So
you want to buy a puppy?
Definition
of a Boston
Terrier:
Once you have one you won't settle for anything less
. .
.and anything else is less!
Not
sure what a puppymill is? Click here to see more... Puppymill
Video
This
is but ONE reason why you should never purchase a puppy from a Pet Store!
A
Puppy Buyer's Guide
to
help you in your search for a responsible breeder and a healthy puppy...
Occasionally, I have puppies available to good
homes. Since I only have 1 or 2 litters each year, I have compiled a list of reputable
breeders in the Washington/Oregon area which I will be more than happy to forward to
anyone requesting it. I have referred several people to various reputable breeders
in the past, and have thoroughly enjoyed helping to bring a new baby into someone's world.
To make for a happy, lifelong relationship with your Boston Terrier (or with ANY
dog for that matter), I have listed below some key questions which should be asked of the
breeder by someone searching for a nice pet for their family. Someone asked once if questions like this wouldn't
offend the breeder. By all means OFFEND THEM! The only stupid question is an
un-asked one! Reputable breeders are not offended by questions, they welcome
them, and will be happy to answer any and all questions you can come up with. If
they are offended by your questions, you should question them about their puppies
and breeding practices all the
more. Also, in my opinion, you should be asked just as many questions about yourself, if
not more, by the breeder. To most breeders, you are not buying a dog, you are
applying for the right to take one of their children home. Please remember that this is no guarantee of
or for a puppy, and are just basic questions which in MY opinion should
be asked. Please, by all means, add to this list. Further, I would like
to point out that there is nothing wrong with buying from a private breeder. Or, as
some would call them, backyard breeders. Not all of them are bad. You do however, need to
do your homework before you buy, but this homework should also be done
with a "reputable" breeder/kennel too. A reputable breeder
will only sell puppies from healthy (health tested)
parents, and will offer a worthy health guarantee (not just a week or
two either). Some good breeders offer a guarantee for the life of
the dog, while others give a 2 year health guarantee (which
is a time-frame by which most genetic defects appear). PLEASE avoid Puppymills and Pet
Stores at all costs!! NOTE: Most pet stores are notorious for
buying their puppies from Puppymills!! It is difficult to leave a defenseless
animal at these places, but if there are no buyers, then it becomes
unprofitable and there is always
hope they will quit breeding
them. Reputable breeders do NOT sell puppies to pet
stores!! Puppymill puppies frequently have health & temperament
issues that far outweigh the initial savings you make at purchase, and more
often than not, the pet store puppy is higher priced than the reputable
breeders puppy. The
long term health care for them can be very expensive both to your pocketbook
and your heart. There is a very sad, and beautiful poem about Puppymills at the bottom of
this page, and you can find out more about Puppymills at the No Puppymills
website. I also highly recommend anyone searching for
a puppy to thoroughly read the Boston
Terrier Standard (you can also find the standard for any breed you are
interested in on the AKC website). A good breeder will only breed to the standard, and
if you don't know and understand what that is, it will be all the easier for
them to deceive you.
So here is your:
©
Puppy
Buyer's Guide:
Responsible
breeders do NOT sell puppies thru a pet store! Purchasing a puppy
via a pet store is like playing Russian Roulette. You may get
lucky (and your puppy will be healthy) or you may not. You are
also promoting poor breeding practices and when you bring your puppy
home, you only open up room for yet another irresponsibly bred puppy to
take its place. Responsible breeders don't care who has the most
cash... they want to know that their puppy is going to a loving home,
and where their puppy is going to live. NEVER buy a puppy
from a pet store!!
Attend
a dog show. You can find upcoming dog shows in your area by going to
InfoDog.com. Generally, about a
week before the event, they will list the exact time and the ring that
Boston's (or the breed you are searching for) will be there. Go to
the show and talk to some of the breeders. But please be courteous,
and don't interrupt them as they're going into the ring. Most of
them will love to talk to you about their wonderful breed, and many have
or know of other good breeders who may have puppies available. Keep in mind, that just because a breeder
shows their dogs, does not mean that they only have show dogs to
sell. Additionally, just because a breeder shows their dogs,
does NOT automatically make them reputable.
If the breeder will only meet you in a store parking lot, you should
wonder what they are trying to hide. You should ALWAYS be able to see the
living conditions of both the puppies and the parents. The puppies and the mother (and their living/sleeping quarters)
should be clean and dry, and they should appear completely healthy. Keep in mind that the
mothers do look somewhat lean at this time as she's nursing the puppies, but their
coat should be shiny, and their eyes bright and attentive. The puppies should appear
healthy, be clean, playful, and well socialized. They should also
LOOK like the breed they are!
