Claire Henrichs
Rochester, New York, United States
<p>There is a lot of controvery in the news about pit bulls lately. It seems there have been many attacks and the dog has gotten a very bad name. Do pit bulls deserve their reputation? I don't have all of the answers to this question, but I cannot help but wonder if the background of the dogs in question wouldn't reveal a clear answer here. When you go to add a pet to your home, you need to make sure that the animal in question fits your lifestyle. That includes whether or not it is appropriate for children if they are in the house. Remember, you will be responsible for any damage done to your own family members or to anybody else who comes into your home. A kitten is not an appropriate pet for a two-year-old. A pit bull can do much, much more damange. To minimize the risks of any prospective pet, I would suggest that you buy for pet from a good breeder. Know its background. If you are getting your pet from a shelter, make sure that you know the animal's complete history, particularly whether or not the animal has ever injured somebody.</p> <p>My husband and I have bred Persian cats for many years. As a result, I have developed some strong opinions about animal breeders, and knowing this can help you make good choices when picking a pet to bring into your home.</p> <p>A pet can enhance your life in unbelievable ways. Alternatively, they can be a nightmare. So how does somebody know whether they are buying their pet from a good breeder or as they are called "back yard breeders".</p> <p>1. A good breeder knows the animal they are breeding inside out. They will be informed about any genetic diseases that are common to the breed. They do genetic testing on all breeding animals to make sure that any animal they breed does not carry that defect. </p> <p>2. A good breeder will make sure that a puppy or kitten is seen by a vet and properly vaccinated. </p> <p>3. A good breeder feeds all of the puppies or kittens in their cattery or kennel a high quality diet and will give the purchaser a starting quantity of that same food so you will have some right away when you get home.</p> <p>4. A good breeder knows the personality of the animal they are breeding. For example, if a particular animal is known to be aggressive, they will immediately remove any male or female in their breeding programl that shows these traits. They are interested in breeding the best qualities of the breed they can and eliminate any male or female displaying a negative trait. To do that you really need to know your breed inside out. Reputable dog breeders do personality tests on eight-week-old puppies to correctly match the dog to its prospective new environment. A good shelter also does personality testing on dogs and puppies before attempting to place them and if they are overly aggressive, they euthanize them rather than risk putting them into a situation that will lead to a tragedy.</p> <p>5. A good breeder would never, ever sell an animal that has any kind of illness or parasite. Check the prospective puppy or kitten for fleas or areas of the body where fur is missing (possibly ringworm). The ears should be clean and free of any kind of gunk. (A brown, waxy ear discharge may indicate ear mites). Eyes should be clear and the baby should not seem to be having a lot of watery discharge from the eyes or the nose.</p> <p>6. A good breeder has the buyer sign a contract agreeing to have the puppy or kitten neutered as soon as they are old enough, makes sure the buyer understands that it is a no-no to declaw cats, or any other behavior that injures the pet. I cannot emphasize how important it is to neuter your pet. The overpopulation in our shelters testifies to people's neglect in this area. If pet buyers had their pets neutered, the overpopulation problem would disappear virtually overnight. In addition, it is risky to keep an unneutered dog that has reached maturity if it has not been neutered, as this case can testify to.</p> <p>7. A good breeder will give the buyer information on dogs about dog training which must start the minute you get your new baby home. My daughter got a Goldendoodle puppy last year and we started training him immediately. </p> <p>8. A good breeder always has the buyer promise to bring the dog or cat back to them in the event it ever needs to be rehomed. No good breeder will ever willingly allow a dog or cat bred by them to end up in a shelter.</p> <p>A good pet owner:</p> <p>1. Understands that the pet is not a toy, not a fashion accessory, not a statement. It is a living, breathing creature with many, many needs.</p> <p>2. A good buyer makes sure his or her pet is neutered as soon as it is old enough. Overpopulation at shelters is the result of people not having their pets neutered. I cannot tell you how many people have said to me that they want to breed the animal once to get back the money they spent or that they want their kids to witness a live birth. Neither of those is a good reason to breed your pet. Leave it to the experts. I cannot emphasize how important this is. Many, many animals end up in shelters and are euthanized as a result of breedings that should never, ever have occurred. In addition, animals that are not neutered are more likely to be territorial and fight than neutered pets. This is true for dogs and cats, males and females. (Have you ever seen a cat fight? It is absolutely terrifying!)</p> <p>3. A good pet owner always, always makes sure their animal is under their control. If you do not keep control and your pet injures someone that is your fault. You could be sued for everything you have and everything you will ever have if you allow your pet to jump on people, bite people or injure another animal.</p> <p>4. A good pet owner makes sure they take their puppy to obedience classes and makes sure that the doggy knows who is boss. </p> <p>5. A good pet owner makes sure their pet gets good veterinary care. I had the unfortunate happening of a cat that was returned to me getting a viscious eye infection that resulted in a need for emergency surgery costing $1500.00. If you cannot handle that then do not get a pet. It is far more than just throwing some food and water in a bowl. You have a living, breathing creature with needs that they cannot take care of themselves - they trust you to take care of these things for them. </p> <p>6. A good pet owner makes sure their pet is fed a high quality diet. It is not cheap.</p> <p>I am sure there are things that I haven't thought of that can be added to this list, but it is a good start. There are many, many things to consider before getting a pet. A good breeder can help you make a good decision. In the end though, the responsibility is yours, the owner's.</p>
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