Dog Owners' Oprah Alert

Dog_ma

I agree that the laws that are being proposed are largely bad laws. You know how we'll get better ones? When good breeders GET INVOLVED

You surely don't follow the legislation that is going on.  Dog enthusiasts do get involved and are usually summarily ignored.  The crafter of these laws don't want input.  They follow their agenda and anyone else is ignored, demonized and classified as a greedy, heartless breeder/puppy miller.  I could give you many many examples, Louisville, LA, Palm Beach, Va, NJ, VT etc.  There is serious money backing the AR movement (H$U$ is $250 million alone).    There are also many bleeding heart liberal celebrities backing this movement. 

 

Dog_ma

Although I disagree with Houndmusic on breeding for profit

Don't we still live in America.  Now it is evil to try to make money doing what you like to do, interesting.  What about the work that you do.  Guess I should call your boss and tell them that you don't believe people should make money working!!!!!

 

 

Dog_ma

You know what? Until responsible breeders get involved in crafting well written legislation and policies, they don't have much room to complain about being bashed. I don't think breeders should be bashed wholesale, but (personal opinion) they should be interested in more than their next litter.

     Hmmm ... first of all, I don't believe there should be government regulations over the breeding industry save for what USDA and state licnesing regulations already provide. I'm one who believes government should remain out of the lives of private citizens as much as possible. Furthermore, anti breeder/mandatory s/n legislation is only being proposed by AR fanatics. This is why all breeders should oppose ALL legislation. There are already strict rules in play for larger scale or professional breeders, more are not needed.
     Now, there is a sect of breeders who are trying to do something about this ... and they are professional breeders plus America's Pet Registry, Inc. (APRI) are the ONLY ones who are putting their money where their mouth is. BTW, any breeder interested in helping other breeders and opposing such legislation should seriously consider joining the Nasional Association of Pet Owners (NAPO) ...  

timsdat

Dog_ma

Although I disagree with Houndmusic on breeding for profit

Don't we still live in America.  Now it is evil to try to make money doing what you like to do, interesting.  What about the work that you do.  Guess I should call your boss and tell them that you don't believe people should make money working!!!!!

 

 

Hyperbole much? I must have missed the part where I used the word evil. And, as this IS America, I have the opportunity to question what happens when the profit motive and human or animal well-being intersect. You are welcome to come to different conclusions than I do. Your credibility will be enhanced, however, if you don't misrepresent other people's arguments to make a point.

Laws are going to be made. If you want to throw up your hands because the fight is too hard, do that. Laws will still be made, and they will likely be bad laws. I follow legislative issues lightly, and so far what I've seen is a lot of reaction, rather than pro-action. Breeders and enthusiasts need to start getting there first, finding a friendly ear, and pushing their agendas. That is how America works. Get there before the opposition has momentum going for them.

None of this is easy. There is no guarantee that a position will be considered. But laws WILL be written. And some will be passed.  

This is on the Oprah tv site as of Friday pm:

Recognize a Good Breeder

When choosing a breeder look for one who does the following:

• Ideally, keeps his or her pets as part of the family.
• Encourages you to meet and spend time with your puppy's parents, and allows you to see where they spend most of their time. Area is clean and well maintained.
• Insists on meeting potential adoptive families. Will not sell their dogs to just anyone.
• Doesn't sell animals too young—sells puppies only after they are 8 to 12 weeks old, and 8 to 10 weeks old for kittens.
• Can provide references from other families who have purchased puppies.
• Keeps breeding dogs healthy, well fed, and well socialized.
• Provides professional veterinary care for all their animals.
• Performs health tests on fathers and mothers prior to breeding to ensure their puppies do not have genetic defects.
• Has a good relationship with a local veterinarian and can show you records of visits for the puppy.
• Bases breeding frequency on mother's health, age, condition and recuperative abilities.
• Does not breed extremely young or old animals.
• Discusses positive and negative aspects of particular animals and breeds with potential owners.
• Encourages multiple visits to meet the puppy.
• Will take back any of their animals, at any time and for any reason.

The above was on a page enititled: The Truth About Animal Shelters and Responsible Breeders

It looks like numerous threads have started on the show. Can the mods put the posts together under one of the thread titles? 

polarexpress

This is on the Oprah tv site as of Friday pm:

Recognize a Good Breeder

When choosing a breeder look for one who does the following:

• Ideally, keeps his or her pets as part of the family.
• Encourages you to meet and spend time with your puppy's parents, and allows you to see where they spend most of their time. Area is clean and well maintained.
• Insists on meeting potential adoptive families. Will not sell their dogs to just anyone.
• Doesn't sell animals too young—sells puppies only after they are 8 to 12 weeks old, and 8 to 10 weeks old for kittens.
• Can provide references from other families who have purchased puppies.
• Keeps breeding dogs healthy, well fed, and well socialized.
• Provides professional veterinary care for all their animals.
• Performs health tests on fathers and mothers prior to breeding to ensure their puppies do not have genetic defects.
• Has a good relationship with a local veterinarian and can show you records of visits for the puppy.
• Bases breeding frequency on mother's health, age, condition and recuperative abilities.
• Does not breed extremely young or old animals.
• Discusses positive and negative aspects of particular animals and breeds with potential owners.
• Encourages multiple visits to meet the puppy.
• Will take back any of their animals, at any time and for any reason.

The above was on a page enititled: The Truth About Animal Shelters and Responsible Breeders

From the show Lisa Ling Investigates the Hidden World of Puppy Mills

 

 

Yep, that sure looks like evil AR propaganda to me.

 

 

 

I think that list sounds good to me when choosing a breeder. Who cares where it comes from (the list)? I don't know what "AR" is/means, but I do know a responsible breeder does the above.

I guess I just don't get why everyone isn't upset at these puppy mills....Clearly the dogs featured on Oprah are abused. A responsible, ethical breeder will never sell to a pet store. I support responsible, ethical breeding to improve a specific breed, but I will never support puppy mills- ever.

BlackLabbie

I guess I just don't get why everyone isn't upset at these puppy mills....

I know I am.  It is heartbreaking.  And these millers need to be stopped.  Sickening.