First class commentary on yet one more example of nanny state mentalities.

Saw the shortened version of the article title on my news reader and thought for sure you were answering the single child/population control commentary earlier this week in the NP.

Outstanding, Kate.

I will say that I'm not opposed to what The Kennel Club (U.K.) has done in modifying breed standards to permit docked or undocked tails and cropped or uncropped ears. It took me a while to warm up to Great Danes, etc., with down ears, but now I quite like them.

These matters should be the breeder's or owner's choice, not legislated or imposed by perverted codes of ethics promulgated by veterinary associations.

I read your op-ed this AM with great interest, Kate, and agree that the politicization of animals is a very revealing sign of our times. Along with fire, domestication (the first step towards breeding)was a breakthough for early humans. How like the progrssive left to try and purge our history of its origins. I am a big fan of "mutts" but appreciate the time, patience and artistry that went into creating a Holstein or a Belgian.

An accountant acquaintance of mine had an Irish Setter that was "allergic to itself" - manefested by all kinds of neurotic behavior. I think humankind is becomming allergic itself/ourselves. How else to expain some people's self loathing?

Season's best, all.

MM
Toronto

Excellent read -- I especially liked your comment on how important beauty is.

Great article Kate, very well written and I agree with you completely.

Socialism run amok.

Charles, one of