The
internet is a wonderful tool, though a deceiving one. Most
responsible breeders do not need to advertise their puppies on an
internet classified, nor do any that I'm aware of offer a "point
and click" purchase of a puppy (and absolutely NONE accept credit
cards OR PayPal!) Buying a puppy sight unseen (or just from
photographs) is dangerous. What you see is not always what you
get. If you cannot physically visit the breeder's home yourself, I
highly recommend you locate a friend living in the vicinity to do it for
you. Be sure that the friend you choose is aware of the proper
questions to ask and what to look for while they are at the breeders
home.
Is
the breeder USDA licensed? If they are, that is a red flag to you
that this breeder is a puppymill. Class A licensing is required by
USDA for any breeder who sells puppies to a broker or pet shop.
Puppymills and BYB's do NOT check for genetic problems, nor do they
care. They only want your $$. Puppymills will generally breed
a bitch her very first season, and she will unfortunately wind up living
in a 3x3 cage her whole life being bred every single heat after that until
she is either dead or doesn't produce anymore litters. Check out the
puppymill link on my home page for more details on them.
Has
the breeder sold puppies to pet stores? Have they sold/given any
puppies to another person to sell the puppies for them? Neither
of these scenario's are acceptable. A responsible breeder wants to
KNOW where their puppies are going, who they've been sold to, and who is
going to raise them to adulthood. A responsible breeder wants to
check out your references too. A responsible breeder
doesn't care if you have the most money and are first in line, but they
DO want to know that you are a responsible person.
You should be able to see both parents (at the very least, a
picture...as some breeders do use outside males). Frequently, the puppies turn out very
similar to the parents in size, temperament, and looks. Is that what you want?
Check out the pedigree. Any reputable breeder has a pedigree on their
dogs, at the minimum a 3 generation pedigree. Look for inbreeding. That is when a brother/sister
or father/daughter, mother/son have been bred together. Done correctly,
this type of breeding can produce some outstanding dogs, but for the
average backyard breeder who has no concept of lineage, or the role that
genetics will play is taking quite a risk and can create some seriously
ill puppies. Also, just because a puppy has some Champions in his background does NOT
mean the breeder is reputable, nor that the puppy is healthy.
There is quite a difference between Champion Sired and Champion
bloodlines. Pretty much any puppy will have a Champion in there
bloodline if you go back enough generations, but even Champion Sired is not a guarantee of quality
or health. Don't let a title fool you into thinking it means the
puppies are automatically healthy
Beware
of breeders that advertise their puppies as registered with a dog
registry other than AKC (American Kennel Club), CKC (Canadian Kennel
Club), or UKC (United Kennel Club). Frequently they will advertise pups as CKC (Continental
Kennel Club), and the unknowing buyer thinks they are getting a purebred
dog. Chances are, you are not, but are paying a registered
price. Almost any dog can be registered with the CKC (Continental
Kennel Club), and there are numerous other registries popping up every
day. AKC (American Kennel Club), CKC (Canadian Kennel Club), and
UKC (United Kennel Club) require strict
breeding records be kept, and while their system is not infallible (an
unethical breeder can always find ways around a system), it works fairly
well, and you can be rather certain that your puppy is purebred if not
well bred.
You
should also beware of breeders advertising their dogs as Champions, when
they are in fact not. There are a few other registries that offer
a Champion title for pets, and though a multiple Champion titleholder is
nice, and can show that the dog is an all around Champion, if there is
not an AKC title somewhere in the mix, chances are they're feeding you a
line.
A
preponderance of white on the head and/or body (in Boston Terrier's)
and/or blue eyes is NOT a RARE Boston. Neither is a red, brown,
fawn, blue, gray, lilac, etc. RARE. Studies have shown that the same gene
that causes deafness, is also associated with the excessive white and/or
blue eyes, and the "off" colors are not an acceptable color per the breed
standard. They can still be registered with AKC, but because of
the risk in producing these health/non-standard problems, they should NOT
be bred. While these "off" colors do still make wonderful
pets, and even a good breeder will have them show up occasionally in a
litter, a breeder trying to sell you a Boston as RARE because of
their color, markings, or eye color is NOT a breeder to be trusted!
They simply want you to believe that their puppy is worth the exorbitant
price they are asking for it.
