Would you buy from a breeder if there were no rescues?

[MCR_Rox]

It must be very hard to be a euthanasia technician. I would never be able to handle it without seeing a psychiatrist.

[Alusdra]

There are some really really depressing video documentaries about it. They have been posted to YouTube.
*WARNING* Sad and graphic- Part 1 requires you to have a YouTube account so they can check your age
Part 1
Part 2
Every time I watch it I can't help crying. It's very true, and there is no way to avoid it most times in an understaffed and poorly funded facility where the community just doesn't care. It takes a lot of volunteers to get an operation to be low- or no-kill. The frustration is really hard to deal with.

[crazywiggy]

I don't think all breeders would breed more if demand increased - in my opinion this comes down to being responsible and breeding for the right reasons. BYBs and mills are always out for profit of course.

But not all breeders are evil, money-grabbing animal abusers. Even now, when sadly most breeders are BYBs, there are still a small few who stick to their ethics and breed for health not profit. Even with some of the most popular dog breeds which are in huge demand, there are a few breeders who still only breed occassionally, and only from the best adults.

I would like to see laws changed to protect animals from abuse and overpopulation: for example:

1) All adult dogs must be neutered unless they are certified as suitable for breeding. To get this certificate they must be health tested for everything possible, vet checked, and temperament/training tested.

2) All breeders must be licenced (NOT the crap way they are now). They should have to complete a detailed course (covering breeding and genetics, raising litters, health, welfare, behaviour and training, care etc) and pass an exam in order to get a licence. They should also be home checked at least every year, be required to follow strict guidelines etc.

3) Breeders should all be limited to a certain number of litters per year. Every year, the authorities should assess the number of animals being rehomed and change the maximum litter number to suit. So if overpopulation started to reoccur they could reduce the number of litters born until the population stabilised again.

I know it is wishful thinking but it is possible and I think it could work. Guess I will just have to keep up the campaigning!

[MCR_Rox]

I saw that video before and cried. I cannot watch it again.

[mommyoffive]

Originally Posted by landhermie

It must be very hard to be a euthanasia technician. I would never be able to handle it without seeing a psychiatrist.

We had a lecture about euthansia 2 days ago. EVERY single person in the class was crying, hell even the guys were. I know i'll have to face it soon, but i'm seriosly not ready. I think this is going to be the horrible part of being an RVT.

[Alusdra]

As a RVT hopefully you will only have to euthanize animals that really need to go for health reasons. It's still really hard, but at least you know that it's for the best of the animal, versus being for convenience.

And I love your solution crazywiggy! Except that I wouldn't trust politicians to calculate litters. Too much campaigning pressure by breeders and little to none from poor rescues. So I would say put the HSUS or similar in charge.

[Char-x]

I haven't read all the posts in here so sorry if I am repeating anyone, it's nearly 2am here Lol I'll have a read tomorrow, just wanted to get my oppinion down .

Firstly I think that no-one should buy from breeders , there are perfectly healthy and non-abused animals in most rescues. I'm not saying I have never brought from breeders though - because I have got animals from breeders with the family when I was too young to do anything about it, in one case even I ended up with a diabetic Guinea Pig - the genetic diabetes too, when I let my mum talk me into NOT driving about 20 miles to a rescue and buying from a breeder, IMO not all breeders are trustworthy it would seem. Don't get me wrong all the animals we have got from breeders, I don't regret because obviously I got some incredible animals I wouldnt change for the world. BUT in the future because I am now old enough, and the way I have prooved myself when it comes to animals and my seriousness in their rights has blown my mum away and she lisens to me very seriously now and doesnt try to talk me round anymore, we will be getting animals from rescues, infact we rescued our last two guinea pigs from seperate sorry states.

My ideal world when it comes to all this would be:

Breeding was banned, finished, done, end of. (Obviously the breeding programmes of nearly extinct animals would not be). It would NOT be allowed to happen and there would be harsh laws and punishments for it, until all rescues were empty...completely. In my ideal world there would also be a need for a licence with ANY pet you decide to purchase. To achieve this license you would need to literally apply to people who are for animals, not for the profit and you would have regular checks. Breeders would also be VERY limited and they too would need a strict license that ment they could only breed so many times per year or whateve and for x or y reasons. If anyone wanted to "give up" their pet they obviously could - afterall if they couldnt they would just set them free, and then if someone "applies" for an animal that fits that the category of the one which has been given up, they will be offered that one BEFORE even being allowed a baby.

I hope that makes sense, I'm confusing myself actually. *Goes to bed*