australian Shepherds. In breeds
which are genetically predisposed, up to 14% of the population may develop
epilepsy. As epilepsy has been shown to be an inherited disorder in humans,
baboons, mice, rats, rabbits, gerbils, and chickens, it seems logical that is
can be an inherited disorder in dogs as well. Test breeding of epileptic dams
and sires done by veterinary researchers have produced incidences of epilepsy in
the offspring ranging from between 38% (affected to nonaffected) to 100%
(breeding together of two affected dogs). <br />
Hereditary epilepsy commonly begins between the ages of 1-3 years. Seizures
which begin earlier or later in the dog's life most probably are a result of a
disease process such as those listed above. Your vet will likely want to rule
out these conditions before deciding that your dog has hereditary epilepsy. <br />
If your dog has a seizure, don’t panic. Check the clock and make a note of
how many seconds or minutes the seizure activity lasts. Keep your dog in a safe
environment until the seizure is over. Note what type of abnormal muscular
activity happens, so you can describe it for your vet. Do not put anything in
your dog’s mouth. Remain by your dog to comfort him. Call your vet for further
advice. If the seizure lasts more than a few minutes, take your dog to the
closest veterinary facility for immediate care. If your dog has recurrent
seizures (more than once in 24 hours), again, seek immediate medical assistance.
<br />
Determining the cause is essential for making appropriate treatment choices,
and to assist in breeding decisions. You should seek the advice of your
veterinarian. Your vet will obtain a medical history, and a full exam including
a neurologic exam. He will do blood tests, a urinalysis and fecal exam to look
for any possible cause for the seizures. Other exams may include x-ray or
ultrasound of the abdomen, EEG to evaluate brain waves, skull x-ray or head MRI,
and a cerebrospinal fluid analysis if infection is suspected. Treatment will
depend upon the cause of the seizure. <br />
In the case of idiopathic epilepsy, if your dog experiences seizures more
frequently than once a month, your vet may decide to place your dog on seizure
medication. Antiepileptic drugs do not cure epilepsy, they simply control the
seizures. Life-long therapy may be expected. The drugs increase inhibition in
the brain, decrease the seizure threshold, and thus make seizures less likely.
This often results in side effects such as sedation, uncoordination of movements
and appetite stimulation. These effects lessen with time as the body becomes
habituated to the medication. The number of dogs who have serious side effects
from the medication is small, and often preventable through careful health
monitoring. Regular rechecks are essential, and a thorough physical should be
done at least yearly. <br />
Phenobarbital and Primidone (Mysoline) are considered first line drugs for
idiopathic epilepsy. They are eliminated by the liver and over time may cause
liver damage. Your vet will want to monitor liver function tests on a regular
basis to avoid this problem. Also blood levels of these drugs are checked to
help with deciding on the dosage required. Bone marrow depression and anemia may
occur, so a blood count should be done yearly as well. <br />
Potassium Bromide can be used in dogs. Interestingly, it is not well
tolerated by humans, as it causes psychological problems in people. However,
this is not a problem for dogs. Salty foods should not be given with bromide.
Bromide can be mixed with food, as it sometimes can cause an upset stomach. <br />
Valium (diazepam) is affective in treating the acute phase of seizure
activity. It is not as effective when given routinely, and is usually reserved
for emergency situations. <br />
Many of the newer antiepileptic drugs, such as Dilantin, Tegretol, and
Depakote, are metabolized more quickly by dogs than humans. The need for
frequent dosing (and their higher price tag) makes their use impractical for
dogs. <br />
Unless the seizures are due to low blood sugar or low oxygen due to
heart/lung disease, there is no reason to restrict activity. Most epileptic
seizures occur when the pet is relaxed and quiet, or even sleeping. Most
epileptic pets can lead relatively normal lives with careful monitoring, a
healthy diet, plenty of fresh air and exercise, and their favorite human nearby.
<br />
References <br />
Davol, Pamela A. "Understanding Canine Epilepsy" <br />
Dvorak, Roy, "Why Does My Dog Have Seizures" <br />
Graves, Thomas K, DVM, "Seizures in Dogs" <br />
O'Brien, Dennis, DVM, PhD., "Understanding Your Pet's Epilepsy" <br />
Primovic, Debra, DVM, "Seizure Disorders" <br />
Copyright 2006. This article may not be reproduced or distributed in any form
without express written consent of the author.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></dir>Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-37774758077983896512015-07-27T18:18:00.003-07:002015-07-27T18:18:24.354-07:00Arthritis<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14pt;"><em>ARTHRITIS</em></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Geneva</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> Coats,
R.N.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Originally published in the <em>Pomeranian Review</em></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The term “arthritis” means
inflammation of the joints. Any joint can be affected by arthritis, including
hips, knees, elbows, shoulders, even toes and the spine. Arthritis has a
devastating effect on the quality of life, making simple motions such as
walking, jumping, and climbing painful or even impossible.</span></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The ends of bones are covered
with cartilage, a form of connective tissue. Cartilage acts as a “shock
absorber” between the bones. These areas rub together with movement and can
literally wear away. As cartilage wears away, calcium deposits can be laid down,
which causes further pain and restricts movement.</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Special thick fluid
lubricates the joint space for ease of motion, and helps prevent cartilage from
wearing away as a result of friction. However, as the body ages it may lose the
ability to replenish joint fluid or maintain the cartilaginous surfaces on the
ends of the bones. <span style="color: black;">Cartilage repairs itself very
slowly, due to poor nutrient supply and the fact that joints are seldom
resting.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span> </div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">WHAT CAUSES
ARTHRITIS?</span></span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A common cause of arthritis is
degeneration associated with aging. Arthritis can also be the result of a
traumatic injury, or it can be due to a deformity like hip dysplasia or patellar
luxation. Autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are
characterized by joint surface destruction and inflammation caused by a
malfunctioning immune system. Arthritis may sometimes result from a systemic
bacterial infection or from diseases acquired from tick bites. Gout is another
form of arthritis caused by mineral or crystal deposits in the joints.
</span></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">SYMPTOMS</span></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Arthritis usually develops gradually
over time. Cartilage does not contain blood vessels or nerves, so once the joint
becomes painful, significant damage has already been done. Symptoms of arthritis
can include pain, limping, stiffness, resistance to touch or reluctance to
participate in activities that the dog formerly enjoyed. Sometimes a dog may be
regarded as “lazy” when in reality he simply prefers to move around as little as
possible to avoid pain. A radiograph can confirm arthritic changes in the
joints. </span></span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">PREVENTION </span></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There are several things we as owners
can do to help prevent and treat arthritis in our dogs. Throughout your dog’s
life, keep him in lean, fit condition. Joint movement stimulates the production
of beneficial lubricating joint fluids, so moderate low-impact exercise such as
walking or swimming is recommended to maintain joint health. Being overweight
stresses the joints, and exercise helps to prevent obesity. However, do not
overdo physical activity because this can lead to fatigue and injuries. Also,
too much stress to muscles or bones of a young developing body can cause
deformity or damage, which may eventually result in arthritis. For this reason
aggressive physical workouts are generally not recommended, particularly for the
immature dog. </span></span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">TREATMENT</span></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Most treatments for arthritis center on
resting the joint and reducing pain and inflammation. Providing your dog with a
supplemental heat source can provide great relief. A heating pad or infrared
heat lamp can be used for 15-20 minutes several times daily. Cold flooring
should be avoided, and of course your arthritic dog would appreciate a nice soft
bed. Many people buy or build ramps for their dog when navigating stairs or
getting in and out of the car becomes difficult.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consult your veterinarian for advice about the
use of anti-inflammatory medications. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Corticosteroids</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>such as prednisone or dexamethasone may
be prescribed in severe cases. Steroids provide quick relief to the inflammation
and pain from arthritis, but they also have serious side effects such as GI
upset, weight gain, elevated blood sugar level. With prolonged use, steroids
cause loss of muscle mass, weakening of bones and depression of the immune
system. Use of steroids can also make the problem worse by causing damage to
cartilage. Their use is generally reserved for short-term treatment in cases of
severe pain and immobility.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
medications (NSAIDs)</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
are frequently recommended. If your veterinarian agrees, aspirin can be tried,
using a dosage of 5-10 mg per pound. Do NOT use Tylenol (acetaminophen) or
Motrin (ibuprofen).</span></span></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other NSAIDS used for the treatment of canine
arthritis include:</span></span></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt 41pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 41.0pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">�<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Rimadyl
or Novox (carprofen)</span></span></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt 41pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 41.0pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">�<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Etogesic
(etodolac)</span></span></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt 41pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 41.0pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">�<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Deramaxx
(deracoxib) </span></span></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt 41pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 41.0pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">�<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Metacam
(meloxicam) </span></span></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt 41pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 41.0pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">�<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Zubrin
(tepoxalin) and </span></span></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt 41pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 41.0pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">�<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Previcox
(firocoxib).</span></span></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">These NSAIDs are very effective
for relief of pain and inflammation, but there is also a high risk of adverse
reactions. Side effects of NSAIDs may range from loss of appetite to ulcers,
gastrointestinal bleeding, liver disease, kidney problems and in some cases even
death. These medications should only be used under careful supervision of your
veterinarian. </span></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Your dog should not take more
than one type of NSAID at a time, and a NSAID should only be combined with a
steroid very cautiously. Another important point to consider is that steroids
and NSAIDs may temporarily relieve symptoms, but they do not improve the
condition of the joint structure, and can actually cause further damage to the
joint tissues. A holistic approach to arthritis is founded on nutritional joint
support.</span></span></h3>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">SOME DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR
ARTHRITIS</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There are some diet modifications that
may be helpful to control arthritis. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grains</b> and other starchy carbohydrates
should be avoided because they may aggravate inflammation. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Overprocessed</b> foods with added sugar,
salt, artificial colors and flavors and artificial preservatives such as
ethoxyquin and BHA/BHT should be eliminated. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fruits and berries</b> can be added to the
diet; the bioflavonoids that they contain are powerful antioxidants that help
reduce the pain and inflammation of arthritis. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Beneficial vegetables</b> include celery,
carrots, parsley, asparagus, broccoli, cilantro, and garlic. Members of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">nightshade</b> family of vegetables should
be avoided because they contain irritating solanine alkaloids. This includes
peppers, onions, white potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Liver</b> should be limited to no more than
5% of the diet.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR
ARTHRITIS</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;">Nutraceutical
supplements</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"> help to
improve the actual problem, not just relieve the symptoms. Dietary supplements
can be taken along with anti-inflammatory medications and can be continued on a
long-term basis without any serious adverse side effects. They are generally
regarded as harmless. There are many combination products marketed specifically
for arthritis. We will cover some of the more commonly recommended supplements
here. </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cartilage has two key structural
components: collagen fibers (made of protein) and a reinforced gel composed of
proteoglycans (GAGs like chondroitin and hyaluronan) which attract and hold
water. </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" name="top"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Supplements provide the body with the building
materials needed to maintain healthy
cartilage.</span></span></span></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bookmark: top;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;">Glucosamine</span></i></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: top;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"> is a natural
substance that is found in normal joint tissue</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;">. Glucosamine
stimulates the production of glucosaminoglycans (GAGs) which are important joint
proteins. Two examples of GAGs are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chondroitin </i></b>and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hyaluronan. </i></b>When taken as a dietary
supplement, glucosamine helps rebuild cartilage and restore synovial (joint)
fluid. It also has been found to reduce pain and
discomfort.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">The tissues that depend on
glucoasmine to remain healthy include tendons and ligaments, cartilage, synovial
fluid, mucous membranes, several structures in the eye, blood vessels, and heart
valves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Glucosamine has been used for a variety
of problems including: breakdown and inflammation of the synovial fluids, damage
to the tissues, ligaments and muscles, inflamed sciatic nerve, inflamed joints
associated with aging, tracheal weakness and loss of elasticity in the
intervertebral discs. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Chondroitin</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> is a major component of cartilage
structure. Supplemental chondroitin is believed to promote water retention and
elasticity in the joints. Chondroitin enhances the effectiveness of glucosamine
when taken together. Also, chondroitin inhibits the enzymes that break down
cartilage. Natural c<span style="color: black;">hondroitin production declines
with age and is disrupted by stress or injury. NSAIDs and corticosteroid drugs
that are often prescribed for arthritis also contribute to joint damage.