There
is no such thing as "show markings" on a Boston. Don't
fall for a breeder who advertises their dogs as show quality because of
the markings. A Boston's markings are merely icing on the
cake. If the dog is not structurally sound to begin with, no amount
of markings are going to make him show-worthy. If you are looking
for a Boston to show in conformation events, chances are you will not find
it among a litter bred by breeder who does not show their dogs. You
would be far better off locating a breeder who does show their dogs, and
purchase a show quality puppy from them. If your interest is
genuine, this same breeder will very likely become a willing mentor to
teach you the in's and out's of the show ring, and assist you and your
Boston in your quest to fame.
If
you checked the BTCA link above regarding the standard, you will have
found that a Boston does have a short muzzle. A breeder who advertises
that their Boston's have longer noses so they don't have breathing
problems is not being truthful. This is generally their way of
justifying the breeding of their pet. Having a longer nose does
NOT reduce breathing problems. Boston's are a Brachycephalic (short
nose) breed, and hence they do snort and snore a
lot. Stenotic nares and/or an elongated soft palate can be found
in any breed, including Golden Retriever's. But a good breeder who
is breeding to the standard does NOT produce a long nose Boston, nor do
their short nose Boston's have breathing problems.
A
breeder's occupation is not an
indicator of good breeding practices. Just because a breeder is a
nurse, doctor, veterinary technician, or even a veterinarian for that matter, does NOT
necessarily
make them a good breeder. A good breeder not only certifies their
breeding dogs are healthy with the proper genetic tests, they also breed
to the standard.
Their occupation has nothing to do with it.
Is
this breeder willing to sell you a puppy on full registration? Why
are they doing this? A reputable breeder does not sell a pet quality
puppy like this. A good breeder calls a puppy pet quality for a
reason. There is a flaw (albeit usually just a nominal one) that
marks it as non-show quality. This same flaw in all likelihood
should also mark it as non-BREEDING quality. If they are selling a
pet quality puppy and are willing to let you (or any Tom, Dick, or Harry) breed this puppy at some time in the future, they are willingly
contributing to the thousands of homeless dogs that are filling the
shelters today. A good breeder will NOT sell a puppy as a "good
breeding dog".
How
long have they been breeding? How many females does the breeder have? How many litters has
this breeder had? How often is the female bred? If the female is 3 years old,
and has had 6 litters, they are being over-bred (in my opinion!).
Generally
speaking, most breeders will not allow their bitch to have more
than 4 litters. If puppies always seem to be available you can bet it's become a
lucrative business and the puppies are just merchandise. If
checking the newspaper ads (if you must), browse over the other breeds and take note of
phone numbers and/or addresses. Are there several repetitions?
How
old are the dogs they are breeding? Dogs (males) are used for stud
up until they are 9 to 10 years old, sometimes even older, but most good
breeders will not breed a bitch over 6 years of age. The reverse
side of this coin is how young are the breeding dogs. A bitch bred
before she is at least a year old is still a puppy herself, and should
not be bred, and in my opinion, a male should also be at least that
age. Some health certifications are not valid until a dog is at
least one year old, and they should not be bred before they have passed
all of their certifications.
The breeder should also give you a WRITTEN guarantee on the puppy,
NOT VERBAL. Any health problems should either be paid for by the breeder,
a partial refund of your purchase price be given, or they will exchange
the puppy... Preferably YOUR choice, not theirs! (Unfortunately, the choice
guarantee is not always an option, but there are some breeders that will give this
choice). Each breeder's guarantee is different, so be sure you
understand exactly what and how they will warrantee the puppy before you
sign any documents. Also, keep in mind that many genetic problems do not appear
until the puppy is an adult of 1, 2, or even 3 years old. The
guarantee should cover no less than a one year period for genetic
defects. The puppy should also have ALL of his/her puppy shots, and been wormed.
A health certificate is required by most states prior to selling
a puppy, and it is ALWAYS required when shipping a puppy, so don't be fooled into thinking it's a healthy puppy just
because it has been given a health certificate. There are unethical
veterinarians, just as there are unethical breeders.
A good breeder
will also have run the proper genetic health tests that are available to ensure the breeding dogs are free from genetic defects, and thereby (hopefully) so are
their puppies. A certificate is issued when the dog passes these
tests, and the breeder should provide a copy of these certificates to
you. The tests that are most common for Boston Terrier's is CERF (eyes),
OFA- LP (luxating patella), BAER (hearing),
and OFA (hips). Keep in mind that the majority of these tests are only
valid for a certain period of time. BAER testing is once in a
lifetime, and OFA (both) is every 2 years after 1 year of age.
