I have moved my blog over directly to my web site at:
http://dunnsmarshlabs.com/bbfarmblog/
I can add more of my own styling by doing this. So if you are signed up for this blog you may want to head over and check out the new version, too. I will probably keep this one going, too so I can “experiment” with both as my web provider only allows me one blog.
See you there!
Over the last few years, those of us in the U.S. who enjoy owning dogs as well as competing with them and occasionally having a well thought out litter of purebred puppies have come under attack by the animal rights people. The HSUS and PETA are both trying to get mandatory spay/neuter laws passed in every community where they can get a foothold and making it a requirement to have an expensive “breeder’s license” if you choose not to spay/neuter your dog. Because I do show some of my dogs in American Kennel Club conformation shows those dogs cannot be spayed/neutered in order to compete. The rest of my dogs are spayed/neutered. We do not have unwanted litters here, only carefully planned ones about every two to three years when we are hoping to keep something from the litter for ourselves in order to keep our blood line going.
Today I received two different posts that I think are more eloquent than what I could write about the attacks on breeders, dog shows, those of us who show/compete in perfomance events, etc. so I am quoting the one with permission and sending a link to the other for you to read for yourself.
Here is the link to the one and below the quote from the other:
http://endangeredowner.blogspot.com/2009/01/hsus-turn-in-breeder-program.html
Veterinarian speaks out on PETA & Westminister
By Libbye Miller DVM (Permission to crosspost)
“Adorable mixed breeds” get cancer, epilepsy, allergies, heart disease, and orthopedic problems just like purebreds. I see it every day in my veterinary practice but mixed breed dogs aren’t tracked like
the purebreds so they have a reputation as “healthier” that is actually undeserved in many cases.”
It is so sad that a lot of folks, including young veterinarians these days, buy into the “hybrid vigor” baloney. The vet schools have been infiltrated by the Animal Rights Extremists, who are teaching them this junk science in order to push their agenda.
All animals have a certain amount of genetic load, which is to say there is absolutely no animal without some genetic problem of some sort of another. Know anyone who wears glasses? Has allergies? Thyroid
problems? Weak knees? Flat feet? A skin condition? Arthritis? A gap between their front teeth? These are all genetic imperfections.
No human is genetically “clean.” Neither is any individual of any species on earth. So this idea that dogs should not be bred because they might have a genetic problem, and that breeders are somehow “evil”
for breeding them, is ridiculous. Every single individual of every single species has at least a few genetic conditions.
To use PeTA’s logic, all breeding of all kinds (including having human babies) should halt immediately. And to be honest, Ingrid Newkirk (the woman who founded PeTA) does believe exactly that. She thinks that humans should become extinct, along with dogs, cats, etc. This ridiculous scenario is precisely what she would like to see happen.
So folks, if that is what you want…if you agree with Ingrid Newkirk’s whacky views, send your hard earned money to PeTA. They will help to ensure you are not able to own a dog or cat or hamster or any
other pet in the future. They will see to it that you can’t eat meat or fish or eggs or any type of animal-based nutrition. They will work to shut down places like Sea World, the zoos, etc. so you cannot observe
the many wonderful animals on the Earth. Eventually, once they accomplish these things, they may turn their efforts to making it illegal for humans to procreate.
If you don’t agree with their extremist views, wise up and start supporting those who truly do love, care for and enjoy interaction with other species here on our little blue planet.
The fanciers of the breeds, those you see exhibiting their dogs at Westminster and other dog shows, work very hard to eliminate serious genetic conditions. They screen their breeding stock with every
available test. They research pedigrees before breeding into other lines, to check for similar clearances in those animals. They contribute money to research organizations to further the work being
done to track down genetic problems. They contribute blood, cell samples, etc. from their own animals to help with DNA and genome studies. They have made great progress so far, and they continue to
work hard at it.
