03|05|09
TheDogPress -
Mr. Paul is a perfect example of
speaking from a narrow perspective, with at best, fractional
knowledge of the subject. He shows no regard for the facts,
for how he will be quoted by AR groups, or for the damage he
has done to respectable breeders. Or, as has been
reported by credible sources, he knew exactly what he was
doing as a supporter of HSUS.
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As
ARA laws exterminate those who breed for function and
ability, many breeds will become extinct or unrecognizable.
Mass-breeding operations, aka “high volume breeders” have
only one genetic priority, top reproductive ability. They
don’t give a hoot whether a dog can hunt, retrieve, guard,
or pull a load. |
Those new to the sport should
know that only fifty years ago, the very
best show kennels housed many more than 25 dogs. Kennel
managers did a superb job of caring for and training those
dogs for AKC conformation. It was easier to produce
superior specimens by maintaining large kennels.
Today we
can ship dogs or semen but when those large kennel resources
closed down, many breeds suffered results that are still
seen and felt today.
While few show ring exhibitors
can afford the luxury of keeping that many dogs, many
sportsmen do house considerably more than 25 dogs in order to
hunt fur or feather. Animal Rights bills will force them to
buy a dog from a USDA commercial/HVB/puppy mill even though
the hunters could breed and rear much better litters. So if
you are against hunting and field trials, you can cheer the
end of another era.
As
ARA laws exterminate those who breed for function and
ability, many breeds will become extinct or unrecognizable.
Mass-breeding operations, aka “high volume breeders” have
only one genetic priority, top reproductive ability. They
don’t give a hoot whether a dog can hunt, retrieve, guard,
or pull a load.
Does it make any sense that
“animal rights” bills saved a few foxes but killed fox
hunting, a hallmark of social tradition? Fox
hunting was originally
population control to protect the farmer’s
chickens that fed hungry people. When they stopped the
sport of riding to the hounds, Animal Rights Activists (ARA)
they killed the genetics and CAREful breeding of the finest
hounds and consequently, they killed the breeding of a
treasured type horses.
The arena hunter-jumper seen
on TV is a totally different “breed” incapable of performing
in the field or on a steeplechase course. Along with
jumper genetics, the ARA killed the livelihood of thousands in the
peripheral world of horse and dog breeders, trainers,
groomers, stable operators, vets, animal transporters, and
associated suppliers.
According to that kind of
logic, we should immediately cease the breeding of all
coursing breeds. They are of far less value than the
rabbits that eat farmer’s crops and destroy suburban
gardens. And no more beagles
because while they wouldn’t kill a cookie, they are bred
to chase rabbits. I will drop the analogy there.
Unless you are a rabid animal rights activist, you get the
point
Mr. Paul’s testimony
says not a word on behalf of breeders who lovingly
maintain more than 25 dogs, some of which are rescues or old
dogs that require expensive care but are kept because
breeders cherish them. The bill does not exclude
genetically or physically handicapped dogs that are kept for
the same reason. I’ve always kept my old ones but never
subjected them to needless surgical risk and the certainty
of health problem from having their hormone-producing organs
removed!
How can AKC abide anyone who supports
a bill that would classify as commercial the breeder or
professional handler who runs on young dogs in order to
select the best adults with which to advance a breeding
program or represent the breed at Westminster?
As a Collie fancier, Ted Paul
probably couldn’t maintain more than one or two show dogs at
a time and therefore has no conception of a Border Terrier
fancier who keeps twenty dogs at his country estate…
Speaking of which, we can hasten the demise of the family
farm by killing all the terrier breeds that keep sweet
little rats from eating the grain stores.
Ted Paul knows nothing about
toy dog breeders, most of whom have more than one breed.
The average
breeder-exhibitor might keep 3 bitches and 1 stud dog of two
breeds. That’s 8 dogs. He’s breeding 3 or 4 litters a year from
which he will hold back 5 potential show dogs, plus he’s
running on 4 youngsters from last year. That’s 17 dogs. If
he keeps his retired dogs, he’s now way over the limit law.
Does that make him “unscrupulous” or “inhumane” as
characterized by Mr. Paul?
Such self-proclaimed experts are
the very reason that HSUS and radical political groups like
PETA have been able to dupe the public and the politicians.
Mr. Paul owes all dog breeders
an apology. He went to a lot of trouble to attend that
meeting and prepare his statement in support of a typical
animal rights generated, backed, and sponsored bill.
He seems to have forgotten that there are animal cruelty laws which would
stop the wholesale “inhumane” treatment of dogs. Why doesn’t he rally people to
get law enforcement to enforce? He should insist the Oregon State Treasurer to stop
wasting taxpayer money on state agencies that don’t do what
they are paid to do. Wouldn't that be and
a much more effective way to protect dogs?
Blogs and chats are calling
for AKC suspension on grounds of "conduct detrimental to the
sport." He must have known that he was speaking
against
carefully bred, greatly cherished hunting, sporting,
performance, and show dogs.
Let’s hope he re-thinks this. It will only take him
a minute to say “I’m sorry” to over twenty thousand dog
owners by sending an email to
Editor@TheDogPress.com. We are sure you would like to hear his
side of the story and we are more than willing to present it
in the next edition.
Before we finished this story, more came in and still trying
to keep an open mind, we acknowledge that he does owe the
fancy an apology. So there's
already a part two although with elections upon them,
the AKC Board is trying hard to ignore this problem.
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