The Problem with Puppies
- Jan 6, 2023
- 7 min read
In one of our recent blog posts we referred to the never-ending influx of special-needs puppies at TDB – to be specific, we said, “the constant flow of backyard bred, genetically mutated, designer mutts…”
This caused a bit of an uproar, and TDB responded in a way that’s problematic, and we’d like to explain why. We’re also going to talk a little bit about responsible dog breeding, ethical animal welfare, responsible rescue and where they should & shouldn’t intersect.
You’re Being Manipulated…Again
Breeding dogs and selecting for certain traits is, very simply, genetic modification. There’s a lot of talk about GMO’s in food and agriculture; but the process of selective breeding in dogs, cats and other animals is the very definition of genetic modification. This is how you get a Labrador Retriever vs a Shih-tzu – selective breeding via genetics. We all had science class in 6th grade and remember the punnet square.
TDB took offense to us using these terms and wrote a post that inappropriately conflated puppies with defects born from purposefully bred dogs and human children born with cognitive impairments. Human children born with special needs are not the same as a litter of puppies created by (purposely) breeding dogs to get rare colors or “exotic” variations.
This is gaslighting; a misdirection on purpose. Specifically, it’s a kind of Red Herring fallacy – TDB is making a false equivalency between dog breeding and special needs humans in an effort to distract you from the argument we made against them.
Pardon the pun, but inserting special needs kids into this discussion is a “dog whistle” meant to tug on the heart-strings of followers, misdirect them and change the narrative. This is disrespectful and inappropriate.
Dog Breeding, Designer Breeds and Special Needs
Dogs of certain breeds are purposely bred to create puppies with certain coloring, certain sizes, particular behaviors, certain temperaments – these traits are selected and continually bred to create the more ideal, more popular, more profitable variety of puppies. There are numerous standards for which various breeds are created and maintained and there are organizations that work hard to maintain responsible breeding. Unfortunately, the increased popularity of “designer breeds” has created numerous unstable and genetic-defect prone cross-breeds; doodles, tea-cups, dilute coloring, puggles, pomskis, the list goes on. Many of these variations are not supported by reputable animal organizations or kennel clubs and because of that there is little regulation and oversight. This is an enormous problem in The US and it's a widely understood fact that puppy mills and backyard breeders are churning out unregulated puppies with issues. These genetic problems can include cleft-palates, hydrocephalus, heart defects, skeletal or muscle defects and vision impairments.
These defects are inherited. They are passed on when animals with genetic defects or mutated genes are bred. When an animal is born with a congenital defect, it is quite literally a genetic mutation. These are scientific terms. It is understood and expected that responsible dog breeders immediately stop breeding their animal when a pup is born with a genetic defect.
The Merck Veterinary Manual estimates that 0.2 – 3.5% of all canine births have congenital or inherited disorders (and the number varies by several variables). These abnormalities are RARE. Yet, there is a constant stream of these puppies around the country, and they get a lot of attention (and donations) – WHY? Because of puppy mills, backyard breeders, ridiculous trends of cross-breeds and “exotic” variations of breeds.
There are several genetic registries that have been established to assist breeders and owners with genetic disease control. The Canine Eye Registry Foundation or CERF (www.vmdb.org/cerf.html) is a closed database showing only normal eye examination results by ACVO boarded veterinarians. The not-for profit Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA: www.offa.org) has semi-open registries for hip dysplasia & Legg-Perthes disease, elbow dysplasia, autoimmune thyroiditis, congenital cardiac disease, patella luxation, deafness, and several other genetic disorders. In addition, all normal CERF examination results are automatically sent to, and included in the OFA database. Some of the Optigen (www.Optigen.com) tests, if contracted by the parent club, are also automatically sent to CERF and OFA for inclusion in their databases. The Canine Health Information Center or CHIC (www.caninehealthinfo.org) is a portal into the OFA health database that has been established by the AKC Canine Health Foundation and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.
The largest animal welfare organizations in the country, ASPCA, HSUS, AKC all spend massive amounts of energy trying to control and minimize irresponsible breeding. Almost half a million pets are euthanized in shelters because there aren’t enough homes for them.
Now, let’s be clear about something: puppies and animals born with genetic defects have a drastically reduced survival rate, they’ll spend their lives needing surgical intervention(s) and often a lifetime of medical care. Do they have a right to live a happy, healthy life as best they can with responsible ownership and care? ABSOLUTELY!
We are not saying these puppies should die, or not be rescued.
