After reading the press about the West Rand SPCA dumping dog and cat bodies at the council rubbish dump and hearing that so many people were “outraged” at this practice – realised just how naive some the public can be.
There is no way that any individual SPCA could waste finance on costly cremation – their merge funds should be using for the living, on prevention of suffering and cruelty. Due to the costs involved, cremation is a luxury that is reserved for much loved family pets, and even then, the choice is usually given to the owner by the practising veterinarian.
When a pet is euthanized by a veterinarian, if the owner does not specify what to do with the body – where do you think it goes – I am sure that most vets could not bear the brunt of the cremation cost???
With their limited funds, what are the SPCA supposed to do with the bodies of euthanized animals?
Who does the public think is going to pay for it???
Of course it was the council’s fault for not preparing the site correctly, nor covering up the bodies immediately, and I certainly agree that it is a sad and tragic end for most unwanted pets – but where does the blame really lie? Read the article I wrote below, and then think again!
BITCHES GAINST BREEDING
A few years ago a group of girlfriends and I started a little group. We called it BAB which stands for Bitches (that’s us), Against Breeding! We are not a registered group or anything formal, however if and when, we come across a genuine case of a pet owner who needs help, we have a little slush fund that we use.
Our main aim is of course, to discourage all breeding via owner education and if and where possible to strongly encourage and help (where we can) impoverished owners to have their dogs sterilised.
Now of course, we can’t really make a huge difference, (not even a drop in the ocean in the flood of dog “production”) and we certainly don’t make any claims to fame or saving the world! However, for every bitch or dog sterilised, that is a whole lot of offspring that are also prevented from continuing the cycle of production!
I once read (somewhere) that one bitch and one dog could over a period of several years be responsible for the creation of over 1000 pups, which of course also breed every six months, all the while whilst the original pair continues to add to the numbers twice a year!
This is an extremely frightening thought.
(Please if some maths genius could work it out for me I would be delighted – need approximate figures of one bitch and one dog & their offspring if all breed twice a year – average litter ½ dogs & ½ bitches to make the numbers easier I think it is a compound number as one has to take into account the original pair who continue to add numbers each year)
THE CRUEL FACT IN SOUTH AFRICA IS THAT THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY DOGS!
This is the harsh, cruel, cold reality. Too many people are irresponsible and permit their dogs to reproduce, too often and with too many dogs! That is not counting the millions of pets bred for profit by unscrupulous dealers, puppy farmers and others for the “pet – trade”!
Now I am beginning to sound rather anal retentive, which I am sure I am. However most people don’t think twice about letting their dogs reproduce – nor do they seem to understand the implications regarding WHERE THEY OPTAIN A PUP! They just don’t seem to get it!
The N SPCA prohibit the individual societies from publishing the numbers of pets euthanized annually, however, it does not take rocket science to realise the numbers must be huge! This is not the fault of the SPCA – what else are they to do when their kennels are overflowing at the seams. Too many dogs and not enough homes!
When the kennels are full, what are they supposed to do??? They certainly do some outstanding work in their attempts to re-home suitable dogs – but I REPEAT – THERE ARE TOO MANY DOGS AND NOT ENOUGH SUITABLE HOMES!
Whose fault is it then you might ask? Who is to blame for the annual mass slaughter of unwanted dogs?
If you have let your bitch have a litter – then it is YOUR FAULT! If you have been irresponsible in purchasing a puppy from dubious sources (unintentionally promoting puppy farms – hey - where do you think most pet shops get their “stock”) it is YOUR FAULT.
If you have bought a puppy from a flea market, or the side of the road, through a Junk Mail type publication – THEN THE NUMBERS OF DOGS IN THE SPCA BEING HUMAINLY KILLLED EVERY WEEK IS YOUR FAULT.
Most people don’t give a second thought when looking for a cute puppy.
HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW – the cost of that “cute” puppy that you purchase from the pet shop often comes at a huge MORAL AND ETHICAL price to the mother of the “cute” pup. It is time that you spare a thought for her!