</span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When taking
glucosamine and chondroitin for arthritis, start at a high dose and taper down
when you notice improvement. Use at least 20 mg glucosamine per pound of body
weight. Allow at least four weeks before expecting to see improvement, although
often you will notice pain relief and improved movement after just a few
days.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Most glucosamine and chondroitin
supplements are produced from the chitinous shells of ocean crustaceans, or from
animal cartilage such as bovine trachea. Consumerlab.com has tested various
brands of glucosamine supplements marketed for pets, and found that many
contained far less chondroitin that they claimed, and some were contaminated
with lead. One reliable source recommended Cosequin and Dr Foster and Smith
brand. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hyaluronan, </span></i></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">also known as hyaluronic acid<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">,</i></b> is another substance in the same
family as chondroitin. Hyaluronan is the main component of joint fluid. Natural
hyaluronan is a thick gel in the joint that cushions and lubricates the joint
cartilage surfaces. Hyaluronan is available as a nutritional supplement and has
been shown to enter joints and improve condition. Some commercially formulated
hyaluronan supplements include Trixsyn and Lubrisyn. </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Manganese</span></i></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is
included with many glucosamine/chondroitin supplements as it is believed to
improve absorption.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Adequan</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
is a purified injectable form of GAG. This injection is given twice weekly for
four weeks. Adequan relieves joint pain, stimulates cartilage regeneration,
reduces inflammation and stimulates the production of healthy joint fluid.
</span></span></span></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">MSM
</span></i></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">is
a natural sulfur-containing compound derived from kelp. Sulfur is needed for
production of collagen, glucosamine and chondroitin</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Perna Mussel </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">or green-lipped mussel is a
shellfish found in New Zealand. It is high in protein, and contains significant
levels of glucosamine and GAGs. Some dog foods (Blue Buffalo and Ziwipeak)
include perna mussel in their formulas. </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">OTHER NATURAL
ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fish oil or salmon oil</span></i></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is
helpful to soothe arthritic joints. Recent studies in dogs and reported by the
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association confirmed the benefits of
fish oil for arthritis. <span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: black;">Compared to placebo groups, the dogs receiving omega-3 fatty acids
had a significantly improved ability to rise from a resting position and play by
six weeks after beginning supplementation, and improved ability to walk by 12
weeks. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fish oil contains
beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids. Try one capsule of fish oil per ten pounds of
body weight. Make sure to use plain fish or salmon oil, and not fish <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">liver</i></b> oil. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Vitamin E</span></i></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is
depleted quickly with the use of fish oil, so supplemental E is a must. Vitamin
E also has potent pain relieving and anti-inflammatory qualities. Use 100 IU of
vitamin E per ten pounds of body weight at least three times a
week.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Vitamin C</span></i></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is
essential to maintain collagen, a major component of cartilage. Vitamin C can be
taken in doses of 10 mg per pound of body weight, up to 30 mg per pound daily.
Ester C is less irritating than ascorbic acid. While dogs do produce their own
vitamin C, in cases of arthritis a supplement may be particularly
helpful.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bromelain </span></i></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">is
an enzyme. It should be given on an empty stomach.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Quercitin </span></i></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">and
other <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">bioflavonoids</b> naturally occur
in fruits and are also available in some supplements. These have antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory properties.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Boswellia </span></i></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">is
an herb that demonstrated significant clinical improvement in joint pain in dogs
in a study done in 2004.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Yucca</span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is a root that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has a long history of use for arthritis. It
contains saponins that may stimulate the body’s natural steroid production.
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables
(ASUs</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">) are an
extract of avocado and soybean. They have anti-inflammatory properties and
enhance the action of glucosamine and chondroitin. Dasuquin is a product
combining Cosequin with ASUs<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></i></b> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">SAM-E </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">is believed to have
anti-inflammatory and pain-relieveing properties. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should be taken on an empty
stomach.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Duralactin </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">is a patented product derived from
milk of grass-fed cows. It may help reduce inflammation in some cases.
</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Velvet Antler</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> is a powdered deer antler
preparation that is not recommended because of the possibility of transmitting
prion chronic wasting disease. </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">C</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">urcumin</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> or <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Turmeric</i></b> is an herb in the ginger
family that is reputed to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It
is also known as Indian Saffron.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">With a little TLC and nutritional
support, your arthritic dog can remain active and comfotable well into his
senior years! </span></span></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (</span>This information is presented for
informational purposes only; please consult with your veterinarian for
advice regarding treatment of your dog’s arthritis.)</span></span></span></h3>
Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-53599181285361365682015-07-27T18:16:00.002-07:002015-07-27T18:16:27.812-07:00Chromosomes-Pull Up Yer Genes!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">CHROMOSOMES-Get
your Genes On!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Why is
Spot larger than Rover? Why does Trixie have a golden coat while Muffie’s is
black? And why are Muffie’s ears floppy while Rover’s stand
upright?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Specific
characteristics of living organisms are determined by their “GENES”. Genes are
“coding” segments made up of a substance called DNA. The DNA in your genes
is arranged in specific patterns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Different genes are strung together in long rows to form a rope-like
chain called a “chromosome”. Each chromosome contains thousands of
genes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Chromosomes
are instruction panels; they provide the blueprint to make an organism what it
is. Chromosomes carry all of the information necessary to help living things
grow, survive and reproduce. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Chromosomes
are located inside the cells of the body in a central control area called a
“nucleus”. These chromosomes determine not only what you look like, but also how
your body functions and, to a large extent, how you act, think and feel.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The DNA
that makes up genes and chromosomes is like a computer code of instructions.
Chromosomes s build a copy of themselves and send those instructions to other
parts of the cell, the ribosomes, and the ribosomes in turn manufacture proteins
according to instructions provided. These proteins might be enzymes for body
metabolism, or proteins for building body tissues. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">During
normal cell division for growth or cell replacement and repair, chromosomes
double and then split apart to form two cells from one. Now both of these cells
will end up with identical chromosomes within their nuclei. However, there is a
special type of cell division that happens to produce the reproductive or
“germinal” cells. Instead of doubling, the germinal cells are produced by by
splitting up the original chromosomes. These reproductive germinal cells, the
sperm and the eggs (ova), therefore will contain only HALF the number of
chromosomes as do the other cells of the body. When a sperm cell combines with
an ovum, VOILA! there is then a complete set of genes with a full set of
instructions to create a new living being. This new creature will have half his
genes originating from his father’s sperm, and the other half will have been
contributed by his mother’s ovum. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This
process involves something known as “random fertilization”. What does that
mean?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The
chromosome combination contributed by a sire to his offspring is random, and can
vary considerably. Half his chromosomes will end up in that sperm cell…but how
many different possible combinations of chromosomes can there be in any one
sperm cell? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Let’s
check it out. Humans have 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs, that divide and
split up to form germinal cells, and they assort independently. To form a
germinal cell, there are <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2^23</span></strong>,
or <b>8 million</b>, possible different assortments of chromosomes that could
be produced for each individual cell!! The ovum also has 8 million possible
different chromosome combinations. 8 million X 8 million = 64 trillion possible
unique combinations of chromosomes for every human offspring created from any
given mating! See how unique you are! Even your siblings may have quite a
different genetic makeup than you do!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A human
cell has 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs. A dog cell, however, has 78
chromosomes, arranged in 39 pairs. Each sire can produce roughly 550 BILLION
different assortments of chromosomes in their sperm cells. Multiply that by the
550 billion possible combinations of chromosomes in the dam’s ova, and there are
300,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 possible DIFFERENT combinations of chromosomes
that can be produced for any individual dog created from any specific mating.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">WOW!
that’s a lot of zeros. How do you read such a number? It is <em><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">30 billion
trillion</span></b></em>. This is roughly the same number as the estimate of
stars in the visible universe. Each dog from any certain mating is as unique in
his genetic makeup as a star! That's a very nice comparison, I
think.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But
wait! There is another factor that can further increase genetic variety in
offspring. This is the phenomenon known as “genetic crossover”. Crossover
commonly happens during cell division to produce sperm and ova. What does
“crossover” mean? Let’s see….remember we said that each chromosome has a partner
chromosome with similar genes on it. During cell division, part of one
chromosome may break off and swap material with its partner. This means that
sometimes the chromosome that you inherit is totally different from the original
one your parent has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crossover
process “shuffles the deck” so to speak, to produce even more variety in
offspring. It would be impossible to estimate how much more variety this effect
produces! But we would need millions more universes filled with billions more
stars to get close to the number of unique combinations of chromosomes possible
with any specific mating.<br /><br />This vastly inconceivable number implies a rich
potential to produce dogs who have a very unique and highly individualized
genetic makeup. This inherent variety in the dog genome is how man has been able
to create so many different breeds with characteristics as different as those
noted between a Chihuahua and an Irish Wolfhound. Compare the variety in dogs to
that of humans, who all look remarkably similar….even people of different races.
We have fewer chromosomes to reassort and recombine, and less chance of
isolating and promoting different specific traits. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now do
you still think that one or two litters is enough to judge what your dog can
produce? Although, I am sure there are animal rights “overpopulation”
handwringers out there who believe that every intact dog will produce billions
of puppies in just seven years. Hmmm, I only wish I could get more than three or
four at a time to select from!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And just
think, each and every chromosome contains thousands of individual genes! In the
next issue, we’ll talk about how those genes combine and recombine to work their
magic! </span></div>
<!--"''"--><!--/area Type="subhead"--><!--area Type="main"
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<!--"''"--><!--/area Type="subhead"--><!--area Type="main" face="Courier New,Courier,serif" size="2" color="000000" style="0" password_protection="basic"--><!--/area Type="main"--><!--area Type="area_a" face="Courier New,Courier,serif" size="2" color="000000" style="0" password_protection="basic"--><!--/area Type="area_a"--><!--area Type="area_b" face="Courier New,Courier,serif" size="2" color="000000" style="0" password_protection="basic"--><!--/area Type="area_b"--><!--area Type="area_c" face="Courier New,Courier,serif" size="2" color="000000" style="0" password_protection="basic"--><!--/area Type="area_c"-->Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-62462246612910433762015-07-27T18:14:00.001-07:002015-07-27T18:14:33.875-07:00Head for the Spa!<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
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<td width="594"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><i>
</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><i></i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><i><div>
You know you need a spa weeked away from the dogs
when.....<!--"''"--></div>
</i></b></span>
<br />
<!--/area Type="subhead"--><br /></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" height="15" src="file:///C:/Users/gcoats/Desktop/verizon%20site/design/spacer.gif" width="1" />You Know You Need a Spa Weekend Away From the Dogs When......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="593"><!--area Type="main" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2" color="#000000" style="0" password_protection="basic"-->
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You’d rather walk into PetSmart
than Sephora.<br /><br />You notice that ChalkMate leaves your hands oh, so silky
soft; and it smells just divine too!<br /><br />You’ve stopped using lipstick
because it has the annoying habit of transferring onto your bait.<br /><br />Your
grooming smock doubles as a bathrobe.<br /><br />You can't remember which shampoo
you bought for the dogs and which you bought for yourself.<br /><br />You start to
imagine how you'd look with a just a little trim around your ears.<br /><br />While
at <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Victoria</st1:place></st1:state>'s
Secret, you wonder which perfume would be just the perfect name for that cute
little girl in your latest litter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You make an appointment to
have your nails trimmed....er, I mean, have a pedicure.<br /><br />The correct
conditioning formula for your show dog involves great scientific study, but you
figure the family can use a VO5 combo shampoo/conditioner from the 99 cent
store. <br /><br />Your favorite cologne is eau de Crown Royale Magic Touch
Conditioner.<br /><br />Your closet is overflowing with sensible shoes and you can't
find an outfit without huge patch pockets.<br /><br />The phrase "optical
brighteners" intrigues you!! To cover your gray, you decide to personally test
the dog's color enhancing conditioner. <br /><br />On a show morning, you blow dry
the dog's hair first, then yours…but only if there is enough time.<br /><br />Your
dog brush is Mason Pearson 100% pure boar bristle, and his comb a "Greyhound",
mail order from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Your personal brush and
comb are "Goody" brand from a bin at Walmart.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You think that if you wear dark
nail polish to match your lipstick, along with thick black eyeliner, that your
lovely pigment might make a better impression on today's judge.
