This will no doubt be a controversial blog today. Yep, that's right, I said it. I SUPPORT SMALL BREEDERS. Not all small breeders, there are small millers. I support just the good ones. I'm tired of people looking down at me and others who purchase our puppies. Yes I did my research, chose a breeder, purchased a puppy and care for that puppy with every ounce of care in me. She has been amazingly socialized, is in the process of being trained, is groomed regularly, taken to the vet, getting spayed next week, fed a real and nutritional diet and loved, very, very loved. So, shame on me? Am I a part of the problem of pet over population? NO.
The problem is the big breeders; large and small, the millers. I for one scoop all the mass production breeders into one big bag of millers. I don't care if they have the newest, most modern facility to breed their dogs; they are still millers to me. Mass production and distribution is the problem my friends. Those who treat dogs as a product instead of the wonderfully intelligent creatures that they are. Millers who care only for the bottom line, money. Millers don't have to have a huge facility, it can be right in their back yard. They just keep breeding and breeding and breeding. As long as the demand is there they will keep the supply flowing. Disgusting.
Another problem lies in those who just let it happen. They get a puppy, don't get it spayed and oops. Or maybe not an oops, perhaps they breed their dog on purpose. I've talked to many people who have dogs and they so badly want to breed their dog because it would be so cute to have puppies. Or they want a puppy from their wonderful dog. Worse still they want their children to experience the whole birth and puppy thing. Then they are left with a litter of puppies they don't know what to do with. The puppies get no socializing, no vet care. So they offer them up to anyone who wants one and the cycle continues.
The problem lies not with the amazing, caring breeders who have one or two litters a year. The breeders who have the litter in their home, socialize and temperament test their puppies. No they are not the problem. They check, double check and triple check a family before placing a puppy with them. Sometimes they reject a potential owner because they care and are concerned with their puppies future. A good breeder would never in a million years sell their puppy to a pet store and that is a non-debatable fact. If a breeder sends their puppies to a pet store then they are a miller and a part of the problem.
Greed - a selfish and excessive desire for more of something than is needed.
Greed is the core of the problem in the whole pet over population, at least with dogs. Greed is the core of almost everything gone wrong. Sadly it may be the whole undoing of it all. Breeders can turn bad quickly, they get a taste of the possibility of continuing money flow and they are hooked. Greed is the big problem. I know several breeders who started out good and then greed took over. It is pretty easy to evaluate a breeder if you just spend the time discussing puppies with them. You may have to visit their home if you have any doubts; of course a home visit is always a good plan.
I can pretty much tell a good breeder from a miller quickly. Care and concern if the first thing that is noticeably missing in a miller. They have a pushy "here take a puppy" attitude. Whereas a good small breeder holds their puppies close until they are sure you are deserving. I support those good ones and hope that someday they will be the only ones remaining. People may have to wait for a puppy but anticipation is a good thing.
With this statement of mine comes the obvious fact that I support rescue as well. I am a huge advocate of those who rescue and adopt and the tireless volunteers that do the rescuing. I will most definitely adopt a rescue down the road as well. But for now I will care for the two I have, giving them my utmost attention and love.