Today show recommends Christmas puppies

I wrote a scathing email that had to be burning the airwaves as well.  How HORRIBLE!  [:@]

Here is my response to them, if anyone wants to C & P or add their own...
 
You mention on your website:Puppies:
Okay, here's the lowdown. If you're thinking about giving a puppy this holiday season make doubly sure the recipient wants one (too many precious pups end up in shelters each year) and don't even think about putting the poor thing in a box with holes. They too come in high and low price points.

• High: Designer dog. Cockapoos from Mulberry Farm ([linkhttp://mulberryfarm.com/]mulberryfarm.com[/link]) are $1,250 and up. Cockapoos are the hybrid of an American Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. They are non-shedding and non-allergenic, with a softly curling coat. They tend to have above average intelligence and spunky behavior. 
  
• Low: For about one tenth the price you can get a shelter puppy from North Shore Animal League of America ([linkhttp://nsalamerica.org/]nsalamerica.org[/link]): $135/mix breed; $275/pure breed. Screening and application process applies. Northshore says that it is important to carefully consider whether the person that you are shopping for will be able to take on the responsibility of a pet, but if you decide to purchase from a shelter, you can take comfort in the fact that you are saving a life

I cannot personally think of a more irresponsible thing to recommend. You are recommending living animals, a fifteen year commitment as a present.  Do you realize how many shelter dogs die every year?  Do you realize how "designer dogs" are bred only for money and there is absolutely NO health testing or temperment testing done on either the sire or the dam.  The term "Designer dog" is a fancy way of saying "Mutt" or "Mixed Breed."   Putting a fancy label on a dog does not make it worth more money.  While you recommend the "Mulberry Farm" dogs, tens of thousands of shelter dogs will die alone.  Not to mention that "Cockapoos are not "non-shedding" nor "non-allergenic."  They are mixes and mixes do not breed true.  Some will probably be as you claim, others will not.   I am shocked and appalled at the capriciousness of the Today Show's actions that effectively put a stamp of approval on so called breeders that would continue to flood an already overcrowded market with even more puppies, more lives that likely will end up in shelters.  To do some justice and some clean up work, I'd really like for you to pursue an in-depth look at puppy mills.  It's not a pleasant light-hearted piece, but it might open your eyes as to why those in the "dog fancy" and other animal lovers detest these businesses.  Sincerely....

[8|]why or why do I even try... here I go anouther letter...
 
 
On the news here, there is a weather man who about once a week takes a pup from the shelter and does the news cast with the pup sitting on a chair next to the screan.  He's a great guy for doing that and has adopted out plenty of shelter dogs.  Wish more shows would do that.

I think Bob Barker on the Price is Right does that, too. He always recommends spay/neuter and almost always has a dog that's up for adoption at the Los Angeles shelter. I guess we have to give them credit for suggesting a shelter - but they should have made that the first suggestion, not the second.
 
Joyce

I stopped watching the Today show years ago, too many idiots.[8|]
 
Yep, I love e-mail writing campaigns.

im somewhatoffended by the word mutt.
 
i think it was stupid for the show to suggest puppies as a gift. but did anyone check out mulberry farms? i did, i am not all that turned off by it. definitly no BYB. while it looks to be they have alot of dogs and pups, it also looks that they are well cared for.
 
i do not feel this is an irresponsible breeder, if you read in the box at the bottom of the adoption procedures page it states they do no sell pups to homes with more than one child under 6 unless they see the children interacting with the pups. people who are away from home for more than 4 consecutive hours per day. people who smoke. or people who need a puppy shipped via air.
 
 they obviously care about the puppies not just the moneys, i don't feel comfortable tacking the word puppy mill to mulberry farms.
 
 

Oh please.

Cockapoos and Schnoodles?

Give me a break.

i call my dog a breagledon spetter sometimes.

 

Sorry if the word "mutt" somewhat offends you.  I find it an endearing term, as do many that use it.  The terms "designer dogs" or "purebred mix" offend me. 
 
 

Even before "designer dogs" were a craze that I was aware of, we called Conrad a purebred Breton Bay Stinkhound. (when we first got him we were living on a body of water called Breton Bay). []

ORIGINAL: Xerxes

Sorry if the word "mutt" somewhat offends you.  I find it an endearing term, as do many that use it.  The terms "designer dogs" or "purebred mix" offend me. 

 
I agree--I like "mutt."  Not a thing wrong with being a mutt.
 
Am I the only one who about fell over at the prices?  Holy cats!!!

I was taking a short break at work and popped on here.  That article made me so mad that I sent a comment on my official program email here so that they would get feedback from a reputable humane program.
Thanks for posting it.

A puppy (or a dog) isn't just for Christmas, it's for life.

Oh great. I'm sure shelters and rescues will be up to their eyeballs with unwanted Christmas puppies come February when the novelty wears off. I checked out the Mulberry Farms website and based on what *I* have seen, you don't get a whole lot for $1250+. I saw no mention of OFA/CERF, their health guarantee only covers and I quote...
 

*permanently-debilitating or life-threatening hereditary and congenital disorders.  (*Permanently-debilitating is defined here as blindness or the inability to walk.)

 
I also saw no mention of belonging to a breed club nor any mentions if they are actually striving to create a new breed. You can get a show quality Cocker Spaniel, Poodle and Miniature Schnauzer for around the same price(less or more depending on where you live)  as they charge for a mixed breed dog. If they don't OFA, CERF, I wouldn't be surprised if the parents have mediocre pedigrees and the health guarantee covers their behind more than it rotects everyone involved, why do they command such a high price? If you want to get a Cockapoo/Schnoodle that comes from a questionable background without any health testing done, save your money and adopt one from a shelter/rescue. Big difference is the shelter calls them Cocker Spaniel/Poodle and Schnauzer/Poodle mixes and doesn't charge an arm, leg and an ovary for the dog.

Even as owner of a cross-breed, I emailed to point out how they didn't present all the proper aspects of true breeding and the lackings of the breeder they mentioned. At the "breeder's" site, there is simply the mendelian model from the 19th century, with no explanation or mention of mtDNA, as well as the dangers of cross-breeding, no health certs offered of the parents, or explanation of lineage, other than the parents have titles. I've known titled dogs that were not bred, even for pure breeding reasons, let alone the designer flavor of the month.
 

Too many dogs end up in shelters and you are advertising to BUY A DOG?! Sometimes I cant stand people.