This is a compilation of cases we've encountered in the last few yrs. Some of you may recognize some of the cases.
Thinking about breeding? Here are some real life situations encountered by breeders and dealt with by our rescue………
*** A puppy boy born with a club foot…..breeder tried to sell him for $75. Someone who had applied to DAR&E bought him and turned him in to us. He’s had several surgeries on the foot, and still doesn’t use the leg properly at the age of three. Six mos later, a sister of his also came in to DAR&E.
*** Breeder contacted DAR&E becuz her 6 week old puppies had all come down with parvo and she was trying to find a vet that would work on payments with her. She ended up putting all of the puppies down
*** Breeder contacted DAR&E about a “blue” puppy boy that no one wanted becuz he had no hair. While blues do sometimes have coat problems, this is not usually seen at birth, which is what she described. She was going to give him away free so we took him to ensure that he would have a good home……after many tests, what was determined was that he was NOT a blue, but a black. The coat never came in (particularly in a stripe from his nose to his nub) becuz he hadn’t been in the womb long enough to develop the secondary tissue from which hair grows.
*** DAR&E took in 2 Dobe puppies that had been bred by someone who didn’t know what he was doing……..their mother died becuz several of the pups had died inside her and by the time the breeder got her to the vet, she was too weak and septic to live.
*** DAR&E took in 3 puppies that had been dumped in a shelter becuz they didn’t sell (mom was also dumped becuz they were tired of breeding)
*** Before you breed, recognize that problems can occur – either with your bitch or her puppies. Do you have the money to deal with the possibilities? Are you prepared to euthanize a puppy if necessary? Do you know how to tell if a bitch needs help (c-section, etc) when in labor? Are you prepared to lose your beloved pet if she develops problems during or after the birthing process?
Want more info?? Contact DAR&E (703-352-5936). We can point you in the right direction.