Even registered breeders have recently come under the spotlight. An ethical breeder is supposed to breed for the benefit of the breed! I can count on one hand the amount of “ethical” breeders I have met in my lifetime.
There are many Kennel Union “Registered Dogs” not only kept in appalling conditions but also often kept for all the “wrong” reasons, including being a baby making machine, or just kept to win prizes to salve their human owners egos! Now the Kennel Union is merely a registration authority – not the puppy police!
Personally I will NEVER AGAIN buy a puppy from any breeder or anywhere else! Not whilst there are dogs being humanely killed because of neglect and abuse – whether intentional or not! I will not buy a puppy whilst such huge numbers are being killed every single day, due to human greed. Not whilst the shelters, foster homes, and registered animal humane society kennels are FULL! It’s time for us to open our eyes and face the truth!
If you MUST buy a puppy at least have the good sense and morals not to support disreputable breeder.
If we don’t buy from them, we will put them OUT OF BUSINESS!
WHERE TO LOOK FOR A “GOOD” PUPPY?
This is a very tough question. The most logical answer is to find a “reputable breeder”. On paper, this seems easy enough – a quick phone call to the Kennel Union of Southern Africa in Cape Town will provide you with a list of individuals who breed pure bred, registered dogs. However, as “breeders” are they all likely to be “reputable”?
WHAT IS A “REPUTABLE” DOG BREEDER?
· A reputable dog breeder breeds dogs for the betterment of the breed, not to make a fast buck! He does NOT breed a litter and then look for homes for his puppies. He will have a waiting list of prospective (screened) owners BEFORE he even considers mating / breeding a litter.
· Most reputable breeders concentrate on one breed of dog only.
· A reputable breeder will not rush you into making a choice, nor will he pressure you to buy a puppy, nor would he ever permit you to take two puppies at the same time! It is a virtually impossible task to bring up two puppies from the same litter (or two pups of the same age from different litters) in one household. When you have two puppies of similar ages in the same household, the future inter-canine relationship usually ends up with one puppy being a “bully” and the other puppy being a “victim”!
· A reputable breeder will let you view and interact with both the dam (mother) and sire (father) of the puppies at their own establishment. He WOULD NOT meet you at the garage on the side of the highway and tell you that the parents are just lovely!
· If the breeder says that you cannot have contact with either the dam or the sire, BEWARE! If he says that either the sire or the dam is vicious, shy or nervous – get in your car and leave! At least 65% of a puppy’s character and general nature is inherited from his parents! This means that if the “cute” puppy that you are viewing has a “nasty”, “vicious”, or “nervous” Mom or Dad, you could end up with a whole heap of trouble as the “cute” puppy grows to fill his parents’ shoes!
· A reputable breeder does not advertise in “Junk Mail” type publications, nor does he have any need to advertise in the local newspaper. He will already have a good reputation, and people like your local vet, dog trainer, behaviourist, or dog-grooming parlour will be able to refer you to him.
· A reputable breeder should be able to give you valuable insight and information regarding history and actual genetics/breeding. In other words, he should be knowledgeable about his breed, its background, characteristics and specific behaviour traits. He should also have knowledge about the specific breed’s genetic faults and behavioural needs.
· A reputable breeder will be able to give you contact addresses of pups that he has bred in the past and actively encourage you to interact with their owners.
· A reputable breeder will also have lifetime contact with the animals that he has bred in the past.
· When looking for an ideal family dog you should preferably look for a breeder who has the litter born and brought up - at least partly, inside the house. This is so that you know that, from an early age, the puppies are used to the various sounds and “goings on” in the home, producing a more confident, well-adjusted, socialised puppy. If you have children, then look at the behaviour of the breeder’s children! If they are obnoxious brats – leave! If the breeder cannot control their children, the odds are that the kids will have teased the puppies and the dogs and they could well end up as highly-strung or nervous individuals due to these early poor interactions developing a fear response to all children – often resulting in fear aggression!