CERF testing is annual, and can be performed on an 8 week old
puppy. But just because a female was tested 2 years ago for
juvenile cataracts, does not mean she doesn't have them today, so always
check the date on
the certificates. These genetic problems can cost thousands to
correct, and unless you have some type of guarantee in writing, YOU pay the vet
bill. Granted, these tests are NOT a guarantee that your puppy
will never develop these genetic problems, but they DO greatly reduce
the risk of them ever showing up.
Many
breeders will make a sweeping statement regarding their dogs
health. Their "vet says the dog is healthy", the
"vet says they are wonderful Boston's", their "friend
says they could be show dogs". These are all examples of
excuses a backyard breeder makes to help justify the breeding of their
pets without the proper genetic tests. Ninety nine times out of
one hundred, the vet has no clue what a properly bred Boston should look
like, nor does their friend. Most of the genetic tests cannot be
performed by a regular veterinarian, so he cannot certify that the dogs
do not have a genetic problem.
"I'm
not a breeder" is commonly used by people who have allowed their
female to get pregnant. One litter MAKES them a breeder, whether
they like it or not. And as a breeder, you should expect
everything from them as a first time breeder as you would expect from a
breeder who has been breeding for 30+ years! There are NO excuses
for irresponsible breeding!!
Get references from the breeder. Most reputable breeders will
have a list of several people who have purchased puppies from them. Call the
references, and ask about the health of their puppy and satisfaction with the breeder.
Why is the breeder breeding? Because they want to scatter
Fido's good looks and charm around? Did they just want to educate their
children? Do they state they only want to provide nice
"pets" for their friends and family? Did they never bother to spay or neuter, and an "accident"
happened? Or do they truly care about the Boston breed, are trying
to better the breed, and are striving to breed
for the PERFECT Boston?
Find out who the breeder's veterinarian is, and CALL THEM. Most Vet's
will be able to tell you yes or no if the parents are generally healthy and if
they're brought in for regular care. They also should have seen
the puppies at least a couple times, and would know if the puppies are
healthy in general. They are also another ideal contact on "who" has any
puppies available.
Do
you feel comfortable with this breeder, or are you kept at arms length?
Do you feel they are answering your questions honestly? Could you
consider this person a friend you can call with a really DUMB question?
We all have dumb questions now and then. Can
you call them after the sale and expect answers to your questions?
Is each litter special in some way? Will they help in training and
grooming if you need it? Will they show you how to clip nails,
brush out the coat properly, or
make a correction to an uppity puppy if you
need that kind of help? Are they willing to take the puppy back if
at any time you are unable to keep it?
I have noticed a recent trend towards
some breeder's releasing
puppies to new homes before they are 8 weeks old. Some even at 5 weeks. This
is a VERY important period for puppies. Puppies of that age are still learning to eat solid food,
and are learning socialization from their mother and littermates. Many
good breeders won't release puppies to new homes until they are at least 10
weeks, and quite often even longer. Use
caution, as frequently, their desire for you to take the puppy earlier
than 8 weeks is an indication
that they are a puppymill, or at the very least a poor and uncaring
breeder. They either need the room for the next batch of
unfortunate puppies, or all too frequently they are just tired of the
mess and smell. A good breeder does not EVER tire of having
puppies around their house! I would really question a breeder who requires you to
take a puppy prior to 8 weeks old. More and more states are initiating laws making
it illegal to release a puppy prior to that age, and some are even making it
illegal to purchase one that young. Check the laws in your state
before removing a young puppy from its mother.
Most
reputable breeders will only sell a pet quality dog on a spay/neuter
contract and/or a limited registration. A spay/neuter contract
requires you to have the dog spayed/neutered by a certain date.
Occasionally the breeder will ask for an additional fee that is refunded
to you on proof of the spay/neuter. A limited registration means
that the dog could potentially be bred, but any resulting litter is
ineligible for AKC registration. Because of the increase in
sub-standard registries, and the fact that the majority of them will
register a dog whether it's purebred or not, the extra fee spay/neuter
contract is becoming more popular than the limited registration.
There are even some breeders that are requiring both the extra fee PLUS
the limited registration simply to help ensure that their dogs are not
bred indiscriminately. Do not be surprised if the breeder withholds any
registration documents until proof of spay/neuter. A good breeder
has worked many hours and often invested years of pedigree research in
their breeding program. Holding the registration papers is merely
their way of protecting the puppy and their bloodline.
If you are buying a pet, PLEASE have your pet SPAYED OR
NEUTERED! Statistics show that spayed/neutered pets actually live longer, and have
fewer health problems than intact dogs.
