To use the words "ethical" "responsible" or similar terms when talking about oneself or anyone else as a pet owner or breeder is to imply that all other pet owners and breeders are unethical and irresponsible by default. This makes using these terms a horrible slam against pet owners and animal breeders on the whole, and enables animal welfare/rights activists to get away with continuing their abuse of animal breeders and pet owners.

It is time people stood up to this indignity and started refusing to put the "responsible" and "ethical" lable on themselves and others. Leave the disclaimer lables to the world of fantasy and fairy-tales where one has to be told when elves are tall and witches are good. Pet owners, animal breeders, and people in agriculture are not irresponsible and unethical and bad by default, and should not have to have those words tacked on to their identities in the animal world.

From: "uploads2"

To: dog_anti-rescue_anti-peta_new@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [dog_anti-rescue_anti-peta_new] "Ethical" and "responsible" breeders

Date: December 14, 2006 11:30 AM

Okay, I just checked a discussion group where there is a cluster of pretty sanctimonious Shih Tzu breeders. You'd think by now they're arms would be all deformed from all of the patting themselves on the back that they do -- and also that their index fingers would be frozen stiff from all of the pointing fingers they do. At any rate, this group nearly everyday congratulates themselves on being the "keepers" of the breed, and are quick to judge anyone outside of their tight little circle, usually calling them the worse thing they can call someone who isn't a member of the parent club -- a BYB. (Members of the parent club who aren't in favor are labeled as puppy millers, so I guess it's better not to be a part of the club!).

At any rate, one of the windiest and most sanctimonious of the group posted pics of a bitch he's evidently going to show. In every picture, you can see a lot of eye white on both eyes, and one of her eyes is almost wall-eyed! This fellow's very proud of this bitch -- he was showing her off a few months ago before she came into coat. And I can guarantee that all of his "ethical" and "reputable," and "responsible" buddies are going to jump on the bandwagon to tell him how gorgeous she is. Can anyone spell k-e-n-n-e-l-b-l-i-n-d? The sad thing is that because this fellow has been showing for many years, there's a good chance that he'll be able to take her to her championship by either disguising her eye white with grooming techniques, or showing her only to judges he's been able to become friends with over the years. I see so much of this sort of thing in the Shih Tzu breed. Single-coated champions when the standard clearly calls for double-coated. Excessive eye white. Poor tail sets. Roached backs. And if you check OFA, you'll find that only about 550 Shih Tzu dogs have had their hip records made public since 1975! I know there's been a lot more dogs than that x-rayed, but they aren't making the records public because they aren't good -- yet, they still keep breeding them! "Responsible?" "Ethical?" "Reputable?" Oh yes, and let's not even go where the liver shunts and other genetic problems grow! Just had to rant!

From: "Indy"

To: dog_anti-rescue_anti-peta_new@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 5:07 PM

Subject: Re: [dog_anti-rescue_anti-peta_new] "Ethical" and "responsible" breeders

Wow - typical aw, and they'd be down on anyone else whose dogs had the exact same conditions to a lesser degree.

From: Rx

To: dog_anti-rescue_anti-peta_new@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 7:55 PM

Subject: Re: [dog_anti-rescue_anti-peta_new] "Ethical" and "responsible" breeders

Great Rant!! Cleared the air and spoken as a true as can be in most, or is it all breeds?!! It is a shame that so many breeds are harmed by these types, and how dare anyone actually try to make a difference....that will get you in trouble quicker than anything I know. I enjoyed you rant because it is so true.....and so sad.

From: KM

To: dog_anti-rescue_anti-peta_new@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, December 15, 2006 7:31 PM

Subject: Re: [dog_anti-rescue_anti-peta_new] "Ethical" and "responsible" breeders

DO not blame you.

This is one of the reasons I hate the dog show world. Can we say Politics??? I'll stick to herding sheep with my dogs.........and refuse to act like one. (sheep that is)