Linda D

Has anyone seen/heard anything positive about rescue or shelter adoptions since this whole thing blew up? Do you think this incident will set back the efforts of rescue and shelter volunteers? Will it have any long-term effects on the cause of dog rescue? Do you think that millions of people will now NOT consider adoption?

Even if a dog is always leashed, or always in the backyard, accidents do happen (fence jumpers, dog somehow gets loose, a friend brings over their intact male while your female is in heat...) and dogs get pregnant unintentionally.

I'm being serious here. Do people in general know that millions of perfectly healthy, lovable dogs (including purebreeds) are killed each year in shelters? Do they choose to not spay/neuter in spite of this fact? Or even worse, do they choose breed their pet quality dogs and just ignore the problem?

Is it just the people that work with these animals that know the horrible facts and try to help alleviate the situation?

These pictures are specific to Boston Terriers, but very interesting and informative.

WARNING: Not for the squeamish

http://www.boston-terriers.com/csection.htm

Some people are insulted by the terms "back yard breeder" and "puppy mill." What terms should be used to differentiate breeders who do any and/or all of the following:

1) Breed for profit

2) Breed just to get cute puppies

3) Breed stock that hasn't proven its conformation to the breed standard in the show ring

4) Don't test their stock for genetic flaws

4) Keep their breeding stock in cages for their whole lives

5) Have multiple litters all at the same time

6) Look for homes after the pups are born

7) Sell their dog to anyone who shows up with the money

from the breeders who:

1) Breed only to improve the breed

2) Prove conformation to the breed standard in the show ring

3) Test all of their stock for gentic flaws, so not to pass them on to future generations

4) Adore each of their animals as pets who live inside the home

5) Take responsibility for EVERY puppy they produce, for the lifetime of that puppy. That means taking the dog back if the new owner cannot keep it for some reason

Or they think that illegals are just lazy and don't want to go through the proper channels? Whether they snuck over the border or overstayed a visa, most people that are here illegally would love to become legal residents. There's simply no way for a "regular Joe" to do that. Unless you have tons of money, exceptional talent or skill, or marry a US citizen, one simply can not live and work legally in the US (the exception being the green card lottery) under the current laws.