You Do It To Yourselves

This is Teddy - who I loved, loved, loved, and he could never love back - he was a purebred black toy poodle who was the most tragically damaged little dog I've ever met in my life.


There's a song that goes "You do it to yourselves, you do..." and that's all I can remember of that song - but it keeps going over in my head - that's what comes up when I think of what's going on with the breeders being unhappy with their lot in life - not only here in Nova Scotia, but New Brunswick, the United States - and England too.

They have a real martyr mentality, and think that everyone is out to get them - and think that anyone who is not them are something they malevolently call "AR extremists" - and they - and because everyone but them are these people - so that includes you, me, the NS SPCA, veterinarians, the RSPCA, the HSUS, we are even included in now with PETA and are on the same level with them - are trying to do no more and no less than take away their rights as pet owners and take away the fancy of pet ownership - not just the hobby of breeding. I am not kidding you.

On show dog lists this week in response to the NS SPCA wanting to make it illegal in Nova Scotia to dock tails and crop ears - breeders are saying "that if they can't have these procedures done to their dogs - what's the difference between docking and cropping - and spaying and neutering, which is also a procedure that causes dogs pain and suffering - and is also an elective procedure." Can you imagine.

Talk about grasping at straws.

It's all about having control over the product that you are selling - and breeders don't like having that messed with. They're also very unhappy with veterinarians too. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association isn't liking how breeders are turning some dogs into complete mush - they have a position statement on breeding at http://canadianveterinarians.net/ShowText.aspx?ResourceID=416 about purebred dog breeding that says in part -

The CVMA opposes the selective breeding of dogs resulting in changes in body form, function or temperament, that are detrimental to the health and quality of life of the dog or that have a negative impact on its behaviour towards people and/or other dogs.

The CVMA is concerned about the breeding of dogs with a known or highly suspect genetic predisposition to particular inherited disorders, such as hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and cardiomyopathy. The CVMA is also concerned about the continuation of breeds whose structure or characteristics inherently cause health problems. Some examples include the large, brachycephalic head structure in bulldogs, which can cause dystocia due to large fetal size, and respiratory difficulties throughout life; cardiomyopathy in Doberman pinschers and boxers; and intervertebral disk disease in chondrodysplastic breeds such as the dachshund, corgi and Bassett hound.

That bolded part has particularly got them twisted out of shape - the CVMA is concerned about the continuation of breeds - they don't want these BREEDS TO CONTINUE!! Whoa baby! They think the breeders have gotten out of control and the poor dogs are suffering for the breeders greed!

In England the Kennel Club itself is trying to hedge the breeders in. There is a MUCH disputed documentary called Pedigreed Dog Exposed that talks about the crisis of purebreed dogs going on - the whole documentary is available on You Tube at

Section 1 - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_S1aP82pI_k
Section 2 - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=spDJVR1kvPA
Section 3 - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yYODetPf-UI
Section 4 - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q0KThQFpyA
Section 5 - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz_OykzCL1g
Section 6 - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ysu1qTiQEH4

There is a breeder of Cardigan Welsh Corgis who has a blog in (I think) New Hampshire and she's got a brilliant rebuttal from a breeders perspective on the documentary if you want to go and read it. It's at http://rufflyspeaking.wordpress.com/2008/10/19/implications-of-the-kennel-club-decision-on-the-pekingese-pedigree-dogs-exposed/

I'm sure I'll be adding more to this post as I get more information and/or I get more annoyed and/or more informed on the siteeeeation..... for now - enjoy.

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association's website has a whole section on the subject of docking and cropping - including a video of a puppies tail being docked - their position is -

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) opposes surgical alteration of any animal, for purely cosmetic purposes."

Background:

The CVMA believes that cosmetic surgery is unnecessary, except in injury or for reasons of health. Examples of cosmetic procedures include:
1. tail docking in the equine, bovine, or canine species;
2. tail nicking/setting in the equine species;
3. ear cropping;
4. onychectomy in species other than the domestic cat.
The CVMA encourages breed associations to change their breed standards so that cosmetic procedures are not required.

American Veterinary Medical Association Position Statement on Cropping and Docking: Ear Cropping and Tail Docking
(Oversight: AWC; HOD 07/1999, EB revised 11/2008)

The AVMA opposes ear cropping and tail docking of dogs when done solely for cosmetic purposes. The AVMA encourages the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards.

CKC's position on docking, cropping and dew claw removal -

Although much of the history of the reasons for cropping the ears and docking the tails of dogs remain unclear, the Canadian Kennel Club affirms that cropped ears and docked tails are a significant part of the history of many of the breeds of purebred dogs. Moreover, breeders continue these practices for historical, hygienic and aesthetic reasons. Although the Canadian Kennel Club wishes to be attentive to changing societal values with respect to purebred dogs, the Canadian Kennel Club must also represent the wishes of its members. For the majority of the breeders whose breeds have been traditionally cropped and/or docked, their sense of the history of their breed and their aesthetic appreciation of their breed necessitates these practices. However, just as the breeders of purebred dogs have modified the temperament of the historical "fighting breeds" so that they reflect the values of modern society, so breeders are modifying their practices with respect to ear cropping. In recent years in the conformation and performance events sanctioned by the Canadian Kennel Club the number of uncropped dogs has increased significantly and their presence and form is appreciated by the majority of members of the Canadian Kennel Club. The Canadian Kennel Club has historically operated on the principle that the breeders and the breed clubs determine the standards for the breeds and therefore will not unilaterally legislate changes to these breed standards. The Canadian Kennel Club is concerned that ear cropping and tail docking be done under the most humane circumstances and to this end, has adopted the policy of barring for life from all Canadian Kennel Club events, any person or persons who performs or causes to be performed, the ear-cropping of any dog without the use of a general anesthetic. The Canadian Kennel Club does not believe that any ban on cropped and/or docked dogs in the events of Canadian Kennel Club will stop the cropping and docking of dogs in Canada because these services will still be readily available in the United States and there will remain those who wish this cosmetic surgery for their dogs whether purebred or not, whether participating in the event of the CKC or not. The Canadian Kennel Club considers tail docking and dew claw removal, practices which are distinct from ear cropping. Tail docking and removal of dew claws is necessary for safety in field working breeds and for hygienic reasons in other breeds. Moreover, tail docking and removal of dew claws, when performed on young puppies, is consistent with similar practices in the livestock industry.