You know I like you Slap, right? I've thought about you a lot since you've gone missing. That said I have a few things that you may need to think about if you are going to subscribe to your new views.
-I can't remember anywhere on this forum where it was said that all breeders are monsters. I know that I have stated again and again that they aren't but what they do is morally reprehensible most of the time.
Do these "good" breeders
-spay/neuter all unshowable culls?
-sell at shows?
-only breed when they have a waiting list of homes for the animals they cannot/will not keep?
-do genetic testing on all their animals before breeding?
-have pedigrees for all breeding animals that go back at least 7 generations and have full knowledge of the animals in that line's health and longevity?
-breed any varieties know for having inherent genetic disorders directly related to their specific breed (satins, teddies, skinnies...)
-screen all homes thoroughly before placing/selling an animal to it and checking up on the conditions occasionally?
-Do they know where all of the animals they have produced are?
-do they donate heavily to rescues/shelters and do their part to actively rescue (without mixing their breeding with rescue work)?
-do they speak out about animal overpopulation to get people to adopt over buy?
-do they boycott petstores and encourage others to do the same?
-do they turn in fellow "enthusiasts" that are being unkind/neglectful to their animals?
There are a lot of requirements to being a "good", "responsible" breeder. So far, with Guinea Pigs, I have never come across a breeder that fits all of the requirements they need to make to their animals. I have seen beautiful caviaries run by loving and care responsible people but they fall far short of truly being responsible when it comes to rehoming/selling animals. I have seen the "good" breeders rubbing elbows with abusive/neglectful breeders and never saying a word to ANYONE about the terrible conditions they know exist. In short, no matter how lovely they are or how wonderfully they care for their animals--and I fully expect they should be wonderful and caring so they get no congrats from me for doing what they are supposed to do--they still do not do enough to earn any respect from me.  |