I guess it always amazes me when people aren't' aware of this, the HSUS and the AKC spend a good portion of their funds on education, but it still seems like the average person seems to have so little understanding of how many dogs die each year, and why it's so important that we only breed the best. We have plenty of gorgeous pets already out there. You want a one of a kind rare dog? Go to the pound or rescue, there are some real rarities there, and many are very beautiful. It kills me when people defend breeding pet quality dogs when rescues can't find homes for all of them, and I know that good breeders are putting the breaks on their breeding program because of the economy, yet a poor economy, seems to encourage byb's to breed as they want to suppliment their income. This is the major reason I encourage people to only support those breeders who are breeding to standard, and are really doing what's right for the breed. I think one of the problems is that people expect to pay too little for a pet, and the competition makes them cheaper and cheaper, while unscrupulous breeders breed out of standard dogs, and claim they are rare, so they can get big bucks. |