Consider
a rescue Boston. They do sometimes come with emotional or health
issues, but more often than not, they just need the opportunity to have
and be a part of a loving family that cares about them. Contact
the Boston Terrier
Club of America or your
local Boston Terrier or breed club for a rescue contact, or check with
your local Humane Society.
Don't
fall for that "someone else is looking at this puppy"
spiel. If they're willing to let that puppy go to the highest or
fastest bidder, they are not someone you want to deal with. A good
breeder will care more about where their puppies go than how fast you
can pull out your wallet.
Don't
make a snap decision. Talk to the breeder, view their dogs, discuss
any questions you have, then leave. Allow yourself at least a day to
think it through. Did they answer your questions with confidence and
knowledge? Did they question you as much or more than you did
them? Make a list of everything that you thought was good about the
breeder and their puppies. Then make a list of what you didn't like
or had more questions about. Which list is longer? Call the
breeder and if they can't answer the questions on your list, avoid some
of the questions, or give evasive answers to them, look for another breeder.
Last but most assuredly not least, be absolutely sure that you will
be able to care for a puppy. Who
will care for it?
Bathing, feeding, loving, playing, training, health care, etc. are all important factors to
consider. Don't expect your 5 year old to take over complete care of this new
addition to your family. Children frequently get bored with a puppy after the
newness wears off. If YOU aren't willing to take on the above responsibilities, you
may want to reconsider getting a puppy. This is a LIFETIME commitment, you are not
just borrowing a puppy for a few weeks or years. Boston's have an
average life span of 12-14 years. Be SURE that this is what you
want. Shelter's are full of puppies that are no longer wanted, please don't add to
the problem.
I have hopes that this will help promote more responsible and better
informed puppy buyers. Please keep in mind, that these are questions that I have
asked, and been asked, and only you can tell if the right answer has been given. The
choice in the end, is of course yours. One
last word of advice... if you contact a breeder via email, it would be
in your best interest to include more than the 5 word phrase "do
you have any puppies". You don't need to give a 10 page essay
about yourself, but you will receive far more responses if you give at
least a little information about your family and your search for a
puppy. Your name at the end is also a nice touch. At least
then the breeder knows who they're talking to.
If anyone feels an important question has
been missed, and should be added to this list, please e-mail
me and I will include it
here. |
I put dogs in the gas chamber
Date: 2006-08-16, 12:03PM EDT (author
unknown) |
Yes, I Gas Dogs and Cats for a Living.
I'm an Animal Control officer in a very small town in central North Carolina.
I'm in my mid thirties, and have been working for the town in different
positions since high school. There is not much work here, and working for the
county provides good pay and benefits for a person like me without a higher
education. I'm the person you all write about how horrible I am. I'm the one
that gasses the dogs and cats and makes them suffer. I'm the one that pulls
their dead corpses out smelling of Carbon Monoxide and throws them into green
plastic bags. But I'm also the one that hates my job and hates what I have to
do. First off, all you people out there that judge me, don't. God is judging
me, and I know I'm going to Hell. Yes, I'm going to hell. I wont lie, it's
despicable, cold, cruel and I feel like a serial killer. I'm not all to blame,
if the law would mandate spay and neuter, lots of these dogs and cats wouldn't
be here for me to gas. I'm the devil, I know it, but I want you people to see
that there is another side to me the devil Gas Chamber man.
The shelter usually gasses on Friday morning.
Friday's are the day that most people look forward to, this is the day that I
hate, and wish that time will stand still on Thursday night. Thursday night,
late, after nobody's around, my friend and I go through a fast food line, and
buy 50 dollars worth of cheeseburgers and fries, and chicken. I'm not allowed
to feed the dogs on Thursday, for I'm told that they will make a mess in the
gas chamber, and why waste the food. So, Thursday night, with the lights still
closed, I go into the saddest room that anyone can every imagine, and let all
the doomed dogs out out their cages. I have never been bit, and in all my
years doing this, the dogs have never fought over the food. My buddy and I,
open each wrapper of cheeseburger and chicken sandwich, and feed them to the
skinny, starving dogs. They swallow the food so fast, that I don't believe
they even taste it. There tails are wagging, and some don't even go for the
food, they roll on their backs wanting a scratch on their bellies. They start
running, jumping and kissing me and my buddy. They go back to their food, and
come back to us. All their eyes are on us with such trust and hope, and their
tails wag so fast, that I have come out with black and blues on my thighs..
They devour the food, then it's time for them to devour some love and peace.
