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The back
yard breeder is the single greatest cause of pet overpopulation. Back yard
breeders usually do not have bad intentions, but the results of back yard
breeding are devastating. The majority of purebred dogs come from this category
in many popular breeds, as well as the majority of purebred dogs in rescue, or
destroyed in pounds. Most are sold locally through newspaper ads - the
responsibility ends when the purchaser's taillights disappear from sight. Many
backyard breeders do not have the knowledge to properly raise a healthy,
socialized litter, or to help the new owner with any problems that might arise.
Back yard breeders may act
on a desire to make extra money, or simply out of ignorance. Sometimes back yard
breeders will breed so "their children can experience the miracle of birth", or
they mistakenly believe "every dog should have one litter." They may think their
dog is so cute, he/she would make wonderful puppies, with little or no thought
for the homes to which their puppies will go. Other back yard breeders see how
much money legitimate breeders charge for pups and figure they could make some
"easy money" too. Or, a back yard breeder may have a completely unplanned litter
by accident.
Back yard breeders usually
bring two breeding animals together regardless of their quality. They are not
interested in scientific breeding. Their aim is to fulfill a personal need or
goal, not to improve the breed and bring excellent quality dogs to the world.
Since breed excellence is generally unimportant, the breeding dogs generally
will not have been tested for genetic and health problems.
Back yard breeders are not
necessarily bad people, they often come from middle to upper income families,
and their dogs can be well loved and kept. However, getting a pup from a back
yard breeder is a gamble:
- the parents likely have
not been screened for health problems
- puppies usually are not
sold with contracts
- the breeders are not in
it for the long haul
- They will be working on
new personal objectives in five years when your pet has a problem and you need
help.
Although you might pay
less for the breed of your choice from a pet store or backyard breeder, it's
almost a given that in the long run, you'll pay a good deal more in vet bills
and perhaps emotional bills (if the dog has to be euthanized due to a health or
temperament problem), than you would from a reputable breeder.
The following stats are
American, but the percentages will be comparable in Canada:
Of the 52.9 million dogs
who live in the United States, approximately 2.9 million of them are killed in
shelters annually (AVMA, 1998, and AHA, 1998). Where do all these dogs come
from? Puppy mills churn out 20% of the total number of dogs whelped yearly, and
roughly 1% are the results of feral dogs reproducing on their own. Less than 12%
come from breeders who actively test their stock in conformation, obedience, and
field trials. Backyard breeders, or people who breed their dogs without testing
and certifying their stock, produce nearly 67% of all the dogs born annually in
this country (Gardner, 1994)1. You will not pay more for a pet quality puppy
from a reputable breeder than one from a backyard breeder. Unfortunately, there
are backyard breeders everywhere: in kennel clubs, advertising in the newspaper,
and also in dog publications. The difference is that the ethical breeder has
spent time and effort developing the healthiest, soundest, and most
representative of the breed possible.
Special thanks to
www.nopuppymillscanada.ca for this information and for the link to the
following video.
**Click
Here to see the fate of a BYB dog**
This is a graphic video that tells the tail of too many dogs in
Canada
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