Pet Breeders

If you thought this one was going to be chalk full of fuzzy images of cute kittens and lovable pups, think again. That would be the easy route to take, and we’re going to get to the nitty-gritty of the birds and the bees as they relate to the animal world, but let’s discuss PETA’s stance first.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, known popularly as PETA. We’re not diving into PETA’s stance because we agree, or necessarily disagree. More than anything, it’s interesting, as PETA maintains that there is no such thing as a responsible breeder, because a pup or kitten brought into this world through a breeder is essentially killing a shelter animal who is awaiting adoption. To be clear – a cat or pup that has been bred is according to PETA taking the place of a pup or kitten in an animal shelter waiting for a home. The result many times will likely be euthanization as a result.

PETA goes even further to suggest than the puppies and kittens that are bred are many times never spayed or neutered so these animals will end up exacerbating the overpopulation crisis. These are some big claims and it is not the position of this blog to argue for or against them. But it was the first time this issue was brought up to your loyal scribe and if a stance on something is interesting, we’re going to report it!

With this in mind, you’re likely wondering, does there exist a responsible pet breeder? Perhaps unbeknownst to PETA, there does. Responsible breeders breed cats and dogs, that’s their line of work. But what constitutes “responsibility” in this case is said breeder is breeding the dog for a specific type of buyer. They are experts in the blood lines of the cat or dog, taking great care to keep the breed as pure as possible unless otherwise requested by the specific buyer. While it can sound a bit extreme, when someone is seeking out a German Shepherd, many times they want a pure German Shepherd, not a Shepherd with 25% Labrador or 15% Pitbull. Yet, PETA still has a point here. The simple breeding of a cat or dog is irresponsible and so it does not matter if an adequate home is found or not. That kitten or pup again is replacing an existing kitten or pup housed in a shelter awaiting a home.

What’s absent in the PETA rationale however is the blind acceptance that everyone wants a similar dog or cat. As if personal preferences are not involved. An analogy would be buying a new car instead of a used car. There are plenty of used cars out there waiting to be bought, so why require Honda to roll another Accord off the manufacturing line. Dogs and cats are animals, yes, with feelings. But humans own them, and as such have a say in which ones they want to own. A delicate subject, but enlightening as well, don’t you agree?