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You check behind you in the mirror
as you head out the door in the morning, but then suddenly remember, you are NOT
the one with the plumed tail!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">---Geneva Coats for the <em>Pomeranian Review</em></span></div>
</div>
</span><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-10762289904542215722015-07-27T18:11:00.000-07:002015-07-27T18:11:32.307-07:00Seven False Premises of Mandatory Spay-Neuter Laws<div align="left">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Courier New,Courier,serif; font-size: large;"><b>Seven False Premises of Mandatory
Spay-Neuter Laws</b></span></div>
<!--area Type="subhead" face="Courier New,Courier,serif" size="3" color="000000" style="3" password_protection="basic"-->
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Courier New,Courier,serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>
</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Courier New,Courier,serif; font-size: small;"><b><i><div>
Testimony of Dr. John Hamil regarding AB 1634. The phrase "mandatory
sterilization" is substituted for "AB 1634" in some sentences. The rest of the
text is unaltered. <!--"''"--></div>
<br /></i><br /></b><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<!--/area Type="subhead"--><!--area Type="main" face="Courier New,Courier,serif" size="2" color="000000" style="0" password_protection="basic"-->
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Courier New,Courier,serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Courier New,Courier,serif; font-size: x-small;"><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Courier New,Courier;"><strong>Twenty five years of experience in trying to
find solutions to the problems of animal relinquishment and
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Courier New,Courier;"><strong>euthanasia leads me to
request that you reject this ill-conceived bill which can not solve these
problems and,</strong> m</span><span style="font-family: Courier New,Courier;">ore likely, will
worsen them.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New,Courier;"><strong>AB 1634 is based on seven
</strong></span></div>
</span><div>
<br /></div>
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New,Courier;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">false
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Courier New,Courier;">premises:</span></span></span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New,Courier;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></strong></span></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<strong>1. That current policies and programs are not
working.</strong></div>
<strong></strong>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
The numbers of dogs entering and being euthanized in California shelters
has dramatically decreased over the last 30 years in the face continued
population growth. Unfortunately, the number of cats impounded and euthanized
has not decreased significantly in the last 10 years. We have two entirely
different dynamics which require very different approaches if we are to be
successful. Mandatory sterilization does nothing to reduce the numbers of cats
in shelters.</div>
<br />
<div>
<strong></strong> </div>
<br />
<div>
<strong>2. That the numbers of animals impounded and euthanized is
</strong></div>
<br />
<div>
<strong>due to a “Pet Overpopulation Problem.”</strong></div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
The study done by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy
found that the top five reasons for animal relinquishment were moving, landlord
issues, cost, lack of time for pet and inadequate facilities. None of these
factors are influenced by the purported “overpopulation” of pets. Mandated
sterilization does nothing to help pets remain in their homes. If the animals in
the shelter were due to “overpopulation;” we would find desirable puppies
available in shelters, there would be no market for internet and pet store
puppies, there would be no need for shelters to import puppies and puppy
smugglers and brokers would be out of business due to market saturation. There
is, in fact, a shortage of healthy, well bred and socialized puppies and kittens
in California.</div>
<br />
<div>
<strong></strong> </div>
<br />
<div>
<strong>3. That being sexually intact equates to being
bred.</strong></div>
<strong></strong>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
We know that for personal reasons many owners choose not to surgically
alter their pets and they are never bred. It is improper that the government
impose its will on these responsible citizens in the absence of any public
benefit.</div>
<br />
<div>
<strong></strong> </div>
<br />
<div>
<strong>4. That neutered animals are healthier physically and
behaviorally.</strong></div>
<strong></strong>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
Recently published data indicates that for a significant percentage of dogs
this is not the case.</div>
<br />
<div>
<strong></strong> </div>
<br />
<div>
<strong>5. That mandatory spay/neuter will significantly reduce shelter
impounds and euthanasia and that Santa Cruz is an example of its
success.</strong></div>
<strong></strong>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
MSN is a documented failure. Analysis of the Santa Cruz data and the
rejection of this policy by its originator; the Peninsula Humane Society, the No
Kill Community, Best Friends Sanctuary, and many other groups refutes this
assumption.</div>
<br />
<div>
<strong></strong> </div>
<br />
<div>
<strong>6. That mandatory spay/neuter will greatly reduce the Animal
Control costs.</strong></div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
Analysis of animal control data indicates that most costs are the fixed
costs of facilities; administration, equipment, staff and retirement benefits.
The continuous rise in California animal control costs in the face of decreasing
numbers of animals impounded refutes this assumption.</div>
<br />
<div>
<br /><strong>7. That the law will not involve veterinarians in
enforcement.</strong></div>
<br />
<div>
<br />The requirement for veterinarians to write letters of exemption and to
turn in rabies certificates indicating the reproductive status of the animal to
animal control identifies the owners of intact animals. The public will
correctly view veterinarians as enforcers. </div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
SPECIFIC VETERINARY CONCERNS</div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
• This law would intrude into the Doctor/Client/Patient relationship. This
is an invasive procedure accomplished under general anesthesia with significant
risk to the patient and there are significant physical and behavioral
consequences for some animals. For these reasons this decision should not be
mandated by the state but, rather, be made by the owner after discussion with
their family veterinarian.</div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
• In many jurisdictions with mandatory spay/neuter owners have tried to
drop out of the system by not licensing their animals. Many owners know that
veterinarians are required to turn in copies of rabies certificates and may
decide to forego needed rabies boosters, thereby creating an increased public
health risk.</div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
• The contentiousness of this bill has driven apart the groups that
contribute to and desire to solve this dilemma. If we are to be successful in
solving this problem, we need to bring these groups together in developing
innovative programs in the future.</div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
If passed, this law will be unfair to the economically disadvantaged. They
are the least likely to neuter their pets, see animal control as a threat, and
have limited access to low cost clinics. We need to find ways to help this group
enjoy the benefits of pet ownership.</div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
If passed, communities in California will no longer have access to Maddie’s
Funds. It is their policy to not provide funding for mandatory governmental
programs. “Maddie’s Fund is committed to volunteerism” and is intended to foster
innovative, collaborative programs like the CVMA Feral Cat Sterilization Program
that resulted in the sterilization of almost 200,000 cats over a 3 year period.
To date, Maddie’s Fund has provided over 19 million dollars to communities in
California. </div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
If passed, this bill will eliminate many local sources of healthy, well
bred and socialized pets. Because it will not decrease the demand for puppies
and kittens, the bill leaves the people of California vulnerable to puppymills,
unregulated internet sales, sellers of smuggled animals and unscrupulous brokers
of animals from out of the US. These poor quality pets will be a burden and an
expense and many will end up in our shelters.</div>
<br />
<div>
<br /><em><strong>Finally, it is my belief that locally developed, voluntary,
collaborative, supportive and science-based programs always out perform punitive
coercive ones. </strong></em></div>
<br />
<div>
<br />Thank you for your kind attention. As a veterinarian, past president of
the CVMA and an animal advocate, I ask you to vote AGAINST this bill.</div>
<br />
<div>
<br />(Adapted from Dr. Hamil's testimony at CA AB 1634 hearing)</div>
</span>Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-62459574991297148172015-07-27T18:07:00.002-07:002015-07-27T18:28:15.394-07:00Pigment and Health<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
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<td valign="top" width="596">
<h2>
Pigment and Health</h2>
<h3>
Merle and White Spotting Genes</h3>
<strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em></strong><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i><div>
This article was originally written in 2005, just prior to
the identification of the merle gene and the subsequent development of the DNA
test for merle, and the 2007 discovery of the MITF as the gene responsible for
"S" white spotting. It has been updated to reflect these
discoveries.<!--"''"--></div>
</i></b></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>
<div>
The Relationship of Pigment to Health</div>
<div>
by Geneva Coats, R.N.</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
Rare and exotic colors...one of the most attractive and exciting
features of our Pomeranians. Variety is the spice of life! Different styles
appeal to different breeders. However, there are some important pigment-related
health issues to consider. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
BREED STANDARDS<br /> Since the inception of purebred dog registries,
standards have been established for all breeds. The standard serves to protect a
breed from fashion whims. It strives to maintain a breed's traditional "look"
and purpose. The standard establishes desirable conformation goals, temperament
characteristics, and suitability for the original purpose of the breed. The
standard provides a goal for breeding practices. This is why standards are
written in the first place, to act as guides for breeders and judges. You don't
need to understand all the details and theories of genetics, but you do need to
abide by the standard when breeding and judging.<br /> Our Pomeranian standard
was changed in 1997 to allow all colors, patterns, and variations thereof. This
may serve to promote some breeding practices which might ultimately be
detrimental to the health of the breed. We need to examine this issue carefully.
The direction we take in breeding is the path to our future. The desire for
health and concern for future generations must always take precedence over the
desire for aesthetics. <br /> Why is a color or pattern so important to the
stewards of a breed? Breeders have always been keen scientific observers, even
before genetics became an established field. They have worked tirelessly toward
a goal of producing healthy dogs. Dog with health issues are in limited demand
as companions, and often unsuitable for work. Some breed standards disallow
excessive white, dilute colors or merle. Many breed standards specify that
parti-color dogs have a certain proportion of color to white, or that they must
have color extending over both eyes and ears. Most all standards call for full,
dark pigmentation of nose, lips, eye rims and pads. Albinism is generally
disallowed. These guidelines were not established for aesthetics' sake, but
because certain colors, patterns, and lack of pigmentation were known to be
associated with an increase in certain specific health problems. There is much
documentation and information related to the merle and white spotting patterns,
and they will be the focus of this article.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
COAT COLOR DEVELOPMENT<br /> The process of coloration and color patterns
in dogs starts with embryonic development. The cells which become melanocytes
(pigment producing cells) are derived entirely from the neural crest of the
embryo. Pigment cells develop from the same cells that give rise to the nervous
system. Defects in certain color genes can be associated with defects in the
nervous system, as evidenced by vision and hearing problems. Color provides a
logical genetic indicator, and explains why it is likely that certain patterned
dogs, such as extreme piebalds (>90% white) and merles may be at risk for
specific health problems. In studies to date, the coat patterns resulting from
genes producing white are significantly associated with deafness. In addition,
suppression by "white genes" of pigmentation in the iris of the eye is also
associated with deafness. On the other hand, the presence of pigmented, colored
patches in the coat is associated with reduced risk of deafness. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
WHAT IS MERLE?</div>
<div>
Merle is regarded as a coat pattern, not a color. The merle gene works like
other dilution genes, in that it lightens whatever color is already there.
Whatever the basic color of the dog-unless he is all white-the merle gene will
cause dilution and splotching imposed on the base coat color. The appearance is
a speckling or marbling, like when bleach is splashed on your clothes. The
pigment cells are affected individually in the fetus. Some are disabled
completely, leaving white areas. Some cells allow partial expression of pigment,
leaving merled or dappled areas. Some cells are unaffected, leaving the coat
color normal or non-merled. The amount of dappling or merling can vary. The dog
can have perhaps just a small dappled spot somewhere, or perhaps just a light
eye with a nondappled, normal coat. Or, it might display dappling throughout the
coat. The effect is most noticeable on a black coat; where the black is diluted
to grey, the color is called "blue merle". <br /> Merle appears at first
glance to be dominant, because if a dog carries one gene for the merle factor,
he will be affected by it. However, merle is different, because it is
incompletely dominant. A single merle gene, inherited from one parent, produces
what is known as a "heterozygous" or "single" merle. This single copy of the
gene will usually cause the affected dog to display merling somewhere in the
coat. This can range from light dappling to extensive dappling. Sometimes the
effect on the coat is not evident, and there is no way to tell at maturity that
the dog carries the merle gene. Sometimes, blue flecks in the eyes are the the
only sign that a dog carries the merle gene.
<div>
If two heterozygous merles are bred together, statistically 25% of the
offspring will inherit two merle factor genes, one from each parent. When this
happens, we produce what is known as a "Double (homozygous) merle". The effect
of the gene is then doubly intense. There is so much color dilution that the dog
is usually predominantly white, and almost always has impaired hearing or
vision-or both.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
In Great Danes, merle interacts with another gene called harlequin, which
bleaches the gray areas of the coat to white. In the pure homozygous form,
harlequin is lethal. In Danes and Aussies, the tweed pattern is a variation on
merle which adds a third, intermediate shade to the coat. <br /> </div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
Many double merle dogs are so defective that they do not survive to birth.
(estimates are as high as 50% mortality in utero). Those that survive are the
ones with "just minor" defects...minor enough to handicap rather than kill. A
gene that destroys half of those carrying it in a double dose in utero cannot be
dismissed or ignored.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
In French, the word "merle" means "blackbird", and "le merle blanc" ("The
white blackbird") is an expression, meaning something that is impossible
or something that cannot exist. This is an admirable goal for the white merle
dog! </div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
HOW MERLE WORKS</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Merle is a gene that is inherently unstable. It is a "transposon", or
transposable element; a mobile parasite segment of DNA in the chromosome.
