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 Guest
Column
Stemming The Animal Rights Tide
by Denise R. Monette
In an effort to save every dog from
euthanasia, shelters are being staffed by an increasing percentage of Animal
Rights volunteers, encouraged by PETA, HSUS and other anti-breeder groups. A call to volunteer at shelters nationwide has gone out
on their websites in an effort to push their AR agenda within the shelter
community. Their websites are full of pleas to volunteer at your local
shelter so every pet can live to be “rescued”.
This happened only yesterday. An old client called me about her new dog,
excitedly proclaiming “We rescued him from the local shelter. He’s a Soft
Coated Wheaten Terrier.” “Really?” I queried skeptically. “Bring him over,
I’ll groom him today. It’ll be good to see you again.”
30 minutes later, in walks “Buddie”. “They told you he’s a Soft Coated
Wheaton? His tongue is solid black! He’s a Chow cross, Cindy!”
Cindy’s last dog, “Buddy 1” was a 15 lb poodle cross that lived to be 14. At
50 lbs with Chow fur “Buddy ll” neither looked nor acted anything like his
predecessor. But in Cindy’s eyes he was a lap dog and “Buddy” incarnate.
 What
I saw was a train wreck waiting to happen. After 2 hours in the shop, I was
pretty sure of my initial assessment. Perhaps I missed the Pit Bull
expression as he peered out of the cage at me. Buddy barked continuously,
tried to escape at every opportunity, met each step of his grooming with a
series of avoidance behaviors and when I started on his nails, he started
biting. He was no lap dog!
As I sent him home, I handed Cindy a card for the best dog trainer I knew. I
was pretty sure she was going to need it. How did this domineering, pushy,
neutered shelter dog get into such an inappropriate home? Who at the shelter dropped the ball in
the “adoption” process? If “Buddy ll” had been a horse, the ad would have
read “experienced rider only.” Cindy wasn’t that rider.
What we see is a pattern to enact laws written by Humane Shelters, PETA, HSUS,
and other AR groups and societies. These folks know little or nothing about animals or
animal behavior. What they do know is fundraising. They also have a pretty
good handle on the political process, and getting the AR message out to Joe
& Jane American.
Another experience at a veterinary specialist was even more telling. While
waiting nearly an hour in the lobby with my toy dog clutched under my arm, a parade of disobedient dogs with their owners
in tow found their way to empty seats all around me. As I clutched “Spotty”
tightly, they struck up a friendly conversation with one another. Each
struggled to control their beloved shelter pets. As they lunged and barked, each
owner proudly announced that they had rescued their pets from the clutches of certain death
at the shelter. Each owner was so proud of their unselfish act of animal
heroism.
The woman with a German Shepherd Dog proudly claimed to have “shut down the
puppy mill” where her dog came from. “Turned her in to Animal Control at the
local shelter” she
said. That was met with approval all around.
After emerging from the exam room to check out, the same owner proudly
announced the results of her visit. “The ultrasound showed 5 PUPPIES !!!!”
We are sooo excited! I can’t wait!!
I just about fell out of my chair! When is someone going to turn her in and
put HER out of business I wondered? Or me? Or any of us for that matter?
How did public opinion shift towards shelter adoptions to “save”
the animals instead of seeking pets from dedicated hobby breeders
who love their dogs and produce healthy pets, typical of their breed?
How have responsible hobby breeders become the “New Puppy Mills” targeted by
these AR zealots? How did we lose our way?
In our fight to defeat AB 1634 here in California, sponsors of the bill
labeled us “underground puppy mills, tax cheats, dog fighters and animal
profiteers.” AB1634 is currently tabled but they are coming at us again in
2008. With a vengeance, bringing with them the huge war chests of PETA, HSUS,
AHA, ASPCA et al and a surprising amount of public sentiment on their side.
We need to turn the tide of public opinion. The message must convey the
advantages of owning a purebred pet from a responsible hobby breeder. A
purebred companion dog from a reputable Breeder is one that:
1.) Is of a known and recognizable breed that matures as is expected.
2.) Is happy, healthy, fully vaccinated and well socialized.
3.) Has a dependable temperament and personality according to its breed.
4.) Comes with “TECH SUPPORT” from a home that knows their breed.
5.) Has had genetic screening for inherited disorders.
6.) Has a return policy written into the sales contract.
7.) Has a Breed organization to help should re-homing ever become necessary.
8.) And if not for show, comes with a SPAY and NEUTER contract!
It may be time for AKC, UKC and CFA to start a serious collaborative public
relations campaign extolling the virtues of purebred pet ownership and the
importance of obtaining that animal from a reputable hobby fancier. Buying
radio and TV airtime to promote those benefits is critical. Portraying us
as” Pure Breed Fanciers” instead of breeders and spotlighting parent club
rescue to refute the misleading shelter argument. These precious time slots should be
our shining hour and we need to “own” them.
We all played along with the “Shelter Dogs” pitch, only to find that salty
dog has come back to bite us in the rear! The Animal Rights wave is sweeping
over us nationwide. If we are to stay afloat, someone needs to throw us a
life line. And soon. |
