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Post by julieh on Nov 14, 2011 0:44:46 GMT 1
I have just been browsing the Scruples Facebook page and felt a little uneasy at some of the comments regarding people aquiring their whippets via breeders when they could take a rescue dog. While its a sentiment that I understand up to a point, I think we should also applaud those responsible caring breeders out there who adore their whippets as much as we do and promote this very special breed of dog in nothing but positive ways. I have 2 whippet boys who came from brilliant breeders. At the time I got them there was no Scruples and JR Whippet rescue had no rescues available. Admittedly, there are the bad breeders out there but without the good ones our breed would die out. I believe that the majority of rescues of most breeds still come from irresponsible owners not breeders who allow their dogs or bitches to remain entire then offer pups free to good homes (in fact any homes) I would like to think that as a like minded group of people we could embrace all whippet lovers and work hand in hand for the good of the breed. By the way, I would have chewed my right arm off to have been able to take NABOO but some times a rescue is not possible.
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jane
Full Member
Posts: 112
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Post by jane on Nov 14, 2011 13:54:45 GMT 1
Hi Julieh
My first whippet came from a good breeder too and my second was a rescue and of course many breeders are caring and responsible. But I think when you start to look at the situation from a rescue point of view it is shocking how many dogs daily are abandoned/given up/neglected and abused and how many hundreds of thousands of young and healthy dogs are being euthanased every year - a problem that will only increase as the recession deepens - and with more and more puppies being bred this throwaway commodification of dogs continues.
Another concern is that even many "good" breeders i.e. recognised by the kennel club, do not give their dogs the kind of free and natural life that every dog deserves. Their dogs too often are crated for long periods, not given the chance to be affectionate companion dogs in the home and not allowed enough regular exercise and free running - what a whippet certainly is born to do.
There are so many wonderful dogs in rescue who just need a chance of a loving home and I would hope that people in search of a dog think first of adopting one of these. And from personal experience I can say there is something extra special about the devotion offered by a rescue dog to the people who have taken him or her in. But as you say, of course we need our humane, small-scale breeders too. There's room for everyone in the whippet-loving tent!
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Post by rachelhayball on Nov 15, 2011 1:06:30 GMT 1
Hello
Scruples has no problems with genuine caring good whippet breeders. We have a problem with puppy farmers.
In fact some of our biggest supporters, volunteers and friends are whippet breeders, and we work with them on a regular basis.
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jojo
New Member
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Post by jojo on Nov 19, 2011 16:51:15 GMT 1
I have a big concern at the amount of people who "trade" dogs in general not whippies but lurcher type dogs on these facebook pages. For me a dog is for life, like a child , not something to be traded or sold on for profit- where have peoples morals gone!
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Post by julieh on Nov 20, 2011 1:47:50 GMT 1
I don't know of any right minded person who doesn't deplore the trafficking of animals of any kind, it should have no place in a civilised society, you would have no argument from me on that score.
However, I believe that by putting a blanket over all breeders you are at risk of alienating the very people who are best placed to expose such people. As Rachel mentions above, some of their biggest supporters are indeed very responsible breeders.
To term puppy farming pedallers as breeders is a travesty but with the right help and education much could be done to squeeze them out.
My opinions are born of 15 years 7 days a week work with an animal rescue charity. Without the help of these “responsible breeders” our work would have been so much more difficult, I may have been out of it for many years now but am reliably informed that this situation still remains.
I'm sure that on this site I have seen Trish Gilfeather mentioned, I've met Trish and a more caring person more devoted to her dogs you could never meet. I recall she was planning a litter for later this year, no doubt its so that she can keep one for herself but who is to say she shouldn’t sell the remainder of the litter. Rearing a litter of pups properly is expensive in itself, let alone the veterinary care of the bitch.
I have no wish to upset anyone, its a contentious issue with so much emotion attached by people but I do believe that its wrong to disrespect those excellent breeders who invest so much love and care into their litters.
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