Transposons usually originate from viruses. A virus is a particle containing DNA
which inserts itself into the host cell, thereby infecting it. If the virus does
not kill the host cell, it can leave behind a piece of its genetic material in
the DNA of the host cell. When this happens in the sex or germinal cells, the
particle can become a part of the genetic makeup of some of the offspring. This
is a way that mutation occurs. </div>
<div>
Transposons have also been called "junk DNA or "selfish DNA", as they
rarely provide any benefit to the host cell. Transposons are also often referred
to as "jumping genes." The transposon can move to different positions in the
cell in a "cut and paste" process. In so doing, it may cause mutations, or alter
the amount of DNA in the genome. The merle transposon segment may lose some of
its DNA particles during cellular replication during early embryonic
development. Coat color in that area will then be less affected by the gene, or
even unaffected, and the underlying true coat color will be expressed. This
explains why there are some areas of the coat which are NOT dappled, and other
areas which ARE. <br /> </div>
<div>
The decorative variegated Indian corn is produced by transposon elements in
the corn gene. Many viruses, such as those responsible for AIDS and feline
leukemia, function as transposons. In humans, hereditary diseases such as
hemophilia A and B, predisposition to colon polyps and cancer, and Duchenne
muscular dystrophy, are all related to inherited mutations produced through the
transposon process. Genetic engineers sometimes use transposons to try to
intentionally introduce certain genes into an organism.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
There are also documented cases of homozygous merles producing non-merle
offspring ("germinal reversion"). This is further evidence of the instability of
the gene. Not only can you sometimes get non-merle pups (which should not happen
according to the rules of Mendelian genetics), but worse things can happen. The
"cleft palate syndrome" is a rare and isolated Aussie defect that has been the
subject of numerous scientific journal articles and symposia presentations. It
is a sex-linked (on the X chromosome) defect, in which females have minor
abnormalities, like extra toes, while males die of massive skeletal
abnormalities and a cleft palate. This disease started with a homozygous merle
bitch that was kept for coat color research.<br /><br />PIGMENT PLAYS A ROLE IN
HEALTH</div>
<div>
Many breeds have the white spotting and merle factors in their gene pools.
These genes are not colors per se, but do affect the expression of coat color.
In breeds which have traditionally included the merle color pattern, the
predominantly white (double-factored) merle has been disallowed in the show
ring, as well as selected against in the whelping box. And with very good
reason. The gene which produces the merle pattern is associated with some very
serious health defects. Both the white spotting gene and the merle gene are
known to sometimes affect hearing. The merle gene, however, is unique in that
it interacts in an as-yet undetermined manner with genes for eye features.</div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
MERLE AND EYESIGHT</div>
<div>
There is a complex of eye defects associated with the merle gene. These
defects can be superficial in nature, such as a difference in color between the
iris of one eye and the other. The example of this is a dog with one brown eye
and one blue eye. (Note that this trait is not necessarily indicative of
possession of the merle gene, because it can also be found in dogs with extreme
white spotting). In addition to superficial indicators there are also major
effects, such as absence of the reflective substance which lines the back of the
eye, resulting in reduced ability to see in low light. There can be lack of
retinal pigment, which directly reduces vision. Small or absent eyeballs,
irregular or starburst pupils, and clefts in the iris can occur, as well as
persistent pupillary membrane, strabismus (cross-eyed), lens luxation , and
juvenile cataracts.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
THE MERLE LINK TO MICROPHTHALMIA</div>
<div>
The term "microphthalmia" means a smaller than normal, tiny eyeball due to
a defect in early development. Microphthalmia is a defect very commonly
associated with merle; particularly homozygous "double" merle, it even rarely
occurs in heterozygous or "single" merles. Complete absence of the eyeball in
the eye socket sometimes occurs. This is known as anophthalmia. </div>
<div>
MITF, or "Microphthalmia Transcription Factor", was discovered in 2007 to
be the location of the gene that affects pigmentation, causing white spotting
(otherwise known as the particolor or piebald pattern). </div>
<div>
The merle gene is believed to affect eye development through some sort of
interaction with MITF. Now, why would microphthalmia occur in association with
merle and not just with white coat color in particolor dogs? I've asked several
canine geneticists, but have received no answer! This relationship is still a
mystery. The exact mechanism by which merle interacts with the white spotting
gene and produces the defect of microphthalmia is still waiting to be
discovered! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
MERLE AND HEARING<br /> Hearing impairment can occur in merles due to a
lack of melanin or pigment in the inner ear. Not all merles will develop
problems with hearing, it all depends on whether or not the inner ear is
pigmented. If the inner ear isn't pigmented, the nerve cells responsible for
hearing can't develop as they should. Then, the nerve endings atrophy and die
off in the first few weeks of the puppy's life, resulting in partial or total
deafness. The deafness is neither dominant nor recessive, but is linked to the
merle gene which disrupts pigmentation and secondarily produces deaf dogs.
</div>
<div>
White outer ear color is often associated with lack of inner ear pigment
and deafness. However, sometimes deafness occurs even with patches of color on
the ears. Mild to moderate hearing impairment may never be noticed, and is
rarely tested for. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
ONE COPY OF THE GENE HARMLESS?<br /> The popular belief is that
heterozygous merles are completely normal, and that only homozygous merles have
health defects. Heterozygous merles can have expression of lesser defects of the
eye such as clefts in the iris, and a thinning of the retina (similar to what is
found with Collie eye anomaly). There are also rare cases of microphthalmia in
"single" merles. Deafness can also sometimes occur, if the merle gene prevents
pigment deposition in the nerve cells of the inner ear during embryonic
development.</div>
<div>
Heterozygous "single" merles often have reduced eye pigment which produces
the characteristic blue eyes. Interestingly, the amount of white even in
homozygous merles does not correlate to severity of eye defects. In a study of
the embryonic origin of merle eye defects, Dr. Cynthia Cook, of the University
of California, San Francisco, observed that the severity of eye defect and
amount of pigment were not related. This is in contrast to hearing impairment
in merles; the likelihood of deafness increases with increasing amounts of white
in the hair coat. </div>
<div>
The Hannover Veterinary School in Germany conducted studies on Dapple
(merle) Dachshunds. Their studies demonstrated eye problems, sperm
imperfections, and hearing impairment. These problems were found in homozygous
merles, and also heterozygous merles. Hearing faults, ranging from slight
hardness of hearing to complete deafness, occurred in 54.6% of homozygous merles
and 36.8% of heterozygous merles. As a result of these studies, in 1986 it was
suggested that FCI restrict the breeding of merles on welfare grounds. These
studies, however, are now generally considered outdated. Future testing of
vision and hearing in merle dogs will hopefully paint a clearer picture for us.
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
GENETIC LINKAGE CAN CAUSE SPREAD OF DEFECTS</div>
<div>
Genes on the same chromosome are usually inherited together. However,
during cellular division and replication, sometimes chromosomes will randomly
break and recombine. Genes that were formerly associated with each other can
then become separated and inherited independently. This process is known as
genetic linkage. We have already mentioned the Aussie cleft palate
syndrome which originated with a merle bitch. Iris coloboma, or missing part of
the iris, is being reported in non-merle Aussies. Coloboma appears as a notch at
the edge of the pupil, giving the pupil an irregular shape. This sight-altering
defect is believed to have been brought into the breed through linkage with the
merle factor. This trait is now inherited independently from merle.</div>
<div>
It is likely more than coincidence that breeds in which merle is most
common are also breeds which are heavily plagued with a variety of eye defects.
Yearly CERF testing by a veterinary ophthalmologist can help screen out
heritable abnormalities. Further studies in merle dogs are needed to observe the
frequency and exact methods by which eye defects are produced. It is theorized
that some mutations are produced by damage done to portions of the chromosome
located near to the erratic merle transposon.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
BREEDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MERLE</div>
<div>
Sometimes a dog is genetically carrying the merle factor gene, but there
are no outward signs (cryptic or phantom merle). This dog could easily be
inadvertently bred to another merle and result in the production of homozygous
double merles, so for this reaon it is usually recommended to avoid breeding
merle to brindles or any purely phaeomelanin (orange-red-gold-yellow) coat
colors. </div>
<div>
It is almost universally recommended to NEVER breed two merles together, to
avoid producing defective double merles. But, unfortunately, some breeders
will intentionally breed merle to merle, hoping to produce a higher percentage
of merle offspring. This is sadly a misinformed idea. Others may breed merle to
merle in an attempt to produce a double merle sire to use for future breeding.
Such a double merle dog (even if vision or hearing impaired) will produce 100%
merle offspring. There is a demand for the unusual merle color. Although this
method of breeding may be considered unethical, it does happen in many breeds,
by uneducated or uncaring breeders.</div>
<div>
A merle dog should be bred to a dark colored mate, preferably black or
black and tan. A dominant black dog will only produce black offspring half the
time, unless he carries two copies of the dominant gene for black. Couple a
black with a merle parent, who will produce merle offspring 50% of the time, and
the odds just dropped to 25% for producing a blue merle from a black to merle
mating...the same odds of producing a sable merle or hidden merle from such a
breeding. </div>
<div>
Black and tanpoint pattern is recessive and would breed true. If one parent
is also merle, you have a 50/50 chance for producing blue merle offspring, and
50/50 tanpoint who are not merle. Recessive black would also breed true, just as
black and tan does, but recessive black seems to occur only very rarely in our
breed. Also, In our breed, there is a widely carried recessive gene "e" which
suppresses all black pigment in the coat. This gene can double up in the
offspring to hide the visual appearance of merle. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Here is part of a statement by canine geneticist Sheila Schmutz, written
for the Pomeranian standard revision committee in April 2006:</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"Yet another gene in the "blue" family that can cause health issues is
merle. Merle can not be seen in dogs with an e/e genotype. This e/e genotype
occurs commonly in Pomeranians since orange, red and white probably account for
the majority of Poms. The problem is that M/M (homozygous merle) dogs are always
deaf based on our studies. We recently genotyped 24 mostly white Australian
Shepherds and all tested M/M (based on the Clark et al. 2006 PNAS published
test) and all were deaf. A proportion of these dogs were also blind in one or
both eyes since microphthalmia is another common side effect in M/M dogs.
Although in many breeds it is possible to educate breeders to never breed two
merle dogs together this advice is not possible to follow in Pomeranians since
e/e dogs would not show the merle pattern. It would therefore be necessary
instead to advise all persons who breed a merle dog to use only a black or sable
mate or to have DNA testing done on their red, orange or white mate prior to
breeding to be sure it did not carry merle."</div>
<div>
<br /> </div>
<div>
Further complicating the picture is the case of breeding a merle to any
dog with excessive white in the coat. Breeding merle to parti-color dogs with
more than 50% white coat is advised against; especially if the merle parent also
carries genes for particolor or "white spotting". It would be difficult to
determine if the resulting puppies were merle or extreme piebald white-or
both-without DNA testing! In either case, hearing can be affected.</div>
<div>
<br /> DNA TEST FOR MERLE</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We now have a DNA test for merle! This is a wonderful tool for breeders who
choose to avail themselves of the technology. A cheek swab from the dog is sent
to the lab, and they can tell you if your dog is merle or not. This test can
also tell you if your dog carries one copy or two copies of the gene.
Unfortunately, the US company offering this test closed its doors in March 2009.
However, another company (Idexx) is poised to take over this service. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Here is the link to the Idexx website:</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.idexx.ca/diseasesinseason_profile.cfm"><span style="color: black;">http://www.idexx.ca/diseasesinseason_profile.cfm</span></a><a href="http://www.genmarkag.com/download/Factsheet_Merle_Gene.pdf"><span style="color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.genmarkag.com/home_companion.php"><span style="color: black;"></span></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Unfortunately, the merle test costs close to $100, so some breeders will
not o use the test, even when available. These breeders continue to try to guess
the merle status of their dogs solely by appearance, noting the amount of
dappling and/or white coat color.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
AKC registration for Pomeranians now allows for designation of color as
merle. However, this will remain an inaccurate system unless breeders DNA test
all questionable offspring from their merle parents. Currently, merle is
uncommon in the Pomeranian breed. However, as the pattern becomes more popular
and widespread, it will more likely show up when least expected in a breeding
program.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
WHITE SPOTTING AND HEARING</div>
<div>
<br /> Another pattern gene strongly associated with deafness in dogs is
the "S" series-commonly known as white spotting, Irish spotting, or piebalding.
