Dog lovers unite
Published Nov 15, 2022 12:05 am
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
Dr. Raymund W. Lo
Let’s talk about man’s/woman’s best friend, the dog. The human-dog relationship goes back hundreds of thousands of years. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. The dog gets food, shelter, and warmth from the campfire while humans benefit from the companionship, guarding, hunting, and herding abilities of the dogs. Human civilization couldn’t have evolved and progressed this much without the dog, and that’s even an understatement.
The dog’s genetic make-up is so malleable that we have been able, in just several generations, to selectively breed for particular physical and behavioral characteristics to further make the dog useful for particular purposes. Thus, we have various sizes, from tiny toys to massive mastiffs; different head and body shapes; various temperaments, from cuddly to fiercely protective; dogs with long tails and no tails, pricked or dropped ears, etc.
One thing should be clear. Dogs are now dependent on humans for their existence, having surrendered their independence for our fostering in exchange for their intimate role in human endeavors. There have been many examples of dogs defending their humans at the cost of their own lives. Yet we see many instances of humans mistreating dogs to the point of cruelty and/or extreme neglect. This isn’t living up to the pact we made with our best friends eons ago.
The first Federation Cynologique Internationale and Federacion Canofila Mexicana (FCI-FCM) World Congress on Welfare and Health for Dogs Worldwide, which was held in Mexico City from Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2022, tackled these concerns.
Among the topics discussed by distinguished speakers from across the world were responsible breeding (my topic in the congress), DNA testing for inheritable diseases of dogs, illegal puppy farming, stray dogs, and other health issues.
Due to the incessant and shrill demands of animal-rights activists, governments all over the world have enacted dog legislation to the point of banning specific breeds of dogs. This is a challenge to conscientious breeders who strive to breed healthy purebred dogs fit for their functions, whether it be policework, hauling loads through snow, rescue-drug- contraband detection, or just companionship, which is so vital in this day and age of alienation and loneliness.
Yet these activists and governments are missing the point. Responsible purebred dog breeders are not the enemy. They are actually allies in promoting dog health and welfare. The national kennel clubs where these breeders belong have rules and regulations on proper animal husbandry, follow strict guidelines on breeding healthy dogs, and hold conformation and sporting events to assess breeding stock for fitness or function.
The real enemies are the illegal puppy farms and backyard puppy mills that breed dogs indiscriminately in horrible conditions. These unscrupulous entities skimp on basic health requirements such as puppy vaccinations, proper nutrition, socializing, and good animal husbandry. The puppies produced in these farms are sent to pet shops to be sold to unsuspecting customers. Many become very sick from abysmal conditions and lack of basic care, and the buyers end up paying huge veterinary bills only to have their puppy die, truly a heartbreaking event. There are reports of these dogs coming down with rabies, thus posing public health risks for this deadly affliction.
Another facet of these puppy farms is the collusion with certain animal “welfare” organizations that operate dog shelters with the slogan, “adopt, don’t shop.” In fact, the puppies they offer for “adoption” were bought from puppy farms. These dog shelters, far from being benevolent champions of dog welfare, are actually commercially-run businesses themselves which charge hefty “adoption” fees to make the adopters feel good that they are doing a good deed. These entities also run smooth public-relations campaigns that net them loads of money from well-meaning dog lovers’ generous donations.
Meanwhile, they vilify the conscientious breeders, who adhere to strict sets of rules in breeding limited numbers of litters, primarily to show dogs for evaluation of breeding stock. They offer well-bred, healthy puppies for sale. Responsible breeders spend large sums of money to acquire good breeding stock, provide good and clean quarters, buy the highest-quality dog foods, and get the very best veterinary care for their dogs with up-to-date vaccinations.
The disinformation that infests the internet about dog ownership is also to blame for this state of affairs. It’s high time we reverse the narrative with a well-planned public-relations campaign to counter the lies, highlighting the best practices of responsible breeders who belong to national kennel clubs and contrasting these with the above-mentioned modus operandi of the puppy farms-dog shelters cabal.
National governments have to be educated on these matters. The animal-rights activists have cornered the conversation with legislators. The national kennel clubs should gear up by establishing committees on dog legislation and ensuring that the lawmakers are given the correct information through ethical lobbying. Otherwise, there will be hell to pay for the true champions of dog welfare.
