I stopped writing for a few months. All the usual stuff, busy with work, busy with clubs, busy, busy, busy, period. On December 22 we had a lovely new addition to our family, in fact 7 new additions! Our darling Sussex Spaniel, Gidget - Ziyadah Clarken Making Waves, had her first litter. Ch. Ziyadah Florabama Roger is the sire of the litter. They are healthy, growing like weeds and absolutely beautiful.
I don't know why I'm surprised, but I have already received some rather nasty and crappy comments about having a litter of puppies! You would think by now I would be used to the garbage that spews from the mouths of Animal Rights fanatics. I've been so wrapped up in my world of dogs and dog shows and dog clubs and work that I forgot how insidious they are and how much they want us to stop what we are doing.
Over this fall there were several pieces of legislation that passed that threaten all of us who love our dogs. There has been so much acceptance by main stream media and main stream America of groups like HSUS and PETA that we are loosing ground faster than ever. Maybe I'm a little on edge because this year I have to get a "kennel license" in my small town because I have more than 4 dogs. Of course, I was told that I would be "grandfathered", but I don't want to take any chances that a change in leadership at City Hall could lead to a change in ordinances. I have put in a request to push the "inspection" back until my puppies are older. I do NOT want the Animal Control officer walking into my puppy room after handling other animals!
There are some good organizations out there trying, as always, to combat HSUS and the like, but for some reason they are chided by many as being part of the "animal use industries" so cannot be trusted. Why that is I don't know. HSUS is part of the "animal rights industry" and has it's own self interest at heart as well. It seems so ridiculous to assume because they are a non profit that they are not greedy or self absorbed. It's in their best interest to keep animal abuse in the news, keeps those $$ rolling in!
So, I'm back to the keyboard. As I type, I'm watching seven beautiful puppies and wonder why anyone would find them offensive. Already I've been accused of depriving shelter dogs of homes, for heavens sakes they are only a few weeks old! I find the idea that someone would actually believe that nonsense kind of stupid.
Let's look at the facts about shelter dogs and pet overpopulation. This subject has been discussed recently in several places, but I think it's worth repeating.
First - the euthanasia of pets in shelters has gone down dramatically in the last 30 years. Breed rescue, started by purebred breeders and clubs by the way, has become very proactive. The statistics show SUCCESS, not the overwhelming overpopulation and failure that AR would have us believe. Dropping from 15 million + in the 70's to 3 or 4 million (including all the unadoptable, the feral cats, the elderly and sick animals) seems to be a good thing to me.
Second - most people already do spay or neuter their pets. A bitch in season can be a pain for those who aren't prepared. An intact male needs supervision. People have more money and leisure time, dogs aren't workers on the farm or in the field like they once were - they are "family" members. My dogs are family members.
Third - Not all people want a random bred dog. There is NOTHING wrong with random bred dogs, but let's not play the "hybrid" vigor game or the all dogs are the same game. It's just not true. To some people, people I think of as responsible, a dog bred with health, temperament and a predictable nature are good things! I'm sure there are lovely dogs in shelters. I have to say though that the many rescues we've placed all have some issue or other. Doesn't make them less worthy of love and care, just makes their owners people who have the ability to take on those problems.
Let's be clear - shelter dogs are by and large mixed breed dogs. They are in the shelter for a variety of reasons from behavior problems, their owners inability to train them, owner's health issues, personal probems, whatever. The statistic that places 25% as purebred is questionable at best. With the bans on so many bully breeds, perhaps there are more purebred bully breeds than there once were. My niece recently got a very sweet dog from her local shelter. She lives in a community where landlords can legally discriminate against specific breeds. She had to be very clever about describing her new dog.
Enough of that side track, shelter dogs are lovely. I've had several. HOWEVER, I love two breeds and their very specific charateristics more than I love all dogs. If I couldn't have either a Pembroke Welsh Corgi or a Sussex Spaniel, I honestly don't know that I'd have a dog. I like dogs, but I LOVE these dogs because they are who they are. I know that 99.9% of the corgis I meet are going to be longish, lowish, have pointy ears, foxy faces and double coats. I know that they will be smart, funny and busy and that they will need jobs. I know that 99.9% of the sussex I meet are going to be longish, lowish, have long ears, silky coats and velvety muzzles. I know they will be funny, charming, have great noses and will probably love belly rubs.
That's MY choice, period. The people that have come to me for a Pembroke or a Sussex don't want a big black dog. That's not irresponsible. That is knowing what works for your family, your home life, your needs. It's making sure that the dog will be loved and fit and remain part of the family. I don't want to hear that it's prejudiced or snobbery, it's responsibility. Is it responsible for a family to adopt a dog from a shelter that isn't good with children? Is it responsible for an elderly person to adopt a dog from a shelter that is high energy or aggressive?
So, I'm back - I'm going to try to post more in the future. In the meantime, enjoy the newest beauties in my life: www.ustream.tv/channel/pemmom , and keep fighting for your right to own or breed the dog of your choice, to eat a nice steak, to have some eggs OR NOT. Don't let the AR's get the best of us. Don't eat at places that have caved to their foolishness, don't buy from stores that think it's okay to tell you what you SHOULD wear or eat. You make that choice for yourself, because you do have a choice!
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