Breed examples are the Bull Terrier, Samoyed, Greyhound, Great Pyrenees,
Sealyham Terrier, Beagle, Bulldog, Dalmation, English Setter, Papillon and Fox
Terrier. </div>
<div>
The recessive "S" gene covers the coat color with white, and when weakly
expressed allows patches of color. This process is believed to be related to the
path of migration taken by the pigment cells in the embryo. During fetal
development, the melanocytes (cells that produce pigment) are concentrated in
the neural crest. The neural crest is the area which eventually becomes the
brain and spinal cord. From the neural crest, the pigment cells migrate to the
peripheral areas of the body, such as the head, legs and tail. However,
sometimes the melanocytes don't travel completely over the body. Any areas where
the pigment cells fail to migrate will remain white. This is why sometimes
dogs will have a white spot on the end of the tail, the tips of the toes, or on
the chest. If pigment-producing melanocytes fail to reach the inner ear,
deafness will result. </div>
<div>
White color on the head is often, but not always, associated with lack of
inner ear pigment. Patched-colored dogs with dark eyes have been selected for in
many breeds. These dogs have reduced incidence of hearing impairment when
compared to dogs which are almost totally white. </div>
<div>
Not all breeds with the "S" -extreme piebald pattern have been reported to
be affected with deafness, and there is also inherited deafness in several
breeds which is totally unrelated to coat color.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
HEARING TEST </div>
<div>
<br /> The only way to know for sure if your dog is hearing impaired is
through a Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response Test, or BAER test. This testing is
only available at select facilities and can be expensive. It need only be
performed once in a dog's lifetime (preferably at a young age) to rule out
hereditary hearing impairment. A complete list of BAER testing facilities can
befound on Dr. George Strain's website: <a href="http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/deaf.htm"><span style="color: black;">www.lsu.edu/deafness/deaf.htm</span></a>. Selective breeding for
hearing dogs, as evidenced by normal BAER testing, can reduce the incidence of
deafness in dogs, including those with high risk factors. <br /> </div>
<div>
<div>
OTHER PROBLEMS </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Other health concerns associated with lack of pigmentation are skin
allergies, skin cancer and sunburn, demodicosis (immune-mediated hair follicle
mange), follicular dysplasia (coat which is dull and breaks), reduced fertility
and sterility, and photo-induced epilepsy.</div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
CONCERNS RELATED TO THE PRODUCTION OF HANDICAPPED DOGS <br /> Some animal
welfare specialists endorse humane euthanasia for all dogs deaf in both ears
(bilaterally deaf). Hearing can not be accurately assessed before 5 weeks of
age. At this age, euthanasia can be an agonizing decision for any caring,
ethical breeder.</div>
<div>
<br /> Deaf or blind dogs require special placement arrangements. A breeder
is morally and ethically responsible for care and placement of handicapped dogs.
We may see in the future an increase in handicapped Pomeranians turned over to
rescue or to shelters. As there are always so many healthy dogs in shelters and
rescue who cannot find homes, the odds of finding homes for handicapped dogs are
even greater. Support for rescue from our parent and regional clubs will likely
need to increase.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?</div>
<div>
<br /> Many people have voiced concern that the merle pattern has only
recently been introduced to our breed, through crossbreeding with merle dogs of
other breeds. However, all breeds have been created through such methods at some
point in their history. The concern is not so much HOW the pattern appeared in
our breed, but rather WHERE it will take us in the future.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
APC is the parent club for the Pomeranian, and as such, should serve the
breed with the commitment and resonsibility that the word "parent" implies. It
is a responsibility of a parent club to discourage breeding that is known to
increase the probability of dogs with health problems. This can be attempted
through education of breeders and the public. Such education can be provided on
the club website or through the person designated as health and genetic liaison.
Education should include factors to consider in selecting a canine companion, as
well as methods of developing a breeding program with an emphasis on producing
healthy offspring. Public awareness of health issues may eventually create an
increased demand for dogs bred as much for good health as for physical
beauty.<br />Many breed clubs promote responsible breeding through the breed
standard Itself. (For instance, our Pomeranian standard stipulates that eyes
must be dark). </div>
<div>
Guidelines can also be provided through a breed club's code of ethics. The
guidelines might contain recommendations such as:<br /> 1. Yearly CERF
testing for all breeding stock, particularly merles. (Clinics should be made
available at national and regional specialties).<br /> 2. BAER testing should
be performed once in a dog's lifetime prior to breeding. This is especially
important in merle and extreme piebald patterns. <br /> 3. All dogs from
merle litters be sold only to knowledgeable breeders or transferred to new
owners after being spayed or neutered. This will help prevent uneducated
breeding and the production of handicapped dogs. <br /> 4.Vision and hearing
health should be guaranteed in all puppy contracts, Dogs so affected should be
readily taken back by their breeder at any point in their lifetime.<br /> 5.
Any puppies from a litter with a merle parent who do not appear to be merle
should be DNA tested to determine merle status, (unless of course they are going
to be sterilized, in which case DNA merle testing would not be necessary).</div>
<div>
<br /> As breeders, we need to avoid the ostrich syndrome. Let's not
stick our heads in the sand and hope problems will go away....they might get
worse if we do!</div>
<div>
<br /> STUDY!! We should learn all we can about genetics and heredity-of
all breeds, not just our own. The other guy's problem today may well be ours
tomorrow.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
SUMMARY</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Our breed already has some health concerns. It would seem unwise
to encourage an increase in defects purely for the sake of novel color patterns.
Through education and personal responsibilty, risky breeding practices can be
minimized. We should strive to produce puppies blessed with the gifts of normal
vision and hearing. If this article serves to prevent the birth of just one
handicapped dog through heightened breeder awareness, it will have been
worthwhile. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
PIGMENT-RELATED DISORDERS IN HUMANS<br />One in 17,000 persons in the USA has
some type of albinism, as indicated by little or no pigment in their eyes, skin,
or hair. People with albinism always have problems with vision. This results
from abnormal development of the retina and abnormal patterns of nerve
connections between the eye and brain. It is the presence of these eye problems
which defines the diagnosis of albinism. Albinism may be limited to the eyes or
involve hair and skin to varying degrees.<br />Waardenburg syndrome is an
inherited disorder in humans characterized by varying degrees of hearing loss
and changes in skin and hair pigmentation. This syndrome was named for the Dutch
ophthalmologist who noticed that people with pigmentation abnormalities of the
hair, eyes and skin, often had hearing impairment.Those with Waaardenburg
syndrome may have two differently colored eyes, one brown and one blue.
Sometimes, one eye has two different colors. Others may have unusually brilliant
blue eyes. People with Waardenburg syndrome also have distinctive hair coloring,
such as a patch of white hair near the forehead, or they might have white
patches of skin. Waardenburg's is associated with other birth defects such as
spinal or intestinal disorders or cleft palate.<br />After doing this research, I
finally realized why I reach for sunglasses each and every time I go outdoors on
a sunny day! I have blue eyes, and cannot tolerate the bright light. My eyes
lack sufficient light-blocking pigment! <!--"''"--></div>
</i></b></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>
</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i><div>
<div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
Sincere thanks to TAMU's Leigh Anne Clark, PhD for answering my many
questions. You are wonderful!</div>
</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.cvm.tamu.edu/cgr/merle.htm"><span style="color: black;">http://www.cvm.tamu.edu/cgr/merle.htm</span></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
Thanks to Sheila Schmutz, PhD for her expert advise on canine color
genetics:</div>
<div>
<a href="http://homepage.usask.ca/~schmutz/dogcolors.html"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: purple;">http://homepage.usask.ca/~schmutz/dogcolors.html</span></span></a></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
Thanks to JP Yousha for her color genetics expertise! Your input
was invaluable.</div>
<div>
www.chromadane.com</div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
REFERENCES</div>
<div>
Anderson, Cheryl, "Theories of Color and Pattern Dominance in
Shelties"<br />Bowling, Sue, "Canine Color Genetics", "Elementary Merle Genetics
for Newcomers", "Basic<br /> Genetics, the Relationship of Genes to
Traits"<br />Cattanach, Bruce M., "The Dalmation Dilemma: White Coat Color and
Deafness"<br />Chopson, Jane, "Inheritance of Great Dane Coat Color" Sept
1992.<br />Dowd, Scot E, PhD, "Health and the Merle Pattern", American Dog
Breeders Association <br />Little, Clarence C,. The Inheritance of Coat Color in
Dogs, 1957.</div>
<div>
Sharp, C. A., "Can You See? Inherited Eye Diseases in Aussies", "Genetic
Nightmares", "The Trouble with Merle", "White Fright".<br />Strain, George M.
"Deafness Prevalence and Pigmentation and Gender Associations in Dog <br />
Breeds at Risk". May 15, 2003.<br />Strain, George M., "Hereditary deafness in
Dogs and Cats: Causes, Prevalence, and Current <br />
Research." Oct 2, 2003.<br />"The Merle", United States Border Collie Club
Newsletter, Winter 1995.<br />Willis, Malcolm B. Genetics of the Dog,
1989<br />Willis, Malcolm B., "Merle Chihuahuas-Time to Call a Halt" Our Dogs,
Feb. 17, 2005.<br />Yousha, J. P., "Whites; is it Worth the Risks?"<br />Yousha, J.