· A good breeder keeps the dog’s environment, garden, and whelping area clean and free from any flies or other health hazards. All the dogs on the premises should be in good physical condition, have clean coats, and be free of parasites (both visual, such as fleas and ticks, and internal such as worms). Often dogs with worms have rough coats, in poor condition. When looking for a puppy, if the premises of the breeder do not meet with your standards – leave!
WHERE NOT TO PURCHASE A PUPPY
· From a flea market or pet shop. Many of these puppies are bred by unscrupulous “Puppy Farmers” who sell them to dealers who, in turn, unload onto the unsuspecting, gullible public!
· From the side of the road. These dealers often buy from “Mills” or puppy farms. Unscrupulous “Puppy Farmers” often keep random bred dogs and purebred dogs. They often allow the dogs to inter-breed producing “mongrels”.
· The Puppy Farmers’ breeding stock is often kept in appalling conditions. Filthy cages with little or no shelter, and little food. Many deny even basic veterinary care and most of these pups are sickly, small and unhealthy.
· Most of the bitches kept by “Puppy Farmers” are bred with every time they come into “season”, thus producing as many puppies as possible in order for the puppy farmer to make the most amount of money with the least input!
· Many pet shops and flea markets are getting bad reputations as many of the puppies sold by them come from dubious sources.
WHY NOT GIVE THE “POOR” PUPPY A HOME?
It is natural to want to give a puppy a home because you feel sorry for it, especially if you know it has had a “bad” beginning. Our human maternal and paternal instincts want to nurture and protect.
However, by purchasing a puppy that has originated from a puppy farmer, you as an individual would be actively encouraging and supporting these unscrupulous parasites of society and helping them to make money.
I personally consider it “DIRTY MONEY” and believe that stricter regulations should be implemented to protect both the animals and the public. Until then, it is the public who, through education and common sense, should actively be encouraged to put them out of business!
THERE IS ONLY ONE SURE WAY TO DO THIS, DO NOT buy puppies from dubious sources!
When purchasing a puppy from dubious sources, there is no way of knowing the puppy’s’ background or early influences. Therefore, behaviourally, they might not be “sound”. You could be looking at serious future behavioural problems, from fear and anxiety to aggression.
As most of the puppies are not inoculated, they often spread disease. Some of these pups are reported to be sold drugged! Many of them are sickly and there have been numerous reports of puppies dying after being with a new family for only a few days. This is heartbreaking for both the children and Mom and Dad. Some dealers will actually give you another puppy (rarely cash) if the one dies within a certain period of time - and this is stated in a purchase agreement! How confident are they of their stock??????
Many of these puppies are bred from behaviourally “unsound” parents. As the pup will inherit at least 65% of his parents’ character, what you see is not necessarily what you get!
A large percentage of pups from these dealers end up as unsuitable pets suffering from various behavioural problems.
Most are breed rejects - dogs that would not be accepted by the respectable dog breeding fraternity and do not conform to registered breed standards. They are at risk of having inherited genetic health problems such as hip displacia, eye and ear problems and various other genetic based diseases. Most of these pups are unregistered with the Kennel Union of SA, so that the genetics, both positive and negative, are completely unknown.
Now I am not advocating that everyone should rush out and only get purebred registered puppies. Many mixed-breed pups make wonderful companion animals and working dogs. But you must realise that it is a “pot luck” purchase. You will not even be able to judge what the pup will look like when it is a “grown-up” or accurately judge its future size!
The advantages of buying a registered pup, from registered stock, from a registered “ethical” breeder, is that you, as the consumer, will know exactly what you are getting in size, shape conformation and character.
If you do not necessarily want a purebred dog with papers,
then support your local SPCA or one of the Rescue Organisations,
or Shelters, and give one of their “Poor Stray’s” A Good Home!
In this way, you would be doing Dogdom a service,
and saving a life!
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