My buddy and I sit down on the dirty, pee stained concrete floor, and we let
the dogs jump on us. They lick us, they put their butts in the air to play,
and they play with each other. Some lick each other, but most are glued on me
and my buddy. I look into the eyes of each dog. I give each dog a name. They
will not die without a name. I give each dog 5 minutes of unconditional love
and touch. I talk to them, and tell them that I'm so sorry that tomorrow they
will die a gruesome, long, torturous death at the hands of me in the gas
chamber. Some tilt their heads to try to understand. I tell them, that they
will be in a better place, and I beg them not to hate me. I tell them that I
know I'm going to hell, but they will all be playing with all the dogs and
cats in heaven. After about 30 minutes, I take each dog individually, into
their feces filled concrete jail cell, and pet them and scratch them under
their chins. Some give me their paw, and I just want to die. I just want to
die. I close the jail cell on each dog, and ask them to forgive me. As my
buddy and I are walking out, we watch as every dog is smiling at us and them
don't even move their heads. They will sleep, with a full belly, and a false
sense of security. As we walk out of the doomed dog room, my buddy and I go to
the cat room. We take our box, and put the very friendly kittens and pregnant
cats in our box. The shelter doesn't keep tabs on the cats, like they do the
dogs. As I hand pick which cats are going to make it out, I feel like I'm
playing God, deciding whose going to live and die. We take the cats into my
truck, and put them on blankets in the back. Usually, as soon as we start to
drive away, there are purring cats sitting on our necks or rubbing against us.
My buddy and I take our one way two hour trip to a county that is very wealthy
and they use injection to kill animals. We go to exclusive neighborhoods, and
let one or two cats out at a time. They don't want to run, they want to
stay with us. We shoo them away, which makes me feel sad. I tell them that
these rich people will adopt them, and if worse comes to worse and they do get
put down, they will be put down with a painless needle being cradled by a
loving veterinarian. After the last cat is free, we drive back to our town.
It's about 5 in the morning now, about two hours until I have to gas my best
friends. I go home, take a shower, take my 4 anti-anxiety pills and drive to
work.. I don't eat, I can't eat. It's now time, to put these animals in the
gas chamber. I put my ear plugs in, and when I go to the collect the dogs, the
dogs are so excited to see me, that they jump up to kiss me and think they are
going to play. I put them in the rolling cage and take them to the gas
chamber. They know. They just know. They can smell the death.. They can smell
the fear. They start whimpering, the second I put them in the box. The boss
tells me to squeeze in as many as I can to save on gas. He watches. He knows I
hate him, he knows I hate my job. I do as I'm told. He watches until all the
dogs, and cats (thrown in together) are fighting and screaming. The sounds is
very muffled to me because of my ear plugs. He walks out, I turn the gas on,
and walk out. I walk out as fast as I can. I walk into the bathroom, and I
take a pin and draw blood from my hand. Why? The pain and blood takes my brain
off of what I just did. In 40 minutes, I have to go back and unload the dead
animals. I pray that none survived, which happens when I overstuff the
chamber.
I pull them out with thick gloves, and the
smell of carbon monoxide makes me sick. So does the vomit and blood, and all
the bowel movements. I pull them out, put them in plastic bags. They are in
heaven now, I tell myself. I then start cleaning up the mess, the mess, that
YOU PEOPLE are creating by not spay or neutering your animals. The mess that
YOU PEOPLE are creating by not demanding that a vet come in and do this
humanely. You ARE THE TAXPAYERS, DEMAND that this practice STOP! So,
don't call me the monster, the devil, the gasser, call the politicians, the
shelter directors, and the county people the devil. Heck, call the governor,
tell him to make it stop. As usual, I will take sleeping pills tonight to
drown out the screams I heard in the past, before I discovered the ear plugs.
I will jump and twitch in my sleep, and I believe I'm starting to hallucinate.
This is my life. Don't judge me.
Believe me, I judge myself enough
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Puppy Mill Dogs |
How Much Is That Puppy In The
Window?
My bones ache, my muscles sore, so tired I have grown,
I sit within the small confines of this tiny cage I call home.
Many friends surround me, lots of different breeds,
They too share my aches and pains, with no humans to tend our
needs.
I am a bitch or so they call me, I hear its not a bad name,
Lots of puppies I have whelped, to them its just a game.
I sit and watch day after day, so many puppies being born,
Where do they go, what happens to them, when from their Moms
they're torn?
I can see the grass growing tall and green, I long to sniff and
feel it.
I've never walked upon that field nor have they let me near it.
Instead I walk upon this screen so hard, so rough so cold.
My feet ache, my toes are sore, I'm exhausted and feel so old.
My friends have told they lived in places, long before this
one.