P., "The Harlequin Family of Dogs: Harls, Merles, Blacks, Whites and
More."</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
INTERNET RESOURCES</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.ashgi.org/color/eyedefects.htm"><span style="color: black;">http://www.ashgi.org/color/eyedefects.htm</span></a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.tanyastoys.com/drwillis.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.tanyastoys.com/drwillis.htm</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.dachshund.org/article_double_dapple.html"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.dachshund.org/article_double_dapple.html</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.offa.org/deafgeninfo.html"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.offa.org/deafgeninfo.html</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.jabed.com/rcas.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.jabed.com/rcas.htm</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/deaf.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.lsu.edu/deafness/deaf.htm</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.deafdogs.org/"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.deafdogs.org</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.blinddogs.com/"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.blinddogs.com</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.eyevet.info/"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.eyevet.info</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.mascaonline.org/Health.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.mascaonline.org/Health.htm</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.ashgi.org/"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.ashgi.org</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.whiteaussies.com/"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.whiteaussies.com</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.chromadane.com/"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.chromadane.com</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.bowlingsite.mcf.com/genetics/genetics.html"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.bowlingsite.mcf.com/genetics/genetics.html</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.albinism.org/publications/what_is_albinism.html"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.albinism.org/publications/what_is_albinism.html</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.albinism.org/publications/HPS.html"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.albinism.org/publications/HPS.html</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/waard.asp"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/waard.asp</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/transposon-1"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">www.answers.com/topic/transposon-1</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://waynesword.palomar.edu/transpos.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">http://waynesword.palomar.edu/transpos.htm</span></span></a><!--"''"--></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Copyright 2005. Revised
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Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-93744253724156742015-07-20T13:05:00.000-07:002015-07-20T15:02:14.985-07:00Summer Haircuts<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Reasons to NOT cut or shave your dog's coat.</div>
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Most breeds of dogs naturally have a double coat. There is a longer outer coat composed of guard hairs, and a fluffy soft undercoat. The dog's coat insulates him from heat in the summer and cold in the winter. It protects his skin from sunburn, insect bites and environmental allergens. Brushing the coat regularly will remove the undercoat in the summer when it sheds naturally, leaving the guard hairs which help to keep him cool.</div>
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C<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">utting the coat will not make your dog cooler. Dogs don't perspire. They cool off through their nose and mouth, and a bit through the pads of their paws, not their skin as humans do.</span></div>
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Cutting down the coat will NOT make him shed less. The undercoat will shed twice a year whether he is cut down or not.</div>
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Cutting down the coat will NOT protect humans from dog dander allergies. Dander is produced by the skin, not the hair. Cutting down the coat will actually increase the amount of dander production, inducing more allergic response in susceptible humans.</div>
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Cutting the coat often permanently damages the condition of the coat. Besides the poor esthetics of removing the beautiful, glossy longer outer guard hairs, this outer coat protects the undercoat from becoming brittle when exposed to air and UV rays of the sun.</div>
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Cutting the coat interrupts the natural hair cycle, makes shedding time unpredictable and can leave the coat sparse and just plain ugly. In severe cases, the coat may never grow back.</div>
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Regular brushing and grooming are all that is necessary and advisable to keep your dog's coat in its best condition. As long as your dog isn't shaved, cut down or severely matted, his coat will do its job and keep his temperature regulated in all seasons. Regular bathing and brushing will reduce the amount of dog dander in the environment and hair on your furniture.</div>
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I cringe when I see popular culture dogs like “Boo” the Pomeranian with the coat cut down. With so many breeds to choose from, if you don't like the look of a big coat, then select a short-coated breed or a breed that has little to no undercoat that will satisfy your craving for hairstyling, like a poodle, Yorkie, or Maltese.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well groomed on the left. Assault by clippers on the right. Get a stuffed animal if you want "cute" more than "cared for properly".</td></tr>
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Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-85245437617288974762015-06-22T18:12:00.001-07:002015-06-23T11:30:48.316-07:00Reappropriation, Baby<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">PUPPY MILL!!</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This derogatory slur has been popularized in the media. It's been hurled at us by misanthropist animal extremists in a very successful effort to marginalize the good work of all dog breeders. The term has also unfortunately sometimes been used by dog breeders to slur the competition. After all, the more one breeds, the better one's breeding skills become, and the more likely one is to become successful (whether that success is measured in quality of dogs and/or in the ability to profit financially). What better way to marginalize the competition than to tar them with a nasty label?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After decades of use, the "Puppy Mill" slur has been picked up and accepted by the general public, and is often quoted by the media in evening news stories. It's become part of the popular culture. Everyone seems to believe they have an understanding of what it means. "I may not be able to define it, but I know it when I see it." Much like other offensive and sordid crimes like murder, theft and rape, evil grubby animal-abuse and exploitation for profit can be identified by sight. We Know a Puppy Mill when we see one, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Or do we? Is it someone who breeds "too much"? Heaven forbid they MAKE MONEY! from their dogs! Those poor bitches never get a rest! They never have any human contact! Their feet never touch the ground! They never see a veterinarian! Blah blah blah, with every other ridiculous lie that can be cooked up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In a futile effort at self-defense, dog breeders have attempted to define the "puppy mill" term. It's a place where dogs are abused. Or, they explain that the phrase "puppy mill" shouldn't be used at all since it really doesn't apply to 99.999 % of the dog breeders out there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Unfortunately, this seems to be the wrong approach. It's not working.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the other hand, I hear from many sage voices in the dog world that we should NEVER, ever, utter this term. Using it, they say, only promotes the cause of the enemy; the animal fanatics like HSUS's Wayne Pacelle, who don't ever want to see another dog or cat born. We are facilitating their goal of entrenching the term into popular culture by using it more and more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Unfortunately THIS approach isn't working either. The phrase "puppy mill" won't go away simply because we ourselves pretend it doesn't exist or that it is not Politically Correct. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What to do? Can't explain that we are the good guys, and can't even mention the phrase they are calling us, as if our not mentioning it will make it go away. HA! Fat chance!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You will be called a Puppy Mill from here unto eternity because you are a dog breeder, and those who don't like dog breeders will continue to sling nasty slurs your direction. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That's a fact, Jack. You can count on it! Animal rights nuts are relentless in pursuit of their goal of making dog breeders go the way of the dinosaur. If calling us "puppy mill" works, they WILL continue the campaign.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I firmly believe we need a new, proven approach. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> There is only ONE course of action that can work to mitigate the damage that the tactic of name-calling inflicts. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The only way to neutralize this phrase is for us to embrace it. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">REAPPROPRIATION, BAY BEE!</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Much like racial slurs that have been embraced by those they objectify, and sexually derogatory slurs that have subsequently been embraced by women and gays, the only way to neuter this term is to embrace it. Bathe in it! Say it often and say it loudly! Be PROUD that you, a fine dog breeder, are a puppy mill! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Repeat after me, slowly and proudly:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">YES, I AM A PUPPY MILL!</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am PROUD to mill puppies. My mill is the FINEST on the west coast. My mill produces the most EXCELLENT dogs in all the land! My milled puppies are the BEST you could ever find! They will smother you in kisses!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Looking for a new kennel name? How about "Puppy Mill Acres"? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Perhaps set up a billboard along the highway:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>PUPPY MILL</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">NEXT EXIT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">FINE QUALITY PUPPIES AVAILABLE!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My puppy mill dogs are excellent pets, fine hunters, fabulous guardians, wonderful herders. Thank goodness I breed plenty of fantastic dogs here at my top-class puppy mill! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Embrace your unique contribution to mankind. Be proud to be a puppy mill! </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-299UvNLKmJQ/VYjOUtVCWSI/AAAAAAAAIsA/n3J6PCcUcE0/s1600/cute-golden_retriever_puppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-299UvNLKmJQ/VYjOUtVCWSI/AAAAAAAAIsA/n3J6PCcUcE0/s640/cute-golden_retriever_puppies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Wikipedia: </div>
A <b>reclaimed</b> or <b>reappropriated</b> word is a word that was at one time pejorative but has been brought back into acceptable usage—usually starting within the communities that experienced oppression under that word, but sometimes also among the general populace as well.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Slurs_1-1">[</sup>(The term "reclaimed word" more often implies usage by a member of the group referred to.)<br />
This can have wider implications in the fields of discourse, and has been described in terms of personal or sociopolitical empowerment.<br />
Reclaiming or reappropriating a word involves re-evaluating a term that in the dominant culture is, or at one time was, used by a majority to oppress various minorities of that same culture.<br />
In some cases, this reappropriation is so successful as to turn a previously disparaging word into the preferred term: for example, <i>gay</i>, previously an insult, is now strongly preferred to "homosexual", both as an adjective and a noun.<br />
One of the older examples of successful reclaiming is the term "Jesuit" to refer to members of the Society of Jesus. This was originally a derogatory term referring to people who too readily invoked the name of Jesus in their politics, but which members of the Society adopted over time for themselves, so that the word came to refer exclusively to them, and generally in a positive or neutral sense, even though the term "Jesuitical" is derived from the Society of Jesus and is used to mean things like: manipulative, conspiring, treacherous, capable of intellectually justifying anything by convoluted reasoning.<br />
Reclaimed words differ from general reclamation outside of language because of their deliberately provocative nature. In addition to neutral or acceptable connotations, reclaimed words often acquire positive meaning within the circles of the informed<br />
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Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-65307760679776754112015-01-28T19:08:00.002-08:002015-02-13T15:04:28.072-08:00Emotion Influences Perspective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Two commercials. Both feature dogs lost by careless owners. In both ads, both puppies manage to make their way back to their respective homes after braving multiple perils. In the Budweiser commercial, the puppy comes back home to stay, while in the Go Daddy ad, however, the puppy comes home only to be put onto another truck, having been sold by the owner or breeder as a result of advertising on GoDaddy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">AKC and animal rights groups protested the Go Daddy ad, and GoDaddy consequently pulled the ad. No one, however, found any criticism for the Budweiser owner who carelessly loses his dog in traffic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now, I don't much relish the "greeder evil breeder" stereotype presented in the GoDaddy ad, but seriously? We are offended because.....the dog is sold and shipped to a new home? Not to mention, this was meant to be a spoofy ad making fun of the pollyanna-esque Budweiser stuff, like their sappy "dog adoption" ad from last year. Come on AKC, lighten up. Don't over-react to the crime of selling and shipping a dog. It's OK. Really, it is. Let's leave the righteous indignation to the animal rights nuts. </span></div>
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<br />Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-30221076134106195972014-12-21T11:20:00.001-08:002014-12-21T16:45:02.101-08:00Purposefulness Creates Contentment<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This morning I caught a glimpse of a show on "Super Soul Sunday" about Large Guardian Dogs. The show featured a family of Great Pyrenees dogs.. The older dogs were socializing the pups and introducing them to the flock. They were becoming bonded with the sheep and the lambs, even helping groom the lambs. The farmer remarked: " I watch them care for something outside of themselves and that purposefulness creates contentment." <br /> This is something that farmers know, and people who are d</span><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">eeply connected to their animals know, but animal rights fanatics can never truly understand. Animals, just like people, need direction and purpose in their lives to be happy and content, whether it be having a job to do, a family to raise or a protective role of some sort. </span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't imagine a world where we divorce ourselves from our domestic animals. Such a world would provide only a sadly soulless existence for humans. For the animals we are bonded with in spirit, it would spell extinction.<br /> Domestic animals exist only because of the purposes for which they serve mankind. Companionship is one purpose, but there are more practical associations such as horses who pull carriages or allow ranchers to traverse their territory, or cows and chickens who provide a major source of high-quality nourishment for humans in the way of dairy products, eggs, and yes, meat. Without the express purpose of helping us with our work or providing us with a food source, these animals wouldn't exist at all. </span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Man was only able to develop his brain and evolve to a high level of mental capacity through his consumption of high-quality protein and high-fat animal-based foods beginning thousands of years ago. </span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More rural and agrarian human societies have always understood this animal bond and been thankful for it. It's only in recent times, where our largely urban populace seldom thinks about nature and our connection to it, that we have seen people object to "using" domestic animals and insisting that animals have "rights". If so, humans have the same rights, including the right to produce and eat the foods our bodies need to thrive through humane stewardship of animals.</span></span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show"></span><br />Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-54005304114510796242014-12-10T14:58:00.000-08:002014-12-10T14:58:06.824-08:00Animal Law Writing Contest
From an AKC press release:<em></em><br />
<em>AKC has joined with the AVMA, the Cat Fanciers’ Association, and the Animal Health Institute to establish the Animal Law Writing Contest for Law Students . <br /><br />The contest is part of a shared effort by concerned mainstream animal welfare groups to ensure access and familiarity with a broad range of perspectives on animal law. The contest launches this month and welcomes all scholarly viewpoints. <br /><br />Students currently enrolled at ABA-accredited law schools located in the United States are invited to write a 10-20 page scholarly paper on the constitutionality of one of two preselected animal law topics. A committee with relevant experience will judge all properly-submitted entries received by Noon on February 15, 2015 . The winner, who will be notified by April 1, 2015 , will receive a $2,500 cash prize and a trip to the American Veterinary Medical Law Association’s Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, next July. The second place author will receive a $1,000 cash prize. </em><br />
<em></em><br />
What the heck? Why do all these animal groups want to encourage MORE animal laws and lawyers to deal with them? What am I missing here, are we playing right into the hands of the ARs? Somehow I doubt these folks are taught how to exercise conservative restraint in the legal arena.<br />
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I received some opinions that "moderate voices" in law schools should be encouraged, and indeed, if by hinting at constitutionality of these new laws they are seeking a conservative viewpoint to win this contest, that would be great. But how many "animal law" students out there are actually conservative instead of progressive? <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thoughts from one well-educated person: </span><br />
This upsets me so much. Guess where most of the submissions will come from.....Lewis & Clark Law School or Tufts? Or how about these suggestions from the ALDF:<br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://aldf.org/resources/law-professional-law-student-resources/law-students-saldf-chapters/where-should-you-go-to-law-school/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://aldf.org/resources/law-professional-law-student-resources/law-students-saldf-chapters/where-should-you-go-to-law-school/</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no possible upside for the AKC or people in the dog fancy from this contest. All it will do is provide arguments for A/R advocates. I can see it now....."This argument was supported by the winning paper in the AKC Animal Law Writing Contest."</span><br />
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This contest is yet another boneheaded idea from the AKC. (And the selection of topics was boneheaded, too.) What if the only submissions are from A/R-influenced lawyers-in-the-making who find "support" for the ban in Chicago or MSN in LA?<br /><br /> And here's why I think an AR-only outcome is highly likely . . .<br /><br /> The largest percentage of law school students want to end up in firms or businesses -- no one enters law school burning to fight against AR tide. Animal law probably won’t add to those students’ resumes. (Hey, I went to professional school in the ancient past (Northwestern, MBA, ’85), and I would never have written an extra-curricular paper or undertaken an internship in the non-profit sector. Why would an MBA student serious about working in the corporate sector divert his attention from the brass ring?) Why would a lawyer-in-the-making divert his attention from getting a job at the end of three years, especially to enter a contest with a modest payout and regarding a sector of the law with no active, high-profile suits.<br /><br /> Those students really interested in animal law are ideologues interested in working for advocacy organizations, like the HSUS, ASPCA, PeTA, ALDF, prosecutors’ offices and others further down the food chain. A great paper could get these students a job and “stick it to those animal abusers” at the same time.<br /><br /> When I hear commenters holding out for the pipe dream of moderation, I really become concerned. Where does moderation fit into this contest? This isn't a discussion. Writers will bring their positions to the table through the strength of their citations and analyses. Will there be a killer argument presented? Probably not. (The constitutional analyses will probably focus on "reserved powers,""illegal taking," and possible "interstate commerce.") But I can hear it now from the city attorney of LA or Pasadena or Long Beach, "The analysis posed by the winner of the AKC Animal Law Writing Contest completely supports our position." Note the use of AKC in the previous sentence.<br /><br /> In summary, I believe that this contest will only provide a forum for AR advocates and will ultimately hinder those of us in the field actually fighting MSN and various seller bans.<br /><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">An experienced lawyer expressed his opinion: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As an attorney who has practiced law
for over 50 years; who once was a law student; and who has devoted
over 23,000 hours to studying and documenting the “brainwashing”
efforts of the HSUS and Mr. Pacelle - - (who described</span> his book, <i>The
Bond</i>, as “part memoir, part manifesto”) - I have grave,
grave, grave concerns that the contest will ultimately lead to
unexpected, irreversible and devastating consequences because Mr.
