Blog The Change: Look What We're Doing!

Has healthy dog become an oxymoron? Why are so many of our dogs suffering from inherited disorders? And what is our role in all this?

Most diseases are affected to some extent by both genes and the environment. A genetic disorder is one in which an abnormality in the genetic make-up of the individual plays a significant role in causing the condition.

(source: Canine Inherited Disorders Database)

Like it or not, we are responsible for both - the environment and the bad genes!

While on one hand the  advances in veterinary medicine offer more and more tools to battle disease, our dogs seem to be getting sicker.

What is wrong with this picture? And what can we do about it?

The problem is in our priorities!

Let's start with the problem of breeding practices.

One of human biggest problems is greed. 

We are quite willing to exploit anything and everything for easy money. This actually has to do with both environment and genetics.

And on the day when greed and breeding came together under one roof, man created puppy mills.

Frankly, I find it mind boggling that puppy mills have survived to this day! There is no gray area here, there is no room for confusion—it is just plain wrong. It is exploitation at its worst. How is it possible that this is allowed to keep happening?

These are not good intentions gone wrong, these are not products of ignorance, this is just plain and pure greed with no regard and no remorse.

If you have seen the movie The Matrix, I'm sure you were appalled at they way the machines were farming human beings.

“Human beings are no longer born, we are grown.”

Well, I believe that puppy mills are worse than that!

Why? Those humans were at least provided with optimal biological conditions and nutrition. In their minds they could live out their lives any way they wanted. That is more than the puppy mills can say for themselves!

Puppy mills are the worst case scenario from both genetic and environmental perspective.

Of course those are just some particular individuals who are running those mills, right? We didn't do it, they did, right?

But what are we doing to stop it?

"He who does not punish evil, commands it to be done." 
—Leonardo da Vinci

There is just one thing puppy mills remind me of ...

Image from Quality Information Publishers, Inc.

We need to open our eyes and see. We need to speak up on behalf of those who cannot speak up for themselves.

Wow, would you believe that I originally planned on writing about something else all together? But this is one of those things that needed to be said (again) until no puppy mill is left in the world.

Stay tuned for more articles on breeding and dog health.

To read more about puppy mills check out these articles or just Google it:
Puppy Mill Dogs (and Puppies) and their Health Problems
Puppy Mills: What Can We Do to Stop Them?
Dog Health Problems: My Puppy Mill Plea
Blood Pup: The New Term For a Pet Store Puppy?
A New Way to Close Puppy Mills!

Jana