Some follow up on the Pedigree business from yesterday!

Here is some information on a study completed by the Royal Society for Protection of Animals.

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=pedigreedogs 

http://www.verrere.org.uk/RSPCA%20report%20critique1.pdf

An article on inbreeding. 

http://www.physorg.com/news138025054.html

Some info on Sringohydromyelia that happens in King Charles Cavalier Spaniels.

http://www.jaaha.org/cgi/content/abstract/36/1/34

Apparently the “ridge” for which the Rhodesian Ridgeback gets it’s name poses major health issues, and puppies born without it are immediately culled even if healthy, because they don’t fit the breed profile.  It has been prove that the puppies with the ridge that is so sought after are sickly and prone to pin hole like lesions on their skin which allow infection to get to their spin or brains.  The puppies without the ridge are the more heartier of the breed! 

http://www.rhodesianridgebackhealth.org/resources/ridgegenetics.html

While I understand that we have to have standards because we can’t have people going of half-assed or half-cocked breeding left, right and centre, but really should the standard, cosmetics and or looks weigh heavier in the show ring than HEALTH!?????  The winner of Crufts in 2003 Yakee a Dangerous Liason a Pekingese was immediately rushed from the winning circle to sit on an ice pack to cool him down because the threat of him overheating from running around the ring under the lights with that fur was imminent! 

I can’t say I love my dog more or less for him being the breed he is.  To me he is the opposite of what Cesar Milan tries to tell me.  He is Brody, he is a dog, he is a Yellow Lab….  Cesar wants me to see him as dog, breed, individual.  However I feel that is where we go wrong.  When we don’t see them as individuals they become object, of prestige, power and money and are used at all costs to gain each…..  When we see them as living, breathing creature with beating hearts and searching else who feel pain how can you not stop and think that what we are doing to them in the name of perfecting a breed is WRONG!

So watch out for tomorrow when I start talking about my disdain for breastfeeding Mothers!  ARRRRG!