Gemy - thanks for your post - I have a feeling though we may come from different sides of the question of proper breeding, our eventual aims are very similar - proper breeding and it does not matter who does the breeding.
Yes I am aware of the Summit meeting and yes CKC representatives were there. PIJAC spoke at the meeting as well as the President of Petland Canada who spoke by invitation. Many good things came out of the Summit, perhaps the greatest being a better understanding of what all parties are doing instead of inuendo which unfortuantely very much prevails - lets not also forget some individual people and some groups, have personal agendas right up to elimination of private ownership of any pet - just let anyone try to take my two dogs from me, they are very much a full member of my family, in fact , sometimes I wish I was treated so well lol and I believe the majority of pet owners are the same as myself and yourself.
But the world is not perfect - just look at how much child abuse we have, even abuse between adults or children against children. All we can do collectively is to make sure we know real situations and try to put in place a system which can hopefully address the source of the problem.
Your comment about CKC - you alluded to and is a fact, that CKC does not have the resources to actually monitor how thier members breed or who they sell to - the fact is that CKC members do sell to the public directly and through good petstores - I do think that CKC members are probably careful as to which stores they have dealings with. It is not that long ago the CKC allowed petstores to be members of CKC and accepted registrations through them. I remember reading at one time in their handbook that it is not legal for them to be able to say who can sell to who. I know they have changed thier practice but I am not sure if a court challenge were launched that CKC could continue the practice of saying who thier members can sell to or through. I am not a lawyer but I do know under fair trade practices, do not think I would want to argue that CKC has the power to restrict unfairly - but that is not the issue we are talking about - the issue is improper breeding - period.
It is also unfair, and you did not say this, to paint all pet stores as being bad. The majority who do have puppies, have at the forefront the welfare of the puppies in their care. Stores are highly visible to the public and government agencies - more so than any other source of puppies. Stores are not the problem of improper breeding. You must get to the source, the breeders themselves and good breeders I am sure would welcome being able to have a method of "certification" that their breeding practices are proper. It would be fantastic for the public and stores to be able to have that same assurance that the breeder had agreed to adhere to proper inspection and breeding practices.
I do know as an example one Petland store in my area, who received two puppies from a very reputable breeder, I believe a Club member but not absolutely sure, the two puppies were found to be in need of liver shunts - a very expensive procedure. The breeder was contacted and the store was honestly told that the breeder just could not afford such an operation and if the pups were returned, she would have no choice but to put them to rest. Petland sent the pups to the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon to have the operations performed, the cost , in excess of $7000 dollars - both those pups are now in separate fantastic homes in the White Rock area, both doing very well.
I guess the gyst of my comments are that all sides must work together for a common good without pointing fingers - there is good and there is bad in all directions, breeders, the Clubs, animal welfare groups, stores and even SPCA s - I can only say again, lets put pressure where something can be done, at our Provincial governments - they have the road to a better solution.
And let all of us watch for proper animal care, after all, our pets only ask to be cared for properly, in return they give unconditional love without us even asking for it.
You suggested I post a picture of my Yorkshire Terrier - unfortunately she has just recently passed away. I had her for many years and she latched onto me the moment we saw each other. She was from a CKC member, a show breeder who was also a Veterinarian - she was absolutely terrified of people, need I say more. I had heard about her through another breeder. The dog had been bred once and the birthing had been very difficult. I bought the mother, had her spayed and she was a wonderful companion for many years even though she would not look at me if I was holding another dog, especially if a puppy lol - she would actually walk in front of me and turn her head away while passing me - it was so funny................ |