Let’s Change The Definition of a Dog
Who decided the
age definition of a dog? Was it veterinary associations?
Was it back when rabies was a threat because most dogs were rural
instead of urban as they are now?
Tam Cordingley, Features Editor
©
TheDogPress
05|30|09 -
Was it based on a
veterinary study that determined four months as the optimal age for
rabies shots? I am curious because definitions are flexible.
That is why the dictionary is updated so often as lifestyles change.
In localities
that have Animal Control (AC) ordinances there is a section of definitions.
The provisions of the ordinance must be clearly defined in order to
be correctly enforced and so that the ordinance will stand up to
legal challenge. In all such Animal Control laws or
regulations, a dog is
defined as four months old or older, the age at which most states require rabies inoculation.
Somewhere along the line, was there an assumption that four months
old puppies would go off hunting, i.e. be exposed to rabies-carrying
wild animals?
Definitions of age change as
science and health advances. Not long ago, people married in
their teens, were "old" at 50 and didn't live much past 60. So
let's base this discussion on current data, not an arbitrary
definition of when a puppy needs a rabies shot!
Most of us fear
dog limit laws
which of course are also breeding limits because we can't imagine
having to dispose of
an older brood bitch or retired champion. Breeders need to hold on
to the best puppies until they are six months old, in larger breeds,
even longer.
But what about most
people who never have and never will breed a dog? They are
loving, responsible families who can't resist adding a puppy to the
family, and then another for the younger child, and then taking in a
family member's pet. Then there was the stray dog, and a
dumped off kitten, and suddenly, they are over the limit, facing the legal restrictions
meant to regulate breeders or hoarders or animal rescue people.
Why
not make the definition of a dog also have a top limit, therefore
making the older retired show dog, the beloved old pet, the old
spayed lady most of us treasure, not an issue for Animal Control? Might we not
define, for the purpose of limits, a dog to be between the ages of 4
months, but more realistically, 6
months and 7 years? That would enable breeders or
pet owning families to keep their old dogs and everyone knows old
dogs don't stray, don't have puppies, and mostly just stick
close to their person when not napping. Well everyone who has
owned old dogs knows that but then that wouldn't be the people
thoughtlessly approve these ordinances.
So it is really
very simple.
Younger is a puppy, older is a senior, both are incapable of
contributing to the overpopulation or stray dog concept on which all
Animal Rights legislation is based, so therefore either age group
should be exempt. "Younger" by the way, is a puppy up to six
months of age. AKC and UKC have already defined it for the
politicians. While there are "puppy classes" for dogs up to
one year of age, NO DOG CAN BE SHOWN prior to six months. And
the veterinary associations have also defined "adult" age as two
years because in most breeds, that is when the growth plates have
been set and growth has stopped. That is why tests such as hip
X-rays, which need to be done prior to breeding, can't be done until
2 years of age.
Older
is a senior, a dog over seven years of age. That is realistic,
taking into consideration toys and some terrier breeds which are
long-lived and some of the giant breeds which are facing the end of
life at seven years.
There should also be an automatic exemption for any dog possessing a
Championship,
Obedience
title, or a Field title. Again, not a group likely to be running
loose, therefore, not a problem.
This seems a much easier way to fight this legal issue than fighting
with the do-gooders who feel we should all have only one or two
dogs, spayed or neutered, and when they die they are released from
the prison in which we keep them.
thc/2009
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