I have done rescue for years, and before I became a member of EBC and realized their support, I saw all breeders as adding to my rescue numbers. OF course, that is totally wrong thinking..but when you have more dogs than you can place, and not a good support system, it can make you ridged and bitter. I do know. I totally understand her and I tried to share with her how I went from where she is to where I am. I does take a village..it takes a breed club to open their hearts and wallets. It take a rescue to realize that breeders, good breeders keep the dogs we love healthy.
Its a long learning process, and thank heavens I have lived long enough to get to this.
Operah doing a show on puppymills
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Pat, your right, folks who should know sometimes have "oops" litters. Then dump them..
I know of a breeder questionable who has one oops every year!
I don't think people who are new to the breed realize how much b's, when they come into season, want to "make puppies".
Some, well, they just use it as an excuse.
For me, working with the general public, having a fixed dog is what they should have.
I am hopeful that some of the folks who come into b's with "ideas" of having litter for "friends" can be educated out of it…
But I have to tell you, I am getting more and more jaded to think these folks will learn. Seems they like to be uneducated.
Its a "want what I want" now society, and someone like me, picks up the "litters' who are unwanted.
Sorry, just having a bit of "down" now... -
Pat and Sharon, I don't think it's just the new breeders anymore. I'm seeing more and more established and elderly breeders breeding litters every year because they have "puppy people" but are not even breeding to improve the breed, just breeding because "this dog and this bitch are available". It makes me very angry when I have been researching for a long time on what dog is right for my bitch and what dog compliments and can better my bitch's features and then these other people breed because they have "puppy people". I hope you understand what I am saying. I'm not trying to rag on any one person, but the collective group.
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Pat, your right, folks who should know sometimes have "oops" litters. Then dump them..
I know of a breeder questionable who has one oops every year!
I don't think people who are new to the breed realize how much b's, when they come into season, want to "make puppies".
Some, well, they just use it as an excuse.
For me, working with the general public, having a fixed dog is what they should have.
I am hopeful that some of the folks who come into b's with "ideas" of having litter for "friends" can be educated out of it…
But I have to tell you, I am getting more and more jaded to think these folks will learn. Seems they like to be uneducated.
Its a "want what I want" now society, and someone like me, picks up the "litters' who are unwanted.
Sorry, just having a bit of "down" now...I think I "know" that Opps breeder that you are talking about.. and too bad too, cause they had/have a good mentor…. sigh.... and yes, some people use it as an excuse.. period
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Pat and Sharon, I don't think it's just the new breeders anymore. I'm seeing more and more established and elderly breeders breeding litters every year because they have "puppy people" but are not even breeding to improve the breed, just breeding because "this dog and this bitch are available". It makes me very angry when I have been researching for a long time on what dog is right for my bitch and what dog compliments and can better my bitch's features and then these other people breed because they have "puppy people". I hope you understand what I am saying. I'm not trying to rag on any one person, but the collective group.
I hear ya…. but on the other hand.. think of it this way.. if they do have puppy people (and good homes) and they are health testing, breeding good temperaments, have contracts, take back pups... honestly... I am not sure I have much of a problem with that... if the people getting pups are getting healthly, well socialized pups... that is a good thing... and still, think about.. they might be breeding cause they have puppy people... but I would venture to bet they are still not making money.. if doing it right...
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Let me add to that.. elderly breeders.. that is a problem IMO… unless they have made arrangements with someone to look out for these pups if they are gone.... like do they have a person that they have mentored?.. and may be a co-breeder and can step in if necessary?....
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Arlene made a good point. Pat, you as well…
Breeding for breeding SAKE, isn't good enough any more.
This breed of ours is special in my mind anyway.
We have the new blood to make this breed healthy.
YOU all good breeders have done the improvement to the temperments..
Now, with the health testing and the knowledge. I can see Basenjis breeders being the top of the line re dog and their pups!
If its done right.
I know we will always have the "stupid" ones.
I will always have a job in rescue...sigh
Good breeders will always be paying for the "other bad" breeders who don't do thing "right" so folks want to make Laws to punish...
But we are all so very close to making our dogs happy and heathy.
I want to make this work.
That is why its so hard to be kind to those stuck in the thinking, I have a dog I can breed mindset. -
I have to say that I cried several times during that show. I really cried when they showed the dog being put down and then the garbage bags going into the dumpster. I think back on the day when I was young and stupid and thought that a dog that I took to the pound would surely be adopted. It rips me apart just thinking about what I did way back when. I just didn't understand the dog. I'm not that way now of course but this show really tore me up. I can't believe that we just throw dogs and cats away like that. It just makes me sick.
I will still play with the basenji puppies I see in pet stores and try to give them info about Bs but I will never buy a puppy from a pet store again. I'm ashamed that I live in a state that allows puppy milling to go on, and go on in such a huge scale.
I got my current two Bs from reputable breeders.
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please excuse my emotional outburst in the previous post. I had just finished watching the Oprah show and was pretty traumatized. I'm glad it showed and now maybe people will think twice. I just hope it works.
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Don't worry, I was the same way watching the show. I made the mistake of watching while eating supper, and it literally made me almost throw up, it was just so sad and sickening. 40 dogs, everyday, just at that facility. I don't feel as horrible for those who were very sick, or feral and not living much of a life anyway (although it was sad they got into those positions in the first place), but it was heartbreaking to see the dogs that were killed just for "space." And that was just at that facility…imagine how many are killed all over each day. And I am not usually one who gets incredibly emotional when it comes to animals...so to have that get to me shows how horrible it is. I hope it makes people think too, although of course there is going to be no quick solution.
I then was stupid and went online to look up the shelter to see just how many dogs are really there...and it brought me to petfinder...and I could see the dogs available...big mistake...made me want to take a road trip down there, pick em all up and find them homes...I should have known nothing good could come from looking them up in the first place...just so sad! -
I watched the show this afternoon, I cried when they showed the dogs they had to euthenize. I just hugged Chase a little tighter and reached over to scratch Zahra (she was squirrel watching at the window). My heart just broke over having to put down those beautiful animals.
Overall I think Oprah did a great job, I hope she does more follow up episodes where maybe she can spotlight rescue groups such as BRAT.
