The Dark Side of Designer Dogs

With man’s best friend enjoying the current surge of dog popularity, it seems that everyone wants to be in on the act. Celebrities have dogs, politicians have dogs, college students and their professors have dogs. Big, burly men walk Toy Poodles, while pretty girls strut their stuff with Pitt Bulls at their sides. Dogs join their owners at outdoor cafes, and pampered pooches go along on shopping trips, ensconced in elaborate (and expensive) carriers designed for this purpose. The dog world has become a topsy-turvy place. New breeds, questionable registries, and the entrepreneurial spirit have combined to make buying a dog a complicated affair. Do your homework, and hold on to your wallet. You might not be getting what you expect.

DESIGNER DOGS

Designer dogs have become the rage. These new breeds are usually a cross between two standard breeds. Labradoodles, Poo Tzus, Teddy Bears, Pomapoos, Yorkipoos…the list goes on and on. The cute catchy names alone are endearing. Combine the name with a cute little furball, and you’ve got a winner, right? Maybe not. When two breeds are crossed, the result is not guaranteed. The rules of genetics tell us that some offspring will have dominant traits, and others will manifest recessive traits. A good breeder understands how genetics can affect future generations. But amateur breeders often lack the credentials and background needed to ensure healthy offspring. Many lack interest or concern in these areas, preferring to go for the quick cash while popularity drives demand. Breeding a nonshedding dog to a shedding dog does not guarantee a nonshedding animal. Crossing breeds that have similar health problems almost promises offspring who will manifest those problems. So here’s the secret you need to remember: designer dogs are really mutts.

BREED REGISTRIES

If you are looking for a purebred dog with papers, make sure you know which group issued the papers on your prospective pooch. For over 100 years, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has established and maintained the criteria for breed standards in the United States. There are other registries, too, but it is very important to understand what is required for registration. For a $12.00 fee, anyone can register their dog with the Continental Kennel Club (CKC). If you have a witness who will attest that your dog is purebred, then CKC will register it as purebred. And they will provide litter registration for all litters, no questions asked. (Is is just me, or is there an eerie resemblance here to the AKC web site?) It is the buyer’s responsibility to know what registration papers really mean. Just because a puppy is registered does not mean that it is a purebred dog, or even that the breed is recognized as anything more than a “mixed breed”. Do your homework. Don’t pay extra money for something unless you understand what you are paying for.

CHA-CHING!

For some entrepreneurial types, jumping on the dog popularity trend has been very profitable. Take two standard breed dogs, hook them up, then slap a ridiculous price tag on their offspring while touting all the best characteristics of both breeds, advertise on one of the many free internet sites, and watch the cash come rolling in. Over the past 10 months, the prices of these dogs on Kijiji.com have continually increased. Dogs that cost $300-$400 last year, are now listed at $500 and up. Small mixed breed dogs are blatantly advertised with made up names at prices over $800. Because posting an ad to these free sites requires only an email address, it is a simple matter for puppy mills to change the contact info from one litter to the next. It’s no wonder that the same photos get recycled into new ads at different times.

WHAT NOW?

Mutts can make great pets, and it is possible for a purebred dog to fall short of the mark. Hybrids can and do become recognized breeds after meeting specific criteria. Many breeders are knowledgeable, reputable people who take great care and pride in their work. Still, if you are in the market for a new four-legged companion, a little research ahead of time can save a lot of heartache and vet bills later. Know the breeder and ask for references. See the puppy where it was raised, and ask to see the parents, too. If pedigree is not the important thing in your selection, then check the local animal shelters and consider rescuing an animal. Designer dogs are showing up at shelters in record numbers. And exercise great caution in buying sight unseen.

Caveat emptor!

• The Continental Kennel Club (CKC) is not the same as the American Kennel Club. With a photograph and a fee, you could register Scooby Doo as a Toy Poodle and you would receive papers attesting to that. If you paid extra for a dog with CKC papers, you may only have a registered mutt.


• There is no such breed as an Imperial or Princess Shih Tzu. These small animals are “runts” and can be very fragile, often with health problems.


• Truth in advertising does not apply to unmonitored internet ad sites. Let the buyer beware.

Our Right to Vote

Hidden beneath the current economic debacle and the usual noise of the presidential campaign is an issue that potentially affects each of us and should make us all shake in our boots. The right to vote is being withheld from many of our eligible voters, specifically, college students.


In 1979, the Supreme Court guaranteed students the right to vote in the communities in which they attend school. But election officials can make it difficult. In Norfolk, Va., the local registrar has reportedly barred students who live in dormitories from registering to vote.

