The problem is (and its been made clear in posts even on this forum) many people don't understand the importance of "AKC papers" or what that even means. People who buy dogs with APRI "papers" tend not to know what the difference is. IT's gotten so bad that I can't even keep up with all the organizations that will "register" dogs, many of whom are in league with pet shops and puppy mills. Many are very disappointed with the UKC, because dogs who will not be registered by AKC are often UKC registered. What's worse, there are many dogs out there with fake AKC papers!
Have you noticed how many long and big Yorkies there are walking around? A common puppymill practise is to breed a Yorkie dog to a Silky bitch because the Silky is able to have more puppies. In theory, these dogs are mutts and yet, people purchase them with AKC papers. Now, how did that happen?
I used to think that the simple solution to the pet shop problem was for AKC to self-regulate. All dogs who were sold from pet shops could not have papers, all dogs who were sold as pets would have limited registration and spay and neuter contracts, and voila! the problem would be resolved. Unfortunatly, its not the easy. The only way this problem is going to go away is with owner education.
I had a "colliquey" with a YT member a couple of months ago regarding why people should buy from breeders and the importance of AKC papers. What is truly illustrative is not my arguments in favor of show breeders, but her arguments against them. She was very nice and polite - I am not saying anything bad about her - but worried me then, as it does now - is that she was very eloquently stating the postion of 90% of the dog buying public. I'll see if I can find that thread . . .. |