On 5 Sep 2005 20:43:51 -0700 jason@smkzone.com  whittled   
   these words:   
      
   > 1) I come from a family of dog lovers, and many of my friends are as   
   > well...  in fact, most of them sing the praises of mixed breed dogs and   
   > are known for taking in new dogs whenever they get the chance.  I would   
   > NOT even THINK about this if I was not sure that each and every puppy   
   > produced would find a loving home.   
      
   Most of the dogs being killed in shelters HAD homes.  Finding homes for   
   puppies is much less a problem than the puppy KEEPING the home.  You have   
   to have the willingness and the ability to stand behind these words and   
   actually take responsibilty for these lives you create.  Merely thinking   
   you are going to find good homes is a far different thing than honestly   
   committing to the safety and well being of the dogs you created.  That   
   means not just placing a puppy and thinking you done good.  It means   
   keeping in touch regularly to PREVENT problems that will cause the dog to   
   be dumped.  And it means being both willing and finanacially able to take   
   in that18 month old dog rather than see it dumped in a shelter.   
      
   > 2)I love animals.  I also have 3 cats!  I would willingly go to the   
   > humane society or to a reputable breeder if I had the funds to do so.   
   > Unfortunately, at the moment, I can afford to feed  and care for   
   > another dog, but not to BUY one.  Bowser rarely gets to interact with   
   > other dogs, and needs a canine companion.   
      
   Instead of obtaining a dog take your dog out and meet up with others for   
   play sessions.  It is cheaper and healthier.   
      
   If you can't afford to BUY a dog you darned sure can't afford to BREED   
   one.  Who is going to pay for the brucellosis testing?  What happens if   
   your dog becomes infected from the bitch, what happens if your dog   
   infects the bitch.  It CAN be present from birth. Who is going to   
   pay for the vet bills for pre-natal checks.  Have you looked at the costs   
   of a C-section which is VERY common in the breed?  And if the bitch dies -   
   who picks up the costs of hand raising the puppies.  When the eight or ten   
   puppies are born who is going to pay the innoculation costs?   
      
   > So, you see, I'm not being selfish or uncaring here.  I am actually   
   > thinking more for him than myself!   
      
   You might possibly be thinking in some small way about your dog, but you   
   aren't at all thinking clearly about the other puppies. If all you want is   
   a cheap companion for your dog there are many smarter and cheaper ways to   
   do that then creating 8 to 10 new lives for you to take responsibility   
   for.   
      
   You really need to get a look at that pile of dead dogs at your local   
   animal shelter.  Do you really think the people that created them thought   
   they would end up there? Of course not.  They were mostly created by   
   people just like you, who have some fantasy notion about puppies going to   
   terrific new homes and living long and happy lives.  Sorry, to protect   
   the lives of the puppies you create will take lots of time, and yes, a   
   fair bit of money.   
      
   There is a reason we kill millions of dogs every year. It is time you got   
   more honestly acquainted with why that is.  Before you breed your dog   
   commit yourself to volunteering at your local shelter.   
      
   --   
   Diane Blackman   
      
            There is no moral victory in proclaiming to abhor violence   
            while preaching with violent words.   
      
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