by Gayle Roberson

As I write this, I am breathless with anger! In the April issue of Dog News, which, unfortunately does not have this particular article online, is an article entitled "Detente Begins With The Middleman", fourth in a series on High Volume Breeders.

It seems that Mrs. Kodner (she's licensed to judge ALL BREEDS, folks) was appointed by the AKC to some sort of committee to see when/if/how to bring puppy mills, now called "Volume Breeders" into compliance. It appears from her writings that she was an honored guest at Hunte Corporations multi million dollar facility. Did you know they do $26 MILLION in puppy sales. A year?? She was, apparently dazzled by their facilities. Now, I'm cherry picking here from her Dog News article, it's two pages long, but here goes:

"The fancy is certain that all high volume breeders are cruel to puppies and brood bitches; and that the distributor or middleman is a Shylock. The fancy imagines suffering puppies being transported in run down dirty vehicles to unsightly contaminated pet stores. NOTHING COULD BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH"

She then goes on a bit about the history of Hunte Corp., extolling the beauty of their impressive infrastructure, a facility that can house 2,000 puppies at one time! (are you starting to hyperventilate yet? Well, wait, it gets better!!!)

"Each incoming pup is examined and accepted or rejected for a variety of easily detected physical defects. They are then microchipped and inoculated. Some hernias are repaired by Hunte. Some are returned to the breeder for repair."

OK, now what do we have here: at what age do you think these babies have to be taken away from their moms so they can be transported first to Hunts facility extraordinaire! Remember, they have to be checked, poked, wormed, prodded, inoculated, microchipped, bathed, dipped, and shipped out to arrive with as much "cute time" as possible remaining for pet store purchases. How many people do you think handle these poor babies? Lovingly? Yeah, right, as loving as any other assembly line! Oh, and that 'hernia repair'!! With or WITHOUT anesthesia? I don't know, how old are they???

She goes on..."The facility is probably far and above any others in the country. It is to the pet industry what the AKC is to the dog fancy. Are there flaws? Probably! Nothing is perfect. Is it an organization to establish a detent with? Without question. such a relationship can only be beneficial to both organizations. Think of the income to CAR (Companion Animal Recovery) and the service to the public that can be rendered if every puppy that is microchipped comes to the new owner registered with CAR. Think of the DNA pool that can be established if every puppy is DNA-ed via the FTA procedure. Seeing is believing. See for yourself."

Kodner continues, "The Hunte Corp., and others like it, if there are any, are doing the breeders job. They are trying to sell well bred, healthy puppies to the end user. Is profit involved? Of course it is, but what is wrong with making money in a legitimate fashion. Plenty of the fancy do the same thing. And further, is it really incumbent upon the fancy to help upgrade the quality of the breeders stock by offering its stud dogs to properly registered, healthy bitches. For a fee? Of course! Wasn't the American Kennel Club founded in an effort to improve breeding stock? Or is this once again, or in the minds of some, still an elitist organization for the special few?"

I still can't believe that this ALL BREED JUDGE thinks legitimate, concerned breeders, those of us who do our certifications, DNAs, CERFS, OFAs, vWDs, skin punches, you name it, should then make stud dogs available to puppy mills, er "Volume Breeders" to upgrade the quality. Words fail me!

Cleaning up Volume Breeders, bringing their paperwork and facilities into some semblance of compliance is no different from planting flowers on a landfill. IT'S STILL GARBAGE UNDERNEATH! We HAVE TO voice our opinions here. To Mrs Kodner (in 2001 AKC judges book her email is <denlea2000@aol.com>), to the AKC <www.akc.org>, and/or to Dog News <www.dognews.com>. Will we be whizzing into the wind? Maybe, maybe not.

Gayle Roberson, Poco a Poco Toy Poodles

Life without a Poodle is like dancing without music. You *can* do it, but why?

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