Where humans touched them every day and with children they
could run.
I long to have just one human pet and kiss me, and maybe play a
game.
I know it will never happen, but I wish it all the same.
Instead they bring another dog and toss him in with me,
Another litter I must bear, there's no end that I can see.
The little girl that sits beside me, cried out the other day,
She screamed out loud then limp she went and the pups were
taken away.
She was gone but just a day, when her sister was beside me,
she too had some more puppies, so small and weak and tiny.
The other day they came and checked me, while my puppies were
being born,
"This ones too big, there's no use now, her insides are too
torn"
The scooped me up, it hurt so bad, the blood was everywhere,
They never tried to help me, they didn't seem to care.
They took me to that big green field, and laid me on the
ground,
The smell was heaven, and the ground so soft, I tried to look
around.
They covered me with more soft soil, I had nothing to fear.
I closed my eyes and just relaxed, I knew the end was near.
No longer do I imagine the feel of human touch,
or how it feels to run and play, here I have so much.
There is a great big colored bridge, and fields that go
forever,
I'm happy, I'm home, I'm someone's friend, it couldn't get much
better.
Written By:
Kathy Coffman
BayCrest Akitas
cmakitas@hotmail.com
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The Backyard Breeders' and
Puppy Millers' Big Book of Old Excuses
© Denna Pace 2001
1. When called on bad breeding practices, ALWAYS claim that you are
merely an innocent posting as a favor to a friend or family member.
2. Point out that everybody you know breeds this way, therefore it
must be okay.
3. Claim that "snobby show breeders" are only criticizing
you because they want to corner the market on puppy profit.
4. Claim that a Champion in the pedigree is just as good as 56
Champions in the pedigree. Not that it matters, because you doubt that
there is such a thing as a dog with 56 champions in the pedigree.
5. Claim that you are just trying to produce good pets, therefore
good pets are all you need for breeding.
6. When asked about health testing, enthusiastically point out that
your bitch had a health checkup before breeding.
7. Be sure to mention that you do not need to run such health tests
as OFA, CERF, thyroid, cardiac, patella, etc., because your dogs look
healthy and had no visible problems at their last vet checkup.
8. Point out that these tests cost too much and would cut into your
profit margin. Be sure to champion the right of poor people to breed
dogs.
9. Confidently assure worried rescuers that no puppy you produce, or
any of their puppies or grand puppies or great-grandpuppies will end up
in shelters because you have a bunch of friends who have told you that
they'd like a pup from your bitch.
10. Point out that you don't need Championships or working titles on
your dogs because you are breeding for temperament and your dog is
really sweet.
11. Silence those annoying people who ask about your health guarantee
by assuring them that buyers can return any sick puppies and you will
replace it with another pup as long as it got sick within a certain
amount of time of sale and as long as you don't think the buyer did
something to make the puppy sick.
12. If your breed or line is rare (or you have a "rare"
color, or believe
your breed or color is rare), be sure to remind everyone that you do not
need to show, temperament test, or health test your breeding stock
because you are doing the world a service by continuing this
"rare" breed/color/line.
13. No matter what anyone else says, claim that you obviously know
what you are doing because you've been breeding for a long time. Point
to the hundreds of puppies you've pumped out over the years as proof.
14. If this is your first attempt at breeding, make sure to remind
everyone that you HAVE to breed your dog because how else are you going
to learn how to breed?
15. Assure everyone that your dog does not need to be shown because
you were assured by someone at Petsmart/the park/the vet's office/a
friend that your dog is a perfect example of the breed.
16. Always remember that "rare" colors, oversized or
undersized dogs, and mixes of popular breeds are great selling points.
Anyone who doesn't think so is obviously not in tune with their
customers' wishes.
17. Claim that your dogs are better because they are not inbred, as
inbreeding obviously produces sick/stupid/deformed dogs. If breeding poo
[as in "Cock-a-Poo," "Peek-a-Poo," etc.] dogs or
other mutts, always point to "hybrid vigor" as proof of your
dogs' superiority.
18. Remind everyone that you do not need a waiting list because your
puppies are cute.
19. Assure everyone that your puppies will not end up in shelters
because they are cute.
20. Claim that YOUR breed never ends up in shelters in your area,
therefore your puppies will never end up in shelters.
21. If asked why you think your dogs are breeding quality, point out
that they "have papers." Extra points awarded for using the
phrase "AKC Certified." Double points if those papers come
from the Continental Kennel Club.