Pacelle and the HSUS have expended over ONE BILLION DOLLARS in their
unrelenting efforts to “brainwash” all segments of our American
society. That includes, but is not limited to, the American public,
news media, elected officials at all levels of government, government
agencies, such as USDA (which hired Sarah L. Conant, a former HSUS
ligitation attorney, who, when a law student at the University of
Virginia Law School, organized a law school sanctioned animal law
group), the Department of Justice, (which hired Ethan Eddy, a former
HSUS litigation attorney who tutored Sarah L. Conant), law
enforcement officials at all levels of government, our churches, and
our pre-schools, elementary middle and high schools, and yes, the
American Bar Association, and law schools!
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
MY TOP REASONS FOR CONCERN:</div>
<ul>
<li>
Be careful of what you ask and
wish for…………….. especially when the ever present shadow of
the HSUS has infiltrated and influenced the “process.”</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Three years ago, I documented how
the HSUS had “hijacked” and was infiltrating the legal
profession, which started nearly 10 years ago at law schools. And
this effort was not limited to Sarah L. Conant! EACH YEAR MORE AND
MORE LAW SCHOOLS ESTABLISH “ANIMAL LAW” CURRICULUMS THAT ARE
INFLUENCED BY THE INPUT OF THE HSUS!!!</div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In March of 2009, I attended a
Workshop at the Georgetown Law School that was Co-Hosted by the
HSUS. Opening remarks of the Dean of the Georgetown Law School
predicted that the growth of “Animal Law” would mirror the
growth of Environmental Laws and Regulations that followed the
passage of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) in 1969.
And the growth of Animal Law Curriculums has continued to grow each
year at more and more law schools, which are being “guided” by
the clandestine efforts of the HSUS.</div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A Co-Moderator of the Workshop
was Jonathan Lovvorn, an Adjunct Law Professor at Georgetown Law
School, who also serves as the HSUS VP and Chief of the HSUS
Litigation Division, and who also was a named defendant in the Feld
Lawsuit for his role in the alleged “money laundering” and RICO
Violations.</div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The other Co-Moderator of the
Workshop was Nancy Perry, the Wife of Jonathan Lovvorn, and who then
served as the HSUS VP for Government Relations (Lobbying) and now
serves as the Senior VP for Government Relations (Lobbying) for
ASPCA.</div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the Panelist on the
Workshop was Congressman Whitfield, who is now the subject of a
Congressional Ethics Investigation because he purportedly allowed
his wife, who serves as the Chief Lobbyist for the HSUS, to use his
Office to Lobby other Members of Congress to support the HSUS
Legislative Agenda.</div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yet another panelist on the
Workshop was a Senior Official within the American Veterinary
Medical Association. And when he was asked why the AVMA was not more
supportive of the welfare and rights of animals, he prophetically
responded that the demographics of the Leadership of the AVMA would
change over the next 5 years as the older vets retired and were
replaced by younger vets who focused on the care for dogs and cats.</div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yet another 2009 HSUS Workshop
Panelist was a USDA Attorney, who co-authored an HSUS 2009 Workshop
Handout, and who currently is the immediate supervisor of Sarah L.
Conant!</div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As a result of the HSUS efforts,
the American Bar Association has established an “Animal Law
Section,” that is operated by young attorneys who have drunk the
HSUS “Kool-Aid.”</div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In 2013 Mr. Pacelle was a
featured speaker at the Annual Conference for the 50 State Attorney
Generals.</div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the last 11 Years more than
2,000 attorneys have provided tens of thousands of pro bono (free)
hours of legal services to the HSUS Legislative and Litigation
Agendas of the HSUS. In short, the Billion Dollar Brainwashing
Campaign of the HSUS has been supplemented by the equivalent of Tens
of Millions of Dollars of free legal services. And many of the young
attorneys, who were recently “law school students,” and who are
providing these free legal services to the HSUS work for some of the
largest Law Firms in the U.S. which freely have designated young
attorneys to work full time for the HSUS for up to a year so that
the Law Firms may report to the State Bar Associations that they
provided thousands of hours of pro bono services. These pro bono
services are a major reason why Wayne Pacelle has been able to claim
that the HSUS was responsible for the passage of over 1,000 laws at
the Federal and State Levels of Government, and that number does not
include the State Ballot Initiatives nor the Federal Regulations,
such as the Retail Pet Store Rule.</div>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
Let's hope that the winner is NOT a lackey of the HSUS, but that seems rather unlikely. Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-26820439275931382102014-12-08T13:25:00.001-08:002014-12-08T13:30:12.444-08:00AKC: "Despite Poor Record, Mandatory Spay/Neuter Proposals on the Rise"<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
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<div class="aolmail_aolmail_aolmail_aolmail_" style="color: #9f9f9f; font-family: museo-sans-1,museo-sans-2,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="aolmail_aolmail_aolmail_aolmail_" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Posted on </span></span><a href="http://akcdoglovers.com/2014/12/05/trending-despite-poor-record-mandatory-spayneuter-proposals-on-the-rise/" rel="bookmark" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="5:00 pm"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">December 5, 2014</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="aolmail_aolmail_aolmail_aolmail_" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> by </span><span class="aolmail_aolmail_aolmail_aolmail_" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="aolmail_aolmail_aolmail_aolmail_" href="http://akcdoglovers.com/author/americankennelclub/" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="View all posts by americankennelclub">americankennelclub</a></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What do Pasadena, California; Augusta, Georgia; Madison, Wisconsin; New York City and the state of Rhode Island have in common?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Each of these places has recently advanced legislation to require that all dogs or certain classes of dogs within their jurisdictions be sterilized.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After what appeared to be several years of declining interest in mandatory spay neuter (MSN) policy by animal activists, AKC has observed resurgence in MSN proposals in the last several months, mostly at the local level.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">MSN laws can take a variety of forms. They're regularly offered by activists as a quick fix for a myriad of canine issues ranging from dangerous dogs, to shelter intakes, to roaming pets, and even concerns about substandard kennels in <em style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">other communities</em>. Still, cities that have established MSN have not only found it to be ineffective; it has also created a host of new problems. For example, after Dallas, Texas, implemented MSN in 2008, the city experienced a 22% increase in animal control costs and an overall decrease in pet licensing compliance. AKC Government Relation's </span><a href="http://images.akc.org/pdf/canine_legislation/MSN_Article.pdf" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><em style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Issue Analysis on Mandatory Spay Neuter</span></em></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> presents more information on why MSN is ineffective.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tragically, some activists push for mandatory sterilization laws even as mounting scientific evidence demonstrates that spay/neuter surgery (ovariohysterectomy and castration)— especially when performed on a young puppy—can have serious long-term negative health consequences. Recent scientific studies reveal that juvenile sterilization may lead to increased incidences of cancer (including osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, lymphosarcoma and mast cell tumors), hip dysplasia, ligament disorders, chronic incontinence and even shortened lifespans. These and other emerging studies contradict commonly-held beliefs about the effects of spay/neuter.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ironically, many animal rights activists who push for government-mandated sterilization for all dogs also adamantly seek to outlaw minor procedures such as tail docking or dew claw removal. It's not clear why some find it logical to ban these minor procedures, but don't question passing laws to require major spay/neuter—in some cases only a few weeks after a pup has opened its eyes and learned to walk.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">According to the American Pet Products Association, 83 percent of U.S. pet dogs are already spayed/neutered. In many communities, local rescues and shelters have so few adoptable dogs available that they are importing puppies and dogs from other communities and states to offer in their facilities. Ironically, many of these communities are the same ones that are considering MSN.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">More <a href="http://akcdoglovers.com/2014/12/05/trending-despite-poor-record-mandatory-spayneuter-proposals-on-the-rise/" target="_blank">here</a></span>: </span></div>
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Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-69489173721273880482014-11-23T11:08:00.002-08:002014-11-24T07:28:38.465-08:00Big Bucks in Retail Rescue!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t2HDPISZ4RA/VHIpIip8AvI/AAAAAAAAHi8/fNtmO5b4Vwo/s1600/2557962_1415992968.7872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t2HDPISZ4RA/VHIpIip8AvI/AAAAAAAAHi8/fNtmO5b4Vwo/s1600/2557962_1415992968.7872.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">How would you like to own the beautiful dogs pictured above? Friendly, healthy, happy, well-groomed, tail-wagging purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. RAISING MY HAND here! I'd like to have ALL of them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The owner, a USDA licensed breeder, has obviously taken very good care of them. And apparently just got paid off, BIG TIME!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Several "Rescue" groups heard that these dogs would be made available by the owner at public auction. One rescue group actually set up a "Go Fund Me" page for the purpose of bidding on the dogs. In less than two weeks, this one rescue group raised......are you ready for this?......over $183,000!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm not sure how many dogs this one particular group bought for the purpose of reselling at retail, but if they bought all 108 of the dogs mentioned in the article, they would immediately have available about $1700 to spend on each and every dog! I'm sure the original owner is laughing all the way to the bank, for getting a big price for these retired breeding dogs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Not to mention, the "rescue" will be SELLING them soon to the public. Probably for several hundred dollars apiece. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That's ends up netting them over $2000 per dog. Pay for a dental, a quick-snip castration, and WALA! A fast and easy profit.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And they say dog breeders are money-grubbing "puppy mills"! Pot, meet kettle! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dog breeders don't have bleeding heart donations from fraudulent "Go Fund Me" pages to help them pay their mortgages and veterinary expenses. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dog breeders must pay for a Federal license. They have to be inspected. They are required to provide proper care and treatment of their dogs, BY LAW. They have to pay a LOT of money to keep their premises in acceptable conditions, to provide regular veterinary care, to pay for permits and fees. They have people watching to make sure that drinking water is fresh, that any medications used are in date, that accommodations are roomy enough. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Rescues", who in cases like this are really nothing but Retail Rescue pond scum, have NO REGULATION. No care standards, nobody watching to make sure they take good care of their charges. And indeed, we have seen MANY rescues in recent years busted for animal neglect and cruelty. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Any other pet dealer has to be licensed by USDA, but apparently not if you are a self-proclaimed "rescue".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yet, in the eyes of the public,dog breeders are the "greeders", the bad guys! Dog breeders want to <gasp> MAKE MONEY!!!!</gasp></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I ask you, how else can one pay for dog food? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But that doesn't stop people from justifying this insane action. Why, they are saving these dogs from a fate worse than death! Being used for BREEDING! The awful original owner had 100 dogs and was a PUPPY MILL!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And they are putting this horrible, dog-abusing "miller" out of business.....how? By paying him big bucks for his dogs? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Good plan. <rolls eyes=""></rolls></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Maybe he can retire...or maybe, he can take that money and go out and buy a whole bunch of new dogs to continue his breeding program. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Good for him! Take the money, because you sure ain't gettin' no respect. Hey, maybe you can get the rescue groups to buy dogs from you again! A lot more profitable than breeding, and easier, too. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The donations for the <strike>PET STORE DEALER</strike> oops, sorry, I mean "Rescue", continue to stream in from John Q. Public. I guess Obamacare's "architect" Gruber was right after all when he said people are stupid. You can check <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/puppymillauction" target="_blank">here</a> to see how much money to date the "rescue" group has raised from all the bleeding heart dummies out there. Maybe it'll be up to a $$ quarter million $$ in another week or so. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That'll buy a whole lotta halo polish.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0hh4QGVK3VY/VHNM_gRHovI/AAAAAAAAHjM/HFXYtNyt_0o/s1600/10751389_10205211425911008_10205211420110863_57583_2107_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0hh4QGVK3VY/VHNM_gRHovI/AAAAAAAAHjM/HFXYtNyt_0o/s1600/10751389_10205211425911008_10205211420110863_57583_2107_b.jpg" height="368" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'abused' dogs one day after purchase. So sick, neglected and terrified due to their awful lives with an EEEEEVIL <br />
PUPPY MILLER!<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
News flash..... had to update this as I find out more. There was actually raised a total amount of over $350,000 to buy these hundred dogs! Sucker born every minute!<br />
