There Oughtta Be a Law

 
I agree there should be a test!
Same goes for people having children.
 
BUT.... what's wrong with grade stock??? Does an animal have to have fancy papers and come with a large price tag to be worthy? God's honest truth is that my $25 dogs have waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay outlasted any $800 papered pup I ever had.
 
My gelding could be registered as an Appendix, with the AGHA, or APHA but I won't do it. What's the point? Is it going to make him a better horse?

I agree that some people breed just to breed.  Thus causing too much, neglected animals and on and on.
 
But is government regulation the answer??
 
Hard to regulate common sense!

YESTERDAY (2 THINGS) A coworker gushed over breeding her little girl dog who, in fact, has papers.  "All the puppies are gone"  so you're going to quit now? "Well, I'm giving her a rest" (ugh) "and then I'll start all over!"  Sheesh, she has a good job, not like she needs the cash....  So, you're showing her?  "no"  So, you're a back-yard breeder.  "well, not exactly" 
It's extremely difficult for me to get excited about her breeding if she isn't trying to perfect the breed.
2nd thing, yesterday in our local paper. [] (graphic shelter story)
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/nov/03/3-animal-shelter-dogs-died-lack-care-and-feeding/
 This is our city shelter!!!! 

Dash mentioned the origin of the problem - which I will expand on.  Stupid uncaring people breed stupid uncaring children, which can grow up to be thoughtless, irresponsible, and promote cruelty in many areas including animal ownership. 
 
I prefer a registered QH only because if I should choose to breed my mare any foals will have greater value and hopefully find longterm good homes.  Now, I am talking about a performance point/money earning sire as well as well-chosen pedigree.  I don't have to have the current reigning world champ - I prefer consistant tried and true bloodlines with good conformation intended for a specific use.  I also don't believe in forcing a discipline on a horse that is better suited to something else.
 
I am not happy with the high end breeders for futurity and race horses breeding lots of mares each year and select a few prospects to compete for the big money.  Sadly, some of the selected fail as they are pushed beyond their mental/physical capabilities to meet 3 yo competitions.  But, many of the extras still have some worth and readily find homes with people who are competing in amateur, non pro or on the state or local levels.
 
A good horse is a good horse and that includes many grade horses, but the indescriminate backyard breeder that has ole Nelly, with pig eyes and steep shoulders, bred every year to a short necked, long backed, cow hocked, narrow chested $50 stud because he's a pretty color should be strung up.  They are the equivalent of puppy mills or people who don't neuter/spay dogs and cats.  They are breeding junk at the lowest end of the market and these horses more than others end up at auctions selling for less than the sale fee.  Too many don't sell and are abandoned at the auction facility.  Mostly, these are the horses (as well as an accumulation of the old, sick, injured, dangerous, or owner is now unable to keep) that make up the bulk of our unwanted horse problem. 
 
My point is to not breed junk or breed more than you can see into good places.  Deal with what we have, but why breed if there are better animals available already.  It makes no sense for someone to stand a stud that is inferior in quality to another person's gelding.  This thought goes for all types of animals.
 
 

[quote=DashMyBoy!]

BUT.... what's wrong with grade stock??? Does an animal have to have fancy papers and come with a large price tag to be worthy? God's honest truth is that my $25 dogs have waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay outlasted any $800 papered pup I ever had.

My gelding could be registered as an Appendix, with the AGHA, or APHA but I won't do it. What's the point? Is it going to make him a better horse?


Nope, nothing wrong with grade stock.  I've seen plenty of GOOD QUALITY dogs and horses without any registry papers.  But there are already so many of them that are going to the pound and going to slaughter, do we really need people like these 2 yahoos making more?  If they really want a litter of Great Dane puppies, yay for them.  Or a foal from their favorite mare that they intend to keep, that's their perogative. But they don't seem to know where to draw the line.  If one litter of puppies is good, then 10 more litters is even better!!  If one grade foal is cute, we should breed 20 more!  And sell them all for $75 each.
 
It is obvious from the quality and quantity of breeding going on in this instance they are just breeding anything on 4 legs to sell the babies and try to make a buck.  Which makes me sad because I know that the future of all these babies will probably be the shelter or the slaughter truck bound for Mexico. 
  
 
ETA: @ TAnya C97 - the comment about there oughtta be a law was my attempt at sarcasm, sorry if it didn't come across that way, LOL.  You are right, it is very hard to regulate common sense and unfortunately there are some individuals who are severely lacking [&:]  Even if there was a law, this is exactly the type of person who would ignore it anyway.
 

makayla- I got your sarcasm and agree. And that is my point in regulating common sense. 

I also agree that uncaring parents breed, uncaring kids, on and on.

People tend to look at the money and not the actual impact of their actions. 

Ok, I get your point. And I agree - the point of reproducing a species should be to improve that species. ( To bad the same can't be aplied to people)
 
But to throw some oil on the fire .... let's try to roughly define what "better the species" would mean. What might be better to me might be worse for you.
 
