Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] petsmart

My first thought when I read the original boycott post was, "gee, if I knew
the woman's name, I'd report her to her breed association." What she was
doing was NOT appropriate. We own a purebred dog of a very protected breed,
belong to that breed association, belong to a dog training club, attend many
dog conformation shows and performance events and what she was doing with
setting up a grooming table outside of the store was whacko, IMO. No show
dog owner I know would do anything like that.

There is a great need for purebred dog breeders to be more responsible in
their breeding and puppy placement practices (with spay/neuter agreements
for "pet quality" pups!!) than most are currently. Every puppy book I've
ever flipped through tells how to find a reputable breeder. Here's a clue:
they don't advertise in the newspaper and they won't sell a pup just because
the person can write a check. They don't produce litters to make money, they
do it to improve the breed, it's their passion and their hobby. They go to
shows and performance events so that they can carefully select breeding
stock. They show and are involved in events appropriate to their breed so
they can evaluate their own stock against what else is out there.

Owners of so-called "pet quality" purebreds from reputable breeders are not
taking a home away from a mix-breed. Many (most?) of us own both. People
acquire purebreds because of predictability in looks and temperament and
hopefully a desire for working ability in the sporting, herding and working
breeds. What is needed is education about spaying and neutering for ALL dogs
not intended for breeding.

And to bring this back to horses, it's a good thing that horses aren't born
in litters (although, if they were, it'd be easier to see the diversity of
what can come out of a pairing).

Deanna


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