Has the AKC finally come to their senses? They support the PAWS statute?

[El Supremo]

But I still don't trust the AKC on this issue. They should be for the banning of puppy mills not for their regulation. But they just gotta have those registration fees.


AKC chief backs oversight of 'puppy mills'
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - The leader of the nation's largest animal-breeding registry joined animal-welfare groups Tuesday in urging Congress to expand federal regulation of so-called "puppy mills."
The American Kennel Club, which has opposed changes to the Animal Welfare Act in the past, decided "the time has come to bring under regulation high-volume breeders and brokers who sell at retail or who import puppies in volume for resale," said chairman Ronald Menaker, whose group registers nearly 1 million purebred dogs a year.

Read the rest here: http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/news/101654.php
Also here: http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2667

[Jane Austin]

1. This is a bad, bad, invasive bill which does almost nothing to

regulate puppy mills, but will have the USDA snooping in the homes of small breeders who are minding their own business.

AKC backs it because they have applied to be inspection agents, which is just another money-making project for them.

If Pennsylvania wants to regulate it's puppy mills, then Pennsylvania should pass legislation and keep Big Brother out of mine and my fellow Golden Retriever Club of America's homes.

[El Supremo]

2. I think that this definition of a small breeder...

is very generous.

The most recent additional provision and clarifying language to PAWS will ensure that you will be exempt if you:

* Sell not more than 25 dogs to the public, or
* Sell the dogs from six or fewer litters, or...

I want the big breeding farms put out of business. Dogs are not cattle!

[Jane Austin]

9. This law does nothing to limit the number of dogs bred by puppy mills.

Puppy mills are already regulated by the USDA.

All they have to do is file paperwork.

This bill puts the federal government, and contracted inspectors (AKC, PETA?) in my home.

I don't much like the idea that a FEDERAL bill is need to handle hobby or small business issues that are the provence of state and local governements.

Again, this bill does absolutely nothing to regulate or eliminate puppy mills, but does make a lot of money for AKC or anyone else that gets an inspection contract.

[bahrbearian]

12. You are right the County Animal control can handle this one.

[bahrbearian]

3. They will never come to their senses, until they recognize

a Great American Breed,the Rat Terrier.

[InvisibleTouch]

6. Don't feel bad...

...they don't recognize my breed either, and it's been around for thousands of years. Which may not be such a bad thing, in the end. I hear horror stories about the AKC dog shows, and I'm not sure that's a world I really want to be part of. We go to the IABCA shows (International All-Breed) - somewhat disorganized, but very welcoming.

[bahrbearian]

7. Ukc, Nadac, anything is better , Akc people are really full of ..

them selfs, and it shows it with the breeds they like to promote, they are not out to promote a breed attributes. only the breeds potential $$$$.

[Jane Austin]

10. UKC opposed this bill. n/t

[bahrbearian]

11. Opps, I didn't know ,,I must reevaluate, thanks, damn UKC

[mopinko]

14. nah, open bloodlines are the way to go.

they would have rats turned into beauty queens the way poodles were. and every other popular dog. leave my rats alone. i like them the way they are.
(i have 3.)

[bahrbearian]

19. I have 4 Rats and I love them for their faults,

Molly Bahrbearian (pictured above, came from a farm in Bly Oregon with no Pedigree) she became an UKC Grand Champion ranked #10 in the nationals after showing in only 1/2 the regional shows and only 2 out of state shows, she was disqualified from a couple of shows for nipping and biting at the Judges, she did very well in agility trials though becoming a champion a 8 years of age in 6 trials. Three runs with the fastest time no faults. One of her first runs she was disqualified because I ran with her leash in my pocket.

[mopinko]

22. that is so awesome, mine

keep the squirrels out of the garden. lol
i hope they know how lucky they are.

[bahrbearian]

4. Many back yard breeders ,end up being Puppy Mills.

Dogs Need Good Homes' I thats why I quit Breeding , People lie to you, tell you what you want to hear. I got very turned of after having to find new homes for my babies, that fellow breeders placed in homes for me, they wanted the $$. Thats why I support Paws, but not the AKC.

[Wilms]

5. How many dogs are destroyed every day?

Is a pure-bred or a mutt more likely to make a great companion?

I don't understand dog-breeding any more than I understand that fundy couple with 16 kids.

[bahrbearian]

8. Mutts make the best companion, Pure Breeds make the most $$

[mopinko]

15. it's not about companionship

it's about breeding a dog to do a job. companion is a job, but hunting, retrieving, catching vermin, etc, are very different things.
a pure bred dog is a work of art. lots of people are happy to have museum posters on their walls, but someone has to paint those paintings in the first place.
i have a large and complicated household. i need the predictability of a dog like a boxer, a great companion, a steadfast but not overly aggressive protector, and tolerant with kids and other pets. i need my terriers to chase the mice, but not harass the parrots. if i was a duck hunter, i would need a dog that will chase down a duck, but not mangle it. unfortunately, it is more about the beauty contest for most people.

[Wilms]

18. Well, you just described my dogs attributes.

And he's a mutt.

And there are tons of people buying pure-breds for none of the reasons you mention.

How many Dalmatians are selected by families with kids after a Disney movie comes out??? And Chihuahuas after a Taco-Bell commercial campaign?

And how many of those dogs wind up at a pound? That's why I don't like breeding dogs.

What percent of bred dogs are selected for such unique attributes that can't be found in a mutt? I think very few.

[bahrbearian]

20. You are so right, people go with the fad,,

Pet can't afford that luxury.

[mopinko]

23. bah never mind

never mind

[LeftyMom]

13. If breeders gave a shit

They wouldn't be breeding while good dogs die for lack of homes. :grr:

[mopinko]

16. i appreciate your sentiment, but by that time, breeds would be

lost for good. for the good breeders, it is not about money. few make any. it is about the constant improvement, and the protection of thousands of years of selective breeding. without careful breeding, within a few generations, there would be nothing but mutts. that would be a loss to humanity every bit as much as the last tiger. maybe even more so, since we share our lives, homes and work with dogs.
it is not the responsible purebred breeders who are to blame. it is puppy mills, and careless pet owners.

[LeftyMom]

17. I'd rather lose some breed distinctions than many dogs

Especially since many breeds were bred for functions that have little to no use in modern society and are kept more as curiosities than for any inherent function. We can always breed for those traits again once we have a stable and sustainable pet population.

[bahrbearian]

21. That is true , we will lose some breeds .. that were breed when we

were an agrarian culture., but we have digressed from normal breeding needs.