Issue Analysis: The Value of Responsible Dog Breeders

here are two issues on . Being a responsible dog S E I

which all dog lovers L breeder is truly a labor of L

T O C agree. First, dogs deserve love that comes with a sig - D E D

a life in a safe, caring, and R nificant price tag. A E B healthy environment. Responsible dog breeders K R

Second, those who treat A breed because they love D

R dogs in a negligent or E their chosen breed(s) and are T F A cruel manner should be , willing to dedicate their lives A K L held accountable. A and resources to raising Z S

The American Kennel K quality dogs. C A J Club (AKC) takes a strong D N A line on animal cruelty, N N A including implementing a Y More than a Numbers R . A N M policy that suspends AKC Game O F I Every profession from S O

S I privileges for anyone con - Y S M accountants and lawyers to E R T E

victed of animal cruelty R P

U doctors and teachers has a few H O T I involving dogs. The AKC C

W

O “bad apples” that tarnish the T D O is also the only registry E S H reputation of an otherwise P U that has a significant respectable profession. Investigations and Bearded Collies celebrating the holidays at their breeders’ Michigan home. All the dogs owned by this kennel are taught basic manners from an early age. Their breed er Unfortunately dog breeding is Inspections program to is an AKC Canine Good Citizen ® Evaluator. no exception. ensure that people who health standards. Many also breed dogs Thankfully, these few irresponsible register litters with the AKC raise their for specific purposes, such as hunting, breeders comprise a very small minority dogs in a humane manner. search and rescue, therapy, and assistance of an otherwise unique and special profes - The AKC works to ensure that the for the disabled. sion. Those who do breed or care for dogs rights of responsible owners and breeders When responsible breeders sell a in an irresponsible or cruel manner must are protected and that anyone –regardless puppy, they ensure these dogs are placed be punished under the law, but the term of the number of dogs “irresponsible” must they own—who treats a be carefully defined. dog negligently or cruel - An unfortunate but ly is held responsible for “One of the most effective ways to common trend is to such actions. equate the term “irre - sponsible” with the What is a Responsible ensure dogs are placed in safe, number of dogs – par - Breeder? ticularly females – One of the most effec - loving environments is to support someone owns. There tive ways to ensure that is an unfortunate ten - dogs are placed in safe, responsible breeders” dency among individ - loving environments is to uals unfamiliar with support responsible dog breeders. Local in good homes by implementing a animal husbandry and best practices in communities should consider responsible screening process for potential buyers animal care to assume that keeping large breeders an asset, as they are in a unique and following up after the purchase. numbers of dogs automatically equates to position to mentor new dog owners and Breeders often take dogs back if they are poor and inhumane care. The number of provide advice and detailed information not in an ideal situation and place them animals owned has never correlated with about the dogs they own and sell. in new homes, as in the case of “Bo”, the the level of care. Responsible breeders are experts in First Family’s Portuguese Water Dog. Many agriculture groups have part - their breed, and know the pedigree of the Many of the AKC national breed parent nered with the AKC throughout the dogs they sell. They can tell potential clubs have rescue programs for their United States to fight legislation that buyers about the temperament, health, breeds. Parent club rescues are often places an arbitrary cap on animal owner - and other characteristics unique to the comprised of AKC breeder volunteers ship. They know that historically as well puppy they are considering. Many breed - who work with local animal control offi - as today, the great kennels—like the great ers devote their entire lives to developing cers or individual owners to ensure dogs horse farms or cattle ranches—have main - a line or pedigree of dogs that meet spe - are not abandoned in shelters, but rather tained and provided excellent care to cific temperament, performance, and placed in safe, loving environments. large numbers of animals.

Originally printed in the American Kennel Club state In Session newsletter, Winter Issue 2011 Just as there are excellent owners of 100 cause as well as impractical and arbitrary should be defined by the quality of care dogs, there are negligent owners of one standards of care. Not only do such provi - given to the animals. This is why the dog. Simply reducing the number of ani - sions violate the rights of responsible, law- American Kennel Club works with dog mals a person or business may own will abiding citizens, they are also ineffective owners, breeders, and community leaders not automatically make them a better or and unenforceable. The problem is more throughout the country to educate the more humane owner. There is no magic complex than simply creating new laws – public about responsible dog ownership. number that will suddenly make someone it requires the ability and will to enforce The AKC also encourages responsible a better dog owner or breeder. Arbitrary the laws against negligence and cruelty breeding practices by supporting educa - numerical caps completely miss the under - that are already on the books. A “quick tional symposia for breeders and competi - lying issue—owner responsibility. fix” of adding new laws will not change or tive dog shows and other events where top Animal ownership limits can actually improve a lack of enforcement and may breeders showcase and compete with the create more problems for dogs and the only divert resources from much-needed best of their breeding programs. The AKC community at large. Such laws are enforcement operations. Canine Health Foundation has allocated extremely difficult for communities to At the federal level, the United States over $26 million to research studies focus - enforce. Limits can force caring, responsi - Department of Agriculture (USDA) has ing on helping dogs live longer, healthier ble owners to relinquish dogs to a local regularly strengthened the standards for lives. shelter simply to comply with Where legislative fixes are an arbitrary ownership cap. needed, the AKC is These dogs are then housed pleased to assist in bring - or euthanized at great ing community leaders expense to local taxpayers. and responsible breeders Additionally, limits on the together to create posi - number of dogs a responsible tive, effective solutions. breeder may own as the For example, the Indiana potential to cause long-term General Assembly intro - damage to a breed. duced legislation in 2009 Ownership limits restrict pop - that limited animal own - ulations and also the access ership, included many C K A that responsible breeders © arbitrary care and condi -

-

need to ensure the genetic S tion policies, and allowed G O D diversity necessary for the for warrantless inspec - E L T future health and well-being T tions of private homes A C

of the breed. N and property. The AKC A I L A

R worked with responsible T S

U Hoosier dog owners, A Matter of Enforcement A There is no question that breeders, and key legis - those who treat dogs in an lators to identify the inhumane manner should be real issues. Together, punished. Each of the 50 “Ownership limits are arbitrary this group succeeded in states, as well as the United closing the loopholes in States Code, outlaw animal Indiana’s animal cruelty negligence and cruelty. and do not address the statutes and creating a When tragic stories of animal bill that solely cruelty and irresponsible underlying issue of owner addressed the issues of breeding come to light, they irresponsible dog breed - almost always result in ing in their state. charges under existing law responsibility.” For over 125 years, being brought against the individual or humane care and treatment of dogs and the AKC has been dedicated to well-being business responsible. other animals owned by those regulated of dogs. We support and value the respon - The problem is not an absence of laws, by the Animal Welfare Act. The AKC sible owners and breeders who breed and but rather a lack of enforcement or the supports the strong enforcement of the raise our cherished pets and beloved resources to properly enforce existing Animal Welfare Act, as well as an working dogs. Responsible breeders are laws. Many states and local communities increase in the number of USDA an important asset and educational simply do not have the manpower or enforcement personnel. resource in our communities. Through money necessary to adequately enforce educational programs and enforcement of existing laws. existing laws, we can punish those who There have been many attempts across An Effective Solution harm animals while recognizing that Breeder and owner responsibility cannot the country to further regulate dog breed - responsible breeders who devote their be defined by establishing arbitrary own - ers, including requiring warrantless inspec - lives to their dogs are part of the solution, ership limits or unenforceable breeding tions of private homes without probable not the problem. requirements. Instead, responsibility