Breeding facility?



First let me say that this blog has nothing to do with rescuing dogs.  If you rescued your dogs; then I say wonderful.  Rescuing a dog and sharing your life with them is amazing.  But would you rescue a dog and put her in a kennel to live?  Doubtful.  If you purchase a dog from a miller or facility breeder, you are not rescuing a dog.  You are putting money into the hand of someone who continues to pump out dogs.  This is about purchasing a puppy, and where not to.

A breeding facility, what does that bring to mind?  Herds and livestock, not dogs. 

Facility - Something designed, built, installed, etc. to serve a specific function affording a convenience or service.  Something that permits the easier performance of an action.

The term breeding facility is a way of distancing oneself from the title - Puppy Miller.  These so called "facilities" are a huge part of the reason why shelters and rescues are being filled up, just like the puppy millers.  Oh yes, they may be clean and fancy but they are pumping out puppies and selling them to anyone who has the money to buy their goods.  Think assembly line. 

PLEASE - do not buy dogs from people who do not have their dogs living in their home as family members.  Puppies should be born and raised in a home, not a kennel or facility. 

Breeding dogs should be a family affair; not something that is done by mass.  When a breeder has a couple of dogs who are all health and temperament tested then one or two litters a year is what should be expected.  As soon as it is done 'facility' style, things go big and it becomes more about how many than how good.  It goes without saying that the more dogs you have the more work needs to be done.  Well, if you get too many dogs that you see the need to kennel them all?  Have a breeding facility?  You've crossed the ethical line into mass producer.

Dogs are not large animals like cows or horses that need to be stabled in a separate barn.  Dogs deserve to be in a home and not used solely as breed stock.  Living in a kennel is no life for a dog; add to that many are bred and raise their puppies in a kennel environment, sad.  First and foremost a dog should be a companion.  If they turn out structurally sound, health tested clear and mentally sound then breeding may be a good idea.  But that does not mean that all of a sudden they become livestock.

Many wonderful breeders that I know have puppies in their living room, bedroom or kitchen.  The puppies have around the clock attention and are given every chance in life to thrive.  Having puppies in your home as part of the family is how it should be done.  Doing it on a bigger scale only means selling more puppies.  Greed often gets in the way of compassion and doing what is right.  What happens then is the mass producer becomes less strict about who can buy a puppy.  Soon they have so many puppies that anyone with enough money can have one.  They don't see a problem, it's all working out for them financially.  But is it right?  No.  Not in my opinion.

Now before you all get in a flap, read the blog.  I am talking about giving your money to someone who mass produces puppies vs. someone who does it right.  Many really great breeders only have a litter or two a year; some only have a litter every couple of years.   Typically they have a waiting list and many puppies are sold before they are even born.  Consider those kenneled dogs at night, when they go to sleep; they are not snuggled up to their human or their canine companion, no they are snuggled up to a block wall or chain link.  They are penned in their housing; there for a money making endeavor.   Their lives are not shared with the humans in their life.  They may have fleeting times when they are out running around but they are not true companions as every dog deserves to be.

I do not breed dogs and I have no intention of ever breeding dogs.  But I know that if I did, there would be a pile of puppies in my living room; not out back in a 'dog facility.'  They would be sharing my life as I share theirs, together.

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1 comment:

  1. Sherri, thanks for writing that. You are completely right and well done for highlighting this increasing practice.

    ReplyDelete

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