It wasn’t until a little while ago when I heard something about the rhino’s becoming practically extinct that my urge to help and support these groups became more constant. I now donate to the WWF monthly and do things more local by supporting local shelters such as the RSPCA, K9 Dog Rescue and the Shenton Park and yeah. I have my Christmas cards coming from SEDA and a few things from RSPCA, if it involves helping animal welfare for the good, I am there.
Anyway last week I was talking to some people about getting a dog. The only place to get a pet from is a shelter or a true recognised, responsible breeder. Not a pet shop. I admit, seeing one of those to cute puppies rolling around or all piled up on each other in the corner – in a pet shop makes you go “aaawww” and you can’t help but want one. Same with the kittens that are rolling over each other play fighting and there’s always the one little scared guy alone in the opposite corner to its siblings that makes your heart melt. But as adorable and to cute these little guys are, what is it exactly they are representing? Irresponsible pet owners who suddenly found their cat pregnant and instead of being stuck with the kittens discover people actually buy them and make them their problem? Some idiot who doesn’t so much as give a rats ass about animals and has a concreted backyard filled with expecting dogs, who are not only breeding their kind but disease and illness as well? These mums are made to breed until such a time its just not profitable and then they are put to sleep, not usually humanely either or surrendered to pounds/shelters – if they’re lucky. Even so approximately 130,000 dogs and 60,000 cats are killed at pounds every year. So why go to a pet shop when you can find puppies and the breed you may be after ‘designer’ or ‘pure’ when they can be found at a shelter?
Not only that but the health problems these pups can face. I heard through a friend, who’s friend who brought a puppy and ended up spending nearly $2000 in vet bills as the puppy had slipped knee discs or something, I can’t remember what exactly. The pet shop claimed it was something she must have done as they look after all the pups and they come from registered breeders. So a mixed breed came from a registered breeder. Yeah – ok. And I have heard many stories of sick puppies who die soon after being brought home and when doing work experience at the local Vets, most sick puppy cases are due to pet shop brought puppies. So what registered breeders supply you pet shops hey??
The whole “designer dog breed” craze where the cuter the name the more popular “the breed” is something else that gets me a little annoyed. First of all, I am not against mixed/crossed breeds. Some of the best dogs are ‘mutts’ but it’s a shame when most of the animals in pounds/shelters are filled with them. They claim doing this is making the dog stronger, less likely to inherit diseases in each breed and what not. That’s not true. What about the two or three or all of the litter that are unfortunate enough to inherit all problems/diseases of the breed? Especially with the Pugalier. Both breeds to some extent; more so the pugs have breathing problems. One site declares their pugaliers to be like this:
Cavalier x Pug:
These retain the Pug features but have a slightly longer nose, which reduces the eye and breathing problems of pure Pugs. Most have short hair like the Pug, but can have a scruffy coat. Colouring is usually fawn with a black mask, but may have white patches.
Maybe one or two will fulfil this description. There is no guarantee what the pups or how the pups will turn out. It’s the same with the
Cavalier x Beagle:
A very attractive short-haired family pet, this cross will reduce the Beagle desire to sniff at every scent to some extent.
So it’s only going to take the traits of the cavalier? And what about when its more beagle than anything and the owners are left unhappy and don’t want the dog anymore – it ends up at a shelter.
Cavalier x Poodle
Cavaliers are gentle and loving family pets, with soft, cuddly features. They can have eye and heart problems, and shed their coat. Poodles are one of the smartest of all breeds, with miniatures being a good and stable family pet. However, their coat does require a lot of maintenance, needing shaping and clipping regularly. They also suffer from genetic problems such as eye disease. By crossing these two breeds many genetic problems are greatly reduced. The coats will be soft, wavy, and can be clipped by owners without great skill. The shedding will be reduced, depending on the coat length. (The more poodle-like the coat, the less shedding.)
How can the site make these claims? This is what they hope they puppy will turn out like but Mother Nature has her own plans. Sure dogs have been cross breeding and mixing it up for centuries. Most ‘pure-bred’ at some stage in their blood lines would’ve started out as two separate breeds but how it is being done these days is ridiculous! People are doing it for profit. One site even claims if they don’t have the breed you want, (like spanador, beaglier, grendle, bostillon, pushon, cockalier, maltalier, cavoodle, labrottie pugit isn’t enough to choose from!?) they will go and source that breed for you (in other words find someone who can be paid the right price to go and breed a Labrador with a Chihuahua? Great temperament, family orientated dog in the perfect pocket pal size that loves water and can have a lovely golden coat. Kidding guys!) Just the other weekend Mum and I were at Pets Paradise and they had Maltaliers for sale. Cav x Maltese. 2 looked like normal Maltese’s and one had the distinct head shape/ears of a Cavalier and the rest was like a Maltese. You just can’t predict the pup or believe what it should be like since its part this and part that or what problems will arise further along the track, same with the pure’s and I don’t mean to sound bias on it but it’s that kind of misinformation that makes people who impulse buy from pet shops give up their dogs or let their cats run wild outside as they don’t care about them now their new sofa has been shredded or it howls all night. Breeders at least, should care about where their puppies are going, usually have some say about having the animal sterilised and offer ongoing support and advice to the new parents where I have heard stories of pet shops merely ‘swapping’ puppies/kittens if they become ill. You can’t just exchange an animal. It’s a living breathing emotional creature! It’s not like a new pair of shoes or new shirt! It’s a life long commitment and people should start thinking more about that than “oooh puppy”
In the end it comes down to the owner. A dog can have as many problems as it can handle, it can be the ugliest or the cutest. It could be of the longest lineage or the muttiest of mutts but as long as it gets a ‘forever home’ and is loved, cherished and cared for … what more is there? Where your baby comes from can be something to think about. If you truly cared for animals think about what the purchase from the pet shop details with puppy mills with irresponsible inhumane conditions where most pet shop puppies come from, think of all the animals who eventually may end up at rainbow bridge way before his/her time because someone wanted the puppy in the pet shop window not the older dog in the shelter or a puppy who were born from a neglected mum in a refuge.
I kinda lost the point a few times, sorry if most of its dribble… dam customers kept interrupting my train of thought haha. But seriously, think before you buy. Even if its based on an impulse buy from dare I say it, a pet shop – go home google the breed and see what you’re in for so in 6months + time you find yourself giving up your pooch as it just wasn’t what you had wanted or planned or expected it to be.
http://www.saynotoanimalsinpetshops.com/ <- great site.
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