We are not saying that each of the puppies rescued by TDB shouldn’t have been saved or didn’t deserve a chance at life.
There are numerous puppies that TDB saved who have grown into happy dogs.
Yes, reputable breeders can still accidentally produce puppies with defects. But those breeders should cease breeding with those animals.
We are asking that the supporters of “rescues” like The Devoted Barn need to look beyond the instant gratification of a unique and special puppy given a chance at life. Responsible rescues shouldn’t be “tunnel vision” focused on the individual puppy, but on the bigger picture for animals and animal welfare. Consider the following:
· What kind of breeder did the puppy come from? Are they new? Are they registered with any organizations or clubs?
· Is there already a foster home lined-up for this puppy? One where any existing animals are vaccinated, and the new puppy can be quarantined to avoid communicable disease?
· Does the rescue (the Devoted Barn, for example) have ample funding ready for immediate veterinary intervention, surgeries, intensive care, etc?
· Will the rescue ensure that the breeder is reporting any health problems to the appropriate organizations?
· Will the rescue educate the breeders on spaying or neutering the parents that produced the puppy born with genetic defects?
The hardest question – What is the prognosis for this particular puppy? Would the incredible amount of time, effort and money required to save it be better spent on an existing animal at the rescue? Would subjecting a newborn puppy to multiple surgeries, procedures, medications, etc be more humane than humane euthanasia?
These are incredibly difficult questions and decisions – responsible rescue isn’t always happy puppies and forever homes.
This isn’t to say that animal rescues need to police breeders, and it goes without saying that nobody is going to FORCE a dog breeder to comply to rules, regulations, or ethics. But it does speak volumes that there is no effort on the part of TDB to educate their followers on responsible breeding. An organization that claims to care so deeply for rescue, rehabilitation, responsibility, and humane treatment should be openly & loudly speaking out against backyard breeders. Failing to do so is perpetuating this problem.
If they WERE doing this, we would know about it. Why would an organization NOT discuss openly the ways they’re trying to create change in the animal welfare community?
We’re not asking for the names and locations of breeders – but why on Earth is TDB continually taking in puppies while not addressing the systemic problem that brought them there in the first place?
There is NO Change – Only More Puppies and Requests for More Donations
If you go to The Devoted Barn Facebook Page and search “cleft” or “hydrocephalus” you’ll see the never-ending deluge of puppies that come in. Read the posts. Look for how many of them mention that the puppy came from a breeder. Look at the breeds – boxer, French bulldog, American bulldog, chihuahua, shih-tzu, doodle, maltipoo…
The hashtags also identify – you’ll see #exoticbully among them. Exotic? And what happened to the Cane Corso puppies that Melissa was supposedly caring for over Thanksgiving time? She mentions them in the live video on Giving Tuesday.
Please take note that there are occasions where TDB takes on siblings or even whole litters of puppies with congenital issues – this should be ALARMING to people, but it’s never addressed. Veterinary statistics said that up to 3.5% of canines are born with congenital defects – but there are breeders with entire litters of mutations? That’s a glaring problem and we’re never told what, if anything, TDB thinks about this outside of the constant need for donated monies.
There is one post (that we could find within a reasonable amount of time searching) where TDB commented on backyard breeding being a problem. One.
Over the last six months TDB supporters have been asked to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep the doors open. Numerous posts asking for $100,000 for an appeal bond, maybe $750,000 to buy the whole farm, now it’s $350,000 to get a mortgage. Always a crisis, TDB is always “so confused” about the process or situation, always massive amounts of money JUST to keep things running for the existing animals and property.
Melissa herself commented on a post saying that she can only afford to buy one day’s worth of feed at a time, and she must go to the feed store daily. Anyone with animals, especially a farm, knows that you never let supplies dwindle down to just a days worth. This is just common sense and proper animal husbandry practice to avoid a critical situation.
WHY is a rescue that is so constantly behind on the bills, perpetually being sued for non-payment, perpetually on the verge of losing their property, no cushion in the budget for more than a day’s worth of feed continually rescuing animals with special needs? They JUST brought in two more cleft lip puppies, but can't seem to guarantee feed for the rest of the animals on the property on a daily basis. How does that make sense? If these puppies need veterinary hospitalization, do they receive it?
Also worth noting that Melissa even lied about being at the feed store every day at 8AM. We can promise you that she's not. Heck, the 3 feed stores in the area around the barn aren't even OPEN at 8 AM.... Once again a brilliant show of transparency!
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