You Might be an Animal Rights Radical...

This afternoon while cruising Facebook I came across the following post from a very wise man named Jay Kitchener. I asked him if I may share it here, because it describes what we breeders have witnessed for years. A laughable (if the situation were not so tragic) double standard between puppies and dogs from dedicated dog fanciers and dogs available at shelters.

Just as you have in breeders, there are good and bad rescues and/or shelters. Google "retail rescue" for some eye openers. Read reports of raids and seizures where the acting party was insistent that the dogs needed to be removed (read, stolen) from their owner(s) because surely the animals were at death's door...yet they are available for adoption (SALE) within a week's time, before the owner has their day in court. Evidence anyone??

So Mr. Kitchener's post really struck a nerve with me - he sums it up so well.

You might be an animal rights radical if you believe that:

• It's wrong to sell a dog for profit, but you should never give one away for free.

• It's all how a dog is raised. The dog's breed doesn't matter.

• It's all how they are raised, but getting an adult dog from the street will make a great pet for your family.

• All dogs are the same, no matter the breed, so if you want a lap dog a 50-pound stray will be perfect.

• Intentionally breeding is bad, but accidental litters are great, and those are the puppies you should desire.

• Christmas puppies are bad unless you get them from a shelter.*

• Pet store animals from licensed and inspected sources are bad, but shelter and rescue dogs from completely unknown sources are good.

• Tail docking and ear cropping are "mutilation" of dogs, but ripping out a dog's testicles or uterus is an act of "kindness."

• Ear cropping is "cruel" if done on a dog, but perfectly acceptable if done on a feral cat. (Feral cats are ear notched after spay/neuter).

• Kennel crates are bad unless they are being used by a shelter or rescue.

• Keeping a dog penned or tethered outside is "cruel," but keeping a dog crated 23 hours a day is not.

What's the phrase I'm thinking of? Oh yeah - NAILED IT!!

Relevant items brought up in the comments area at the time of this writing include:

• Mixed breeds, with unknown history of health issues for parents and themselves, are healthier than purebreds with parents that have clear genetic and other health tests.
• Selling well bred animals for profit is a no-no, but stealing someone else's well bred animals and selling them for profit is ok!

A link making the rounds (also on Facebook) is to an article from NAIA about the ultimate hypocrisy being suggested as a solution to a shortage of dogs in some shelters (is that not the goal??). Having the shelters...breed their own by having volunteer breeders hand over their litters to them!!!

Unbelievable!

Recent cases (such as the Waukegan Bulldog breeder) are having a more positive outcome (his dogs were returned to him through the actions of those in power who showed some intelligence at interpreting the law) - and hopefully that trend will continue.

Thanks to Mr. Kitchener for his permission to share his thoughts as posted on Facebook!

* For Christmas 2014, there was a shelter offering Christmas morning delivery for those animals adopted (sold!) there. Didn't shelters use to preach against getting animals as presents during the holiday season??