22. If you sell a sick puppy, always blame the owners for making it
sick. If the owners are clearly not responsible, blame their vet. (see
#11)
23. If presented with irrefutable evidence proving you wrong on any
excuses you have used, pretend your server did not receive the
post/e-mail.
24. Claim that none of the rules of ethical breeding apply to you
because you only intend to have one litter and therefore aren't a
"real" breeder.
25. If all else fails, tell everyone who criticizes you to "get
a life."
Written by Denna Pace . It was compiled by reading
the horrible BYB ads on rec.pets.dogs.breed. Please credit when quoting. |
A RESCUERS ANSWERING MACHINE
Hello: You have reached 123-4567,
Tender Hearts Rescue. Due to the high volume of calls we have been
receiving, please listen closely to the following options and choose the
one that best describes you or your situation:
Press 1 if you have a 10-year-old dog and your 15-year-old son has
suddenly become allergic and you need to find the dog a new home right
away.
Press 2 if you are moving today and need to immediately place your 150
pound, 8-year-old dog.
Press 3 if you have three dogs, had a baby and want to get rid of your
dogs because you are the! only person in the world to have a baby and
dogs at the same time.
Press 4 if you just got a brand new puppy and your old dog is having
problems adjusting so you want to get rid of the old one right away.
Press 5 if your little puppy has grown up and is no longer small and
cute and you want to trade it in for a new model.
Press 6 if you want an unpaid volunteer to come to your home TODAY and
pick up the dog you no longer want.
Press 7 if you have been feeding and caring for a "stray" for
the last three years, are moving and suddenly determine it's not your
dog.
Press 8 if your dog is sick and needs a vet but you need the money for
your vacation.
Press 9 if you are elderly and want to adopt a cute puppy who is not
active and is going to outlive you.
Press 10 if your relative has died and you don't want to care for their
elderly dog because it doesn't fit your lifestyle.
Press 14 if you are calling at 6 a.m. to make sure you wake me up before
I have to go to work so you can drop a dog off on your way to work.
Press 15 to leave us an anonymous garbled message, letting us know you
have left a dog in our yard in the middle of January, which is in fact,
better than just leaving the dog with no message.
Press 16 if you are going to get angry because we are not going to take
your dog that you have had for fifteen years, because it is not our
responsibility.
Press 17 if you are going to threaten to take your ten year old dog to
be euthanized because I won't take it.
Press 18 if you're going to get angry because the volunteers had the
audacity to go on vacation and leave the dogs in care of a trusted
volunteer who is not authorized to take your personal pet.
Press 19 if you want one of our PERFECTLY trained, housebroken, kid and
cat friendly purebred dogs that we have an abundance of.
Press 20 if you want us to take your dog that has a slight aggression
problem, i.e. has only bitten a few people and killed your neighbor's
cats.
Press 21 if you have already called once and been told we don't take
personal surrenders but thought you would get a different person this
time with a different answer.
Press 22 if you want us to use space that would go to a stray to board
your personal dog while you are on vacation, free of charge, of course.
Press 23 if it is Christmas Eve or Easter morning and you want me to
deliver an eight week old puppy to your house by 6:30 am before your
kids wake up.
Press 24 if you have bought your children a duckling, chick or baby
bunny for Easter and it is now Christmas and no longer cute.
Press 25 if you want us to take your female dog who has already had ten
litters, but we can't spay her because she is pregnant again and it is
against your religion.
Press 26 if you're lying to make one of our younger volunteers feel bad
and take your personal pet off your hands.
Press 27 if your cat is biting and not using the litter box because it
is declawed, but are not willing to accept the responsibility that the
cat's behavior is altered because of your nice furniture.
Press 28 if your two year old male dog is marking all over your house
but you just haven't gotten around to having him neutered.
Press 29 if you previously had an outdoor only dog and are calling
because she is suddenly pregnant.
Press 30 if you have done "everything" to housebreak your dog
and have had no success but you don't want to crate the dog because it
is cruel.
Press 31 if you didn't listen to the message asking for an evening phone
number and you left your work number when all volunteers are also
working and you are angry because no one called you back.
Press 32 if you need a puppy immediately and cannot wait because today
is your daughter's birthday and you forgot when she was born.
Press 33 if your dog's coat doesn't match your new furniture and you
need a different color or breed.
Press 34 if your new love doesn't like your dog and you are too stupid
to get rid of the new friend (who will dump you in the next month
anyway) instead of the dog.
Press 35 if you went through all these 'options' and didn't hear enough.
This press will connect you to the sounds of tears being shed by one of
our volunteers who is holding a discarded old dog while the vet
mercifully frees him from the grief of missing his family.
~Author Unknown
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