Can we agree that the number one improvement would be health? I was the tennant of a Golden Retriever breeder many years ago. Shirley only produced one litter every couple years, though she could have many  many more. Her goal was perfect personality. Goldens are beeeeutiful dogs, but many tended to be short on brains ( yes, thanks to poor breeding.) Anyway, her dogs and their selected mates all had hip checks of "excellent," had a heart test, and their eyes checked.  Those dogs that she kept to breed that failed were spade or nuetered, and kept as a pet. She used to claim that when you added up what she spent vs. what the pups sold for.... she felt lucky if she broke even.
 
But in a show ring, these dogs could be dumb as a post but disqualified for having a "happy tail" - meaning the tail curved toward the back a fraction too much. So I don't put a whole lot into show qualifications.
 
Isn't the goal to bring out the best in the individual species?
 
God knows I bred my mare to a stallion that I thought would compliment her. And when a farrier wants to trade you 4 horses ( one with a foal at her side) for your 3 y/o gelding.... makes me think I DID improve the species.
 
I am not defending puppy mills ...not one damn teeny tiny bit.I just don't see how making it a law would help. It's a law get get a rabies shot and a scary about of %$#@!# people don't even do that.
 

Just wanted to say that after I saw that poor dog on Beth's website, I actually went and filled OUR puppy's bowl!!  Good Lord...I'm going to have nightmares!

[quote=hunterseat]


2nd thing, yesterday in our local paper. [] (graphic shelter story)
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/nov/03/3-animal-shelter-dogs-died-lack-care-and-feeding/
This is our city shelter!!!! 


Hunter, that story is so unfortunate.  Shelters are supposed to prevent animals from dying of starvation and mistreatment not cause it.  The director of that shelter should be starved to death.

.... let's try to roughly define what "better the species" would mean.

I would define it as perfecting the breed standard.  Each breed has standards, including disposition.  Don't breed sub-standard animals.  Plenty of them needing homes as it is.

Exactly, Beth, Yes, that's it. But to me, when you "show" an animal like a dog or cat, it's 95 % appearance. What does that have to do with intelligence and breed specifics.... like border collies and herding, beagles and their bunny abilities and so on.
 
 

[quote=DashMyBoy!]
 when you "show" an animal like a dog or cat, it's 95 % appearance.
 
Sorta like a halter class?  That's what shows are for but they have to have good dispositions, too, to be successful at those kinds of shows.  I'd have to agree, it's about appearance overall.

What does that have to do with intelligence and breed specifics.... like border collies and herding, beagles and their bunny abilities and so on.

 
There are other shows for those things and mutts can excell at those things, too.  So get a mutt, but don't breed them.
 
I'm sorry, but puppy mills and backyard breeders just tick me off.  And I'm sort of in a ..... ticky mood right now.  I know your pets are spayed and neutered, Dash.  *smooch*

Yes.... like a halter class. And what have many people done to our beloved quarter horses? Made freakin' beef cows out of them. Bred them so husky, and their feet smaller to make em look even bigger. Result is tons of QH with assorted foot and hock problems. I am beginning to believe that the smaller the feet ( in relationship to body mass) the smaller the brain.  When Dash horse won his English halter class, a spectator was a little pissy, saying"but my wifes horse never moved a muscle!."   Dash quite frankly had far better confirmation, and was far more mature as a short 2 y/o than this other horse. Most importantly, the other horse DID stay rooted perfectly .... like a Western pony. Head level with the top of the gals head. Dash had his head up, was looking about. And the judge responded ( yeah!) "An English horse MUST be alert, intelligent, and forward moving. Even in halter class." Breed/class specific. But that sure doesn't mean he could walk,trot,canter, or go over fences.
 
To win in a halter class should be a event kind of thing I believe. How about :
1) Stage one - Halter and showmanship
2)walk trot/jog
3) breed specific  such as ( beginning level) barrels, figure eight patterns or such for western....
 
Ribbons to each class, but Grand champion over all must include halter.
 
I would LOVE it if every person who "owned" an animal had to apply for an owners permit - then sit through an entire weekend of education. Vaccinations, responsibilities, cost, feeding, spay and neuter importance ....

I bought my first german shepherd,( my others were adopted) from a friend who I thought I could trust and even asked about hips on mother and father. I was told no problem.  I went ahead and registered him AKC even though I had him neutered.  So at six months he is diagnosed with moderate hip dysplasia and his ears never came up they flop so he looks like the flying nun.  I love Samson with all my heart but his life will not be as great as I would like.  He's doing very well now and is on glucosimine and stuff like that.  But had the breeder been more responsible and checked out both parents this would not of happened.  But I am happy to report the person learned from this and is not breeding anymore.  So I have to say that if your going to breed be responsible there are too many unwanted animals out there.  Will I buy my next sherpherd, yes but this time I will do my homework.  I will also continue to rescue, my rottweiler/lab Bruno T. Willfart is doing wonderfully and is a great addition to our home.
PS: Dash I love your saying!!!!!