Originally Posted by Britster  Speaking of bad breeders, I've been dealing with family members who choose dogs that can often be plagued by health problems and they choose to go to bad breeders. It's amazing to me sometimes that no matter what you say, how nice you say it, and how much you tell them you've researched, people simply don't care. It does make me wonder sometimes, CAN it really be stopped? I don't think it ever will. Drugs are illegal, people will still always sell them and do them. I won't take part in it, but doesn't mean others are not. I don't know. It's so difficult.
My grandma is getting a Boxer puppy this weekend - a white Boxer. Often blind and/or deaf. I explained this to her - how they can be more unhealthy and how important it is to go to a good breeder. She seemed to fall on "deaf" ears - completely ignored the suggestion. She's dead set on this puppy, coming from somewhere in PA near Penn State, and is picking it up tomorrow. She hardly researched the breed (her other dog just died a week ago today!!)
My uncle is going to get a German Shepherd soon. This is a breed I want someday and researched thoroughly... and I had one from the ages of 10-14. I told him I had some breeders bookmarked and I'd send to him, he said "awesome thanks! I am looking for cheap ha!" So I told him to be careful because Shepherds not from good breeding can become very aggressive (as ours did - we got her from a terrible place, she attacked a person and had to be put down). I've told him this story, I've told him how devastated I was, how important it is NOT to make that mistake that we did. Not to mention, hips and elbows are very important to get tested from breeding stock. I even mentioned how a cheap dog CAN be a lot more expensive in the long run. He was appreciative of all the help but in the end, he still was like "I bought my Husky from a pet store, never took her to the vet, and she lived to be 14.... so I think it's all of how you raise them!" I am thinking to myself... yeah that Husky ran away almost every day from you, nearly got hit by dozens of cars, was a nervous wreck and always on edge, in her later years had major hip problems and towards the last few months of her life, couldn't even hardly squat to go pee.... granted, he's older now and different, he got Husky when he was in college.
*SIGH* I am close to my family, very close, this was all said in a VERY nice, non threatening way, and they STILL don't listen. And these are all really good people, honestly. They are dog lovers who DO love and cherish their animals and take care of them but they still don't seem to understand what I am trying to explain. So I really don't understand how the general public who thinks this way and doesn't even have anyone explaining things to them will ever listen or understand the importance. |