| morphis | 05-18-2008 03:12 PM |
Thank you for taking the time to read..kinda long..but I hope it eases some concerns
Yes, we do raise all the puppies in the house using playpens. None of our adult dogs are in wire cages. They each have their own pens and crates to sleep in at night ( and in the winter a dog bed) and a large yard to run & play in during the day. We do alternate the different breeds and males & females of course. Half of the dogs are at my house and the other half at my mother-in-law's house. That is how I can raise several breeds. Everytime you open my mother-in-law's front door 3 Yorkies very spoiled house dogs, along with 2 Itailian Greyhounds (one neutered just a pet) and a couple of Shih Tuz come barreling out to see who is at the door. They are house dogs. In the yard are 3 German Shepherd, 1 Border collie & a couple of Labs (they all have playtime of fetching the ball and frisbee). They each have there own dog house and place to eat to avoid fights. They are all happy and healthy and receive the best veterinary care. That's not to mention the dogs in my house and yard. We have Schnauzers that think they own the house. One is in my lap and the other in my husband's whenever they get the chance. I do after hours emergency work so I am home during the day for my children and dogs. All our dogs get monthly heartworm preventative, tick/flea treatment, dental when needed, current vaccinations and rabies and anything else they need. Regular clips and comb out every week. My kids play with the puppies every day to socialize them. At night the Yorkie puppies get run of my mother-in-law house and the puppies mother plays with them but she is too big now to get under the couch like she used to do but her puppies are able to do so. The mother loves playing with her puppies and we love watching them. So if anyone thinks anything "fishy" is welcome to come visit. I have three playpens beside me right now in the computer room. If a puppy burps I hear it. We deworm our puppies every two weeks and vaccinate for kennel cough and the regular distemper parvo. I could go on & on.
Also I might add, some of the breeds such as our Border Collies we only have one breeding female and one male. That how we can have several breeds. I have raised Border Collie for 15 years and this was my first breed I got when I was first married in vet school. I wanted a dog that could help me with cattle in my veterinary practice. And our Schnauzer breed we only have two females that we can alternate breeding every other heat. That is how we can handle several breeds.
I also run a rescue and instead of euthanizing puppies and strays that come to the veterinary clinic I work at I take them home and try to adopt them. I just neutered one last week that we will keep for my children if he isn't adopted because he is a sweet loving dog and I don't have the heart to put him to sleep. He was one of 10 puppies dumped on the side of the work. Thankfully, nine of them have gone to good loving home.
I have in the past went with the USDA inspector to do kennel checks since I am a veterinarian. You wouldn't believe the conditions that I saw and they still passed. It made me sad to see the dogs on wire 24/7. Their dogs didn't have name as do all of ours. I can say go bring me so & so and even my 3 year old knows exactly which dog I am talking about. They are a source of income I won't lie but they are also our pets. After visiting several kennels I decided I could do better and offer people an alternative to the pet store and mill breeders. I won't have passed any kennel because I was looking at it from the veterinary prepective and I though they all needed an area to exercise every day and dentals on many of the dogs. Not to mention clip and baths I would require if I were the inspecter before I would pass them.
I hope this has helped to clarify some concerns in peoples mind. I only signed up to this site in hopes of finding some good concerned potential Yorkie buyers and be a help where I could with veterinary questions. We care to much about each and every puppy to let them go to just anyone. That is probably why we still have some available. We won't just sell to anyone. The puppy is priority over the money. I sat down in the Yorkie playpen outside today and before I got out both shoes where untied and my shirt had slopper all over it. They tried to play tug-of-war with my shirt sleeves. I have loved puppies all my life and I thank the Lord for allowing me to do what I love.
Thanks again for taking the time to read my reply. It still amazes me how quick some people are to judge. I am guilty of that sometimes myself. I do appreciate all the replies and will try not to be judgemental myself. All I can do is give all my pets the best veterinary care I possible can. I am able to sleep at night with a clear conscience knowing my dogs are happy & healthy. My house is open to visitors to see puppies and parents before they buy or adopt a rescue. Sandcreek Pets has nothing to hide.
Laura Morphis DVM | 