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Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-10122826105513329002014-11-20T09:25:00.002-08:002014-11-23T12:07:30.579-08:00Can I keep My USDA Exemption?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Question: If I have only two females, can I ship and still keep my exemption? After all the discussion we've had about the new rule, I don't remember.<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Answer: Yes, probably, since according to the amended Regulations, you can have up to four "breeding females" and ship "sight unseen" as pets. However, several issues come to mind that may not make this an easy question to answer: <br /><br /> 1. Do you co-own "breeding females" elsewhere? Regulations unclear about whether they should be counted. Similarly, do you kennel or board "breeding females" owned by others? They possibly would be counted in the total number of breeding females allowed.<br /><br /><br /> 2. You are aware, aren't you? that APHIS definition of "breeding females" probably would include intact bitches that you wouldn't wouldn't consider breeding? (e.g., too old, too young, health problems etc.) -- you may not breed them but APHIS might still count them in the total if they believe them "breedable". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> 3. Do you participate in Rescue activities, and have you housed rescue "breeding females" (intact bitches)? From what I'm hearing, APHIS has for the present time chosen to look the other way on this issue, and not count rescue animals in the totals. However, by a strict interpretation of the Regulations, intact "rescue" females would count (especially if <b>you</b> transfer <b>any dog</b> "sight unseen" to a pet home), no matter how APHIS is viewing them now.<br /><br /><br /> 4. Are all animals shipped by you as pets offspring of the pets you own, and born and raised on your property? It's questionable how APHIS would view a "sight unseen" sale of a "stud fee puppy", for example since to obtain the "four or fewer" exemption, any pet you sell must have been "born and raised" on your property according to the Regulations.. This is not one of the changes made in 2013 to the Regulations, but was there all along, but wasn't generally enforced, at least for small home hobby breeders such as yourself. How or if it will be enforced now is a good question. (This is yet another thorny rescue question as well).<br /><br /><br /> 5. Do you own other "breeding females" that are included in the Regulations? (small pet mammals, primarily). Does anyone else in your household or who resides on your property have any "breeding females" (dogs or otherwise.) All those get counted in the total of "four or fewer."<br /><br /><br /> You may want to get clarification on your situation from APHIS directly. Unfortunately, what an APHIS representative tells you now may or may not be admissible in Court if it conflicts with what's in the Regulations.<br /><br /><br /> Finally, remember (especially if you openly ship to people you don't know well, or if you advertise that you ship) that you are a potential target for the ARs, and they might try to have you investigated. If APHIS comes to ask as to your mode of business, you will need to have proof that -- throughout the year that you shipped those animals -- that you only had two "breeding females" (and not more than four) and that you complied with other requirements of the Regulations needed for the "four or fewer" exemption.<br /><br /><br /> If you choose to go the easier route, and decide to have no "sight unseen" sales, you can, of course, have as many "breeding females" as you wish if you sell to the final purchaser (and not wholesale should you own more than four breeding females). But it would still be a good idea to document how these animals were transferred to the new owner so that they weren't a "sight unseen" sale.<br /><br /><br /> AWA and AWA Regulations can be found <a href="http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/Animal%20Care%20Blue%20Book%20-%202013%20-%20FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">and <a href="http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/Animal%20Care%20Blue%20Book%20-%202013%20-%20FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Submitted by Margo Milde via the Pet Law list. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Margo is long-time Legislative Liaison for five dog clubs: Rand Park Dog Training Club, Agility Ability Club of Illinois, Fox River Field Spaniel Club, Moraine Tracking Club, and Field Spaniel Society of America (AKC parent club). She is also a Board Member of the Illinois Federation of Dog Clubs and Owners. However, her answer here may not officially represent the position of these organizations.</span></div>
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<br />Liberty Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01177305529757660312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128506581675705657.post-35862595415342977672014-10-03T16:12:00.000-07:002014-10-11T10:49:38.369-07:00Why PIJAC's Moves Should Concern Dog Fanciers<h2 class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Why
PIJAC's Moves Should Concern Dog Fanciers</b></span></h2>
<h2 class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Carlotta Cooper </b></span></h2>
<h2 class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now
that some of the hoopla has died down about PIJAC (the Pet Industry
Joint Advisory Council) hiring Ed Sayres to be their President and
CEO, it's a good time to look at this decision and what it means for
hobby breeders. While some Pollyannas have insisted that PIJAC and
Sayres won't have much affect on hobby breeders, Sayres is already
showing otherwise.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Though
it came as a surprise to most observers when PIJAC chose former ASPCA
CEO Ed Sayres to be their new President and CEO recently, there are a
lot of moving parts to this story and some reasons for dog fanciers
to be concerned. PIJAC represents the interests of commercial dog
breeders, as well as other pet breeders such as those who breed
hamsters, gerbils, reptiles, and other small pets. They also
represent pet store chains and pet food companies. The pet industry
is worth some $58 billion annually in the United States and most of
the big players in that industry are members of PIJAC. The new head
of PIJAC now looks to be the former head of one of the nation's most
influential animal rights organizations.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
might seem like a positive move for commercial dog breeders to
embrace someone who has always spoken out for better animal welfare,
but things are not always what they seem.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As
an organization, PIJAC has fought against animal rights legislation
for most of its existence, dating back to the early 1970s under the
leadership of Marshall Meyers. But Mr. Meyers retired in 2010 and
since that time PIJAC has been floundering, backing off in the fight
against animal rights legislation, and making deals. Currently more
than 70 cities ban the sale of live animals in pet stores – unless
they are rescue or shelter animals.</span></span></div>
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</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In
December 2012, PIJAC joined with HSUS and the ASPCA, along with
several PIJAC partners, “to create lasting change in the commercial
breeding industry,” according to an HSUS news release, by forming a
coalition to fight “puppy mills.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“The
ASPCA has witnessed first-hand the unspeakable cruelty and
horrific conditions of substandard puppy mills, and we are committed
to working with key industry leaders to help end the inhumane
treatment of dogs in these facilities,”<a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2012/12/puppy-mills-coalition-121312.html#"> said ASPCA President &CEO Ed Sayres</a>. “We are pleased that the industry has come together
in a meaningful way to acknowledge this abuse, and confront it head
on.” </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mr.
Sayres is singing a different tune today as he tries to convince the
members of PIJAC that he didn't really mean all of those things he
said as the head of the ASPCA.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">According
to sources, the PIJAC board of directors voted 9-7 to offer Mr.
Sayres the positions of President and CEO of the trade organization.
One of his strongest supporters has been Andrew Hunte, owner of the
<a href="http://www.thehuntecorporation.com/">Hunte Corporation</a> – the largest broker for commercially-bred
puppies in the United States.<span style="color: navy;"> <span lang="zxx"></span></span>Facilities at the Hunte Corporation are state-of-the-art and you can
find numerous newspaper articles that attest to the fact that Hunte
provides good care for their puppies and only accepts healthy puppies
from commercial breeders. But Mr. Hunte is a businessman and he has
business reasons for wanting Mr. Sayres to take over PIJAC.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mr.
Hunte wrote a comment in favor of the new APHIS regulation that
includes hobby and show breeders. Here's part of Mr. Hunte's comment
for the proposed APHIS rule back in 2012:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“…
<i>The Hunte Corporation’s 'Number 1 Concern' has always been the
humane treatment of animals. We believe if you breed, transport, or
sell puppies across America – especially over the Internet –, you
should be regulated, and subject to inspection just like all licensed
breeders are. The APHIS proposed rule if finalized, will raise the
bar to help ensure the safe humane treatment for animals and the
needed protection for consumers. At the Hunte Corporation our motto
is 'Where Puppies Come First!'”</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As
you can see, Mr. Hunte was in favor of the APHIS rule, knowing full
well that it would be applied to hobby breeders. And why not? Large
commercial breeders were already being inspected by the USDA, and so
were brokers like Hunte. Having APHIS pass the proposed regulation
would only be a hardship for small breeders like hobbyists. The APHIS
rule is a way to put Mr. Hunte's competition out of business. Not
only that, but many people believe that Mr. Hunte is still carrying a
grudge from the time when he tried to join the ranks of AKC dog
fanciers and was met with hostility.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Without
the support of Andrew Hunte, Ed Sayres would not now be head of
PIJAC. People who believe that PIJAC, Hunte, and Sayres are not now
gunning for hobby breeders are deluded.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
have long supported a close working relationship with commercial
breeders when it comes to fighting animal rights legislation. But all
too often large commercial breeders, who are already USDA-licensed,
sit back and do nothing while hobby breeders try to fight HSUS and
other animal rights groups. This is true at every level of
government. Many legislative liaisons and others who work on animal
legislation will tell you that they have pleaded with commercial
breeders to contact their congressmen, make a phone call, or send an
e-mail. Medium and small-sized commercial breeders may be active in
some states and they may wish us well, but in many places they take
the attitude that dog legislation has nothing to do with them. Or
they simply try to stay in the shadows, hoping the animal rights
groups won't notice them. Now with Ed Sayres at the helm, they are
being told that hobby breeders are their enemy.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's
a taste of Ed Sayres' recent blog post on the <a href="http://pijac.org/blog/love-pets-give-consumers-choice-ed-sayres-pijac-pres-ceo">PIJAC web site</a>:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“...
Given that fewer than 10 percent of all dog owners buy their dogs
from pet stores, restricting pet store sales will do little to
address the underlying problem of sub-standard breeders. Instead of
putting the burden on small business owners who make up a significant
portion of pet retailers, we should <i><b>focus on breeders
themselves to ensure that all of them are adhering to high standards
for humane care</b></i>.<br /><br />"Pet stores are good for consumers.
The overwhelming majority of people who choose pet stores bring home
a happy, healthy pet and are highly satisfied with their pet store
experience. Almost all pet store puppies originate from USDA-licensed
breeders who are regularly inspected and found to comply with
appropriate care standards. <i><b>By contrast, many of the dogs and
cats from other sources, including back yard operators, one-off
Internet sales and swap meets, do not come from licensed
breeders</b></i>.<br /><br /><i><b>"Pet store puppies are as healthy as
any others and typically receive more frequent veterinary care than
puppies from other sources</b></i>. In most states, consumers already
enjoy far more protection under the law for the animals they get from
pet stores than from any other source. Twenty-one states have pet
warranty laws on the books that apply to animals purchased in pet
stores but do not cover animals purchased from shelters or
rescues.<br /><br />"In acquiring a pet, consumers should be able to
choose among several reliable, quality sources, including pet stores.
Because pet store sales bans limit where and how people can get a
pet, they make it more difficult for them to find the pet that is the
best fit for their family. As demand for pets continues to grow,
consumers want to have choices – in terms of breed, size, age and
other characteristics. Without a reliable, quality supply of pets
<i><b>subject to strict regulation</b></i> and sourcing transparency,<b>
</b><i><b>prospective pet owners will be driven to unscrupulous
sellers of pets who are not licensed and are unconcerned about
compliance with animal care standards</b></i> …"</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT695_com_zimbra_url"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT696_com_zimbra_url"></a>
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
italics are mine. In case you have any trouble reading between the
lines, Sayres is saying that commercially-bred puppies from pet
stores are better than puppies bred and raised by people at home. And
that people who breed without a license or regulation are bad
breeders. If you're a hobby breeder who doesn't have to be
USDA-licensed, Sayres has just insulted you and your dogs.
Considering that Sayres has been on the job less than a month, I
would say he's just getting warmed up. This message is identical to
what Hunte's been saying, so it's not a surprise. And now Sayres has
PIJAC's budget and the entire pet industry at his disposal so he can
broadcast it.<br /><br />Whether or not you and I believe that Sayres has
any credibility after jumping ship at ASPCA and taking up a new role
speaking for the pet industry at PIJAC is irrelevant. He will likely
sound credible to the public. The message the public is going to be
getting from PIJAC is that puppies from hobby breeders are
substandard because many of the breeders are not licensed and
regulated in the same way as the fine, upstanding breeders who
produce commercially-bred puppies for pet stores.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
think we can all understand why PIJAC would want to improve the image
of pet store puppies after the vicious attacks they have received
from animal rights groups – and some breeders. They are fighting to
keep pet stores open in some cities and trying to sell more than
shelter pets in others. But we need to be aware that the fancy is
going to be receiving some kicks from Sayres and PIJAC, too. I hope
we can continue to work with the commercial breeders who are willing
to fight against the animal rights movement. But we also need to
defend ourselves against the kind of smears that Sayres is making.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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esheverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08853201547274397852noreply@blogger.com7