Virginia is not the only state whose election officials are attempting to disenfranchise young voters. Michigan, considered an important state in the coming election, is also discouraging young voters from exercising their rights. If they live in dormitories, or are out-of-state students, then official say they must go home to vote. That can be a very big burden for a college student.

I do understand that the locals would prefer to not have all these outsiders voting on local issues. Really, I feel the same way. But this is a national election, one that will forge the future of our nation for the next four years. It is an historic election, in terms of race, and gender, and the magnitude of the issues facing us.

How can anyone even attempt to justify impeding the election process for voters who are attending school away from home?

The most recent U.S. elections have been plagued with the kind of corruption usually associated with unstable governments. We have lost our integrity in the view of the world. Now, when we must demonstrate our unity, local governments are denying citizens the right to vote for president.

How much lower can we sink?

Damn, I Need a Job!

Actually, I don't need a job. I am grateful to have one. But Ryan needs a job, so I am tossing this out here just in case someone knows someone who can put him to work.

After completing training as a First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Certified Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomist, and EKG Technician, he's having a tough time finding employment in Alachua County. Online job applications don't give you the same chance to present yourself that a personal interview does. He just needs to get a foot in the door.

He completed all his courses with flying colors. This is what he loves, and he is good at it. He needs someone willing to take on an enthusiastic but inexperienced individual. I remember my first job searches and wondering how I would ever gain experience if I couldn't get a job that would let me become experienced. He is in that position now, and willing to take on the challenge of proving himself.

If you have any suggestions or know someone who might be willing to interview him, let me know. He'll follow up right away.

Thanks!

In Support of Jessica's Remarks

Recently I have been reading an economics blog called The Big Picture. I truly believe that as taxpayers and voters we have an obligation to understand as much as we can, and economics seems to be an area where a lot of us fall short of being "well-informed".

In support of Jessica's comments about our tax dollars, let me add my strong support with this cartoon, blatantly stolen from the above referenced blog.

Sarah Palin

The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn't a cause, it's a symptom. It's what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you.
~John McCain's acceptance speech

It is fascinating to see the reactions to Sarah Palin. A few short weeks ago she was an unknown, today she is a celebrity. People who know little about her are vehemently extolling her virtues, or criticizing her ability to serve as Vice President. Bloggers who recently declared the virtue of giving up college and career to raise families are now screaming that she should not be criticized for pursuing her career despite her young family. People who jumped on the disappointing news that John Edwards had an extramarital affair, are adamantly denying that Ms. Palin could possibly have been subject to the same human weakness.

Why? Why has Sarah Palin become a hero? Her acceptance speech is in direct contradiction to McCain's statement that the bipartisan rancor is what is wrong with our country. Her speech, which electrified the convention, was divisive and not at all in line with McCain's proposal to unite the country despite party affiliations. Her jabs at Obama were not backed up with facts, and the most often quoted element of her speech is the "Pitbull with lipstick" reference that seems to be very apt.

I thought that Sarah Palin was a brilliant choice. Her selection could easily have won the Hillary supporters who do not want to vote for Obama. I watched her acceptance speech with anticipation, but was terribly disappointed by her mean-spirited approach. This is not a woman who sees both sides of an issue. This is a person who's mind is made up, and you or I cannot change it. I don't care much for pit bulls, and don't find this a good analogy for someone in office.

She says she has stood up to Big Oil. How? She wants to lay another pipeline and start drilling in the wildlife refuge. She has voted against wind power and solar energy. While I understand her perspective on producing our own oil, I don't see how this is "standing up to Big Oil". US drilling won't make a significant difference for many years.

She promotes abstinence only sex education for our youth. Apparently, that is not sufficient to keep our adolescents from becoming parents too soon. Not only is her daughter pregnant, it seems that she herself was pregnant before getting married. Does this make her an unsuitable VP candidate? No. Who really cares? Life happens, and this is not what makes a Vice Presidential candidate qualified. Or not.

Once again, we see a situation where voters are reacting emotionally, without actually looking at the facts. Sarah Palin's speech was delivered flawlessly, with all the appropriate pauses, winks, smiles and nods (as were all of the convention speeches). This alone does not make a good candidate.

I encourage each of us, as voters, to identify the important issues that are facing our country, and to vote based on those. Consider John McCain's statement, and let go of party labels and knee jerk reactions. Reread the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Take another gander at the Declaration of Independence. THEN decide how to vote. Race, gender, and family members should not be our concern. We should be looking for a candidate and running mate who can and will reverse the tragedy of the last eight years and restore us to the internationally respected status that we have deserved for more than 200 years.