(Dr. LO is a purebred dog fancier for the past 52 years.)
Dr. Raymund W. Lo
Let’s talk about man’s/woman’s best friend, the dog. The human-dog relationship goes back hundreds of thousands of years. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. The dog gets food, shelter, and warmth from the campfire while humans benefit from the companionship, guarding, hunting, and herding abilities of the dogs. Human civilization couldn’t have evolved and progressed this much without the dog, and that’s even an understatement.
The dog’s genetic make-up is so malleable that we have been able, in just several generations, to selectively breed for particular physical and behavioral characteristics to further make the dog useful for particular purposes. Thus, we have various sizes, from tiny toys to massive mastiffs; different head and body shapes; various temperaments, from cuddly to fiercely protective; dogs with long tails and no tails, pricked or dropped ears, etc.
One thing should be clear. Dogs are now dependent on humans for their existence, having surrendered their independence for our fostering in exchange for their intimate role in human endeavors. There have been many examples of dogs defending their humans at the cost of their own lives. Yet we see many instances of humans mistreating dogs to the point of cruelty and/or extreme neglect. This isn’t living up to the pact we made with our best friends eons ago.
The first Federation Cynologique Internationale and Federacion Canofila Mexicana (FCI-FCM) World Congress on Welfare and Health for Dogs Worldwide, which was held in Mexico City from Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2022, tackled these concerns.
Among the topics discussed by distinguished speakers from across the world were responsible breeding (my topic in the congress), DNA testing for inheritable diseases of dogs, illegal puppy farming, stray dogs, and other health issues.
Due to the incessant and shrill demands of animal-rights activists, governments all over the world have enacted dog legislation to the point of banning specific breeds of dogs. This is a challenge to conscientious breeders who strive to breed healthy purebred dogs fit for their functions, whether it be policework, hauling loads through snow, rescue-drug- contraband detection, or just companionship, which is so vital in this day and age of alienation and loneliness.
Yet these activists and governments are missing the point. Responsible purebred dog breeders are not the enemy. They are actually allies in promoting dog health and welfare. The national kennel clubs where these breeders belong have rules and regulations on proper animal husbandry, follow strict guidelines on breeding healthy dogs, and hold conformation and sporting events to assess breeding stock for fitness or function.
The real enemies are the illegal puppy farms and backyard puppy mills that breed dogs indiscriminately in horrible conditions. These unscrupulous entities skimp on basic health requirements such as puppy vaccinations, proper nutrition, socializing, and good animal husbandry. The puppies produced in these farms are sent to pet shops to be sold to unsuspecting customers. Many become very sick from abysmal conditions and lack of basic care, and the buyers end up paying huge veterinary bills only to have their puppy die, truly a heartbreaking event. There are reports of these dogs coming down with rabies, thus posing public health risks for this deadly affliction.
Another facet of these puppy farms is the collusion with certain animal “welfare” organizations that operate dog shelters with the slogan, “adopt, don’t shop.” In fact, the puppies they offer for “adoption” were bought from puppy farms. These dog shelters, far from being benevolent champions of dog welfare, are actually commercially-run businesses themselves which charge hefty “adoption” fees to make the adopters feel good that they are doing a good deed. These entities also run smooth public-relations campaigns that net them loads of money from well-meaning dog lovers’ generous donations.
Meanwhile, they vilify the conscientious breeders, who adhere to strict sets of rules in breeding limited numbers of litters, primarily to show dogs for evaluation of breeding stock. They offer well-bred, healthy puppies for sale. Responsible breeders spend large sums of money to acquire good breeding stock, provide good and clean quarters, buy the highest-quality dog foods, and get the very best veterinary care for their dogs with up-to-date vaccinations.
The disinformation that infests the internet about dog ownership is also to blame for this state of affairs. It’s high time we reverse the narrative with a well-planned public-relations campaign to counter the lies, highlighting the best practices of responsible breeders who belong to national kennel clubs and contrasting these with the above-mentioned modus operandi of the puppy farms-dog shelters cabal.
National governments have to be educated on these matters. The animal-rights activists have cornered the conversation with legislators. The national kennel clubs should gear up by establishing committees on dog legislation and ensuring that the lawmakers are given the correct information through ethical lobbying. Otherwise, there will be hell to pay for the true champions of dog welfare.
(Dr. LO is a purebred dog fancier for the past 52 years.)