Von der Tierarztin Health Articles

Prevent Puppy Mills & Backyard Breeding...Practice Juvenile Spay/Neuter!

by: Dr Cathy Priddle DVM

With all the publicity surrounding puppy mills and the fate of those poor dogs living in such terrible surroundings I am ever increasingly alarmed at the number of purebred dog breeders who still do not make use of juvenile spay/neuter programs.

I breed and show both Rottweilers and Pugs and, being an International Canine Genetics affiliated veterinarian, I have a significant number of purebreed breeder clients in my veterinary practice. I have been performing juvenile spays and neuters on puppies of many breeds (Shih Tzu, Toy Poodles, Boxers, Papillions, Labrador Retrievers, Alaskan Malamutes, Soft Coated Wheaton Terriers... just to name a few) since 1992 and have not experienced
any special problems, either intra or post operatively.

The larger breeds (Rottweilers, Labs, Boxers, etc) I spay/neuter at 7 weeks of age, allowing the puppies to be released to their new homes at 8 weeks of age. These surgeries are performed in the clinic during morning surgical hours (8am-10am) and the puppies are released shortly after lunchtime. This is *before* my regular surgeries (6 months and older) are released! The puppies recover from the anesthesia very quickly and are often wrestling with each other in their crates within the hour... The smaller breeds (Pugs, Shih Tzu, Paps, etc) I spay/neuter at 10-12 weeks of age, depending upon their individual weight(s). Again, the recovery is quick, healing is
rapid and we have had no problems.

Every single breeder who has been placing pet quality puppies *knows*, as well as I do, that some puppy purchasers will go on to breed their dog(s) regardless of the fact that they have been placed on limited registration (AKC), a non breeding agreement (CKC) and/or spay or neuter is required as a part of your sales contract. It happened to me in 1991 and although I tried very hard to get the poor bitch back (a Rottweiler puppy who had been bred at 14 months of age) she was in the USA and my lawyer didn't have much
recourse. The fact that they had signed my contract and she had been sold on a non breeding agreement didn't take away from the fact that the new owners were able to sell these "purebred no papers" Rottweiler puppies for $400.00-$500.00 each. Who knows how many times this poor bitch had to go through pregnancy and labour? Do any of us really think the owner had bothered to check her hips/elbows/eyes/heart/etc and that of the male used to produce these puppies? Was I bamboozled? YES! Will this ever happen again to one of my dogs? NOT ON YOUR LIFE!!

I also have a clause in my stud dog contract that any pet quality puppies going to new homes *must* be spayed or neutered prior to release to the new purchaser. This has 'scared off' many bitch owners enquiring about using my dog for breeding... I have even had a veterinarian out east who refused to do the surgeries for a bitch owner who wanted to breed to my dog (!!!). ButI stand firm... I plan these litters, I bring these puppies into this world and I make damn sure that none of them end up as part of a puppy mill or backyard breeder scenario... It is the least we can do for our dogs.

(If any of you would like me to speak with your personal veterinian re:
surgical/anesthetic protocol, etc please feel free to pass on both my email address: Tierarztin@capdvm.com and/or my clinic phone number (705) 869-5860. I would love to be of any assistance!)

The Back Yard Breeder (from www.nopuppymillscanada.ca)

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.

What are puppy mills? (from www.cfhs.ca)

A puppy mill is a commercial breeding facility that mass-produces puppies for sale usually in overcrowded, dirty and inhumane conditions. The objective is to produce as many puppies as possible with minimal cost or effort, rather like cash crops. With little or no attention to selective breeding, genetic disorders and other problems are common.

Breeding bitches:

The breeding females, called bitches, are generally bred on every heat until their production rate declines and then they are killed, usually at 6-7 years of age. During this miserable time, they are usually kept in cages with little or no opportunity for exercise, comfort or social interaction with people or other dogs except their puppies. Frequently the cages are stacked on top of each other with excrement from the upper levels falling through the wire mesh on to the animals below.

What about the puppies?

At least the puppies have a chance at a better life than their mothers when they are sold into the pet trade. Some, unfortunately, must first endure long journeys across North America in trucks crowded with many other puppies on their way to a pet store. At only a few months old and sometimes without any vaccinations, many puppies are sick by the time they reach their destination.

In addition to the high incidence of physical problems, many of these
puppies lack any social or psychological stability. Living in a cage for the first eight weeks of their lives, with little human contact can cause severe behavioural problems. They may be fearful, aggressive and depressed. A puppy that has lived only in a wire cage may be afraid and unable to walk on a solid floor.

The early stages of a puppy's life are crucial in laying the foundation for his future interactions with people and with other dogs. Some puppies never fully recover from the fear and stress of the cage environment, the travelling and the lack of human companionship.

Please help to PREVENT backyard breeding & puppy mills... PRACTICE juvenile spay/neuter!