Are there unethical breeders? Certainly, there are. Just as in any group of humans, you will find the good and the bad. United States VP Elect Joe Biden, for example, managed to find a not so good one when he
got his new German Shepherd puppy. I don’t know who did his research for him, but they obviously didn’t do their homework if they were looking for a responsible breeder. Joe has the right to get his dog
from whomever he wishes, but if he was trying to set an example of purchasing from a responsible hobby breeder he went off the track this time. That’s too bad, but it was his choice.
Unfortunately, breeders like that may be a lot easier to find because of their high volume and high profile. If you are looking for a nice family pet from a breeder who will be there for you forever, you need
to do due diligence. You won’t get that from a pet store. You won’t get that from the guy selling dogs out of his pickup truck in the WalMart parking lot. You won’t get that support from a high-volume breeder,
either. Yes, it takes a little more time and effort to find someone who really cares and does all the work to breed the healthiest, happiest puppies possible and then stands behind those puppies.
This is a living being that will be part of your family, hopefully, for many years. Isn’t it worth a bit of effort to find a breeder who will be there for you and that puppy forever? And guess what? Shows like Westminster are a very valuable resource for finding breeders who do care and who use the best possible
practices, as well as for learning more about the various breeds.
Bravo to USA Network for broadcasting the Westminster Kennel Club show all these years. May they enjoy continued success through the ongoing inclusion of such programs. I will be eagerly watching this year’s
show!”
THANK YOU LIBBYE MILLER, DVM for sharing this post!
After last winter I didn’t think it could get any worse. In fact I told people when the first snow fall hit here in Nov. that I was suffering from PTD from last year still. 100 plus inches of snow last year is being topped this year as we already have over 50 (season average is 49) and more coming tonight and next week. Even more challenging is the extreme cold we are having this week. It was minus 21 degree last night and at 11 a.m. it is still only minus 8 degrees.
Having dogs in this weather is enough of a challenge (don’t worry, they all live in the house and several have coats they wear when they go outside) — they barely want to go outside to pee so are definitely not getting the exercise they are used to. They walk a bit then hold their feet up pitifully. The pugs all huddle against the door a minute after they’ve gone out. Then add in the horses and donkeys and we can’t escape being outside in these sub zero temperatures.
Yesterday the high didn’t get out of the minus digits. All the area schools were closed yesterday due to wind chill warnings of up to 40 below zero and they are closed again today although winds are pretty calm. Kent bought he and I face masks at the UW Bookstore yesterday (his office is right above it) which I can see will be helpful as I just used mine for the first time while I did barn chores.
The horses and mini donkeys are used to going out every day, rain or shine. They have 3 sided shelters for when they are out but with these extreme temperatures and wind chills they could easily suffer frost bite, especially those donkey ears. I have seen donkeys who have had their ears frostbitten and lost part of them so it won’t be happening to mine. So they are getting a bit stir crazy as this is day 4 of these temps. Yesterday I turned the horses out briefly when the temp almost made zero and it was at least sunny out. They went crazy running, rearing, bucking and actually didn’t want to come in so I left them out for 2 hours. This a.m. they made it out for about 10 min. while I cleaned their stalls, took a couple of laps and were ready to come back in. The donkeys are divas and if you turn them out they usually stand by the barn door and bray to come in when it is like this outside so they pretty much have been captive in the barn since Monday and it’s Friday now.
We also have 2 barn cats, Gadget and Beauty, who I have been watching carefully for any signs of being chilled. All the barn animals have heated buckets/bowls for water and we keep a lot of food out at all times when it is like this as digestion produces body heat. Gadget and Beauty have blankets to lay on and often are laying in the barn window in the sun. They have the most gorgeous, plush coats right now so they seem just fine although we have a contingency plan of bringing them into our basement should they seem to be suffering from the cold at all.
It’s a new year and time to get my blog going again. We get so busy here at the farm that I think about updates but run out of time to post them.
I am taking a blogging class at LVSonline.com so hopefully that will get me inspired to keep up the blog a bit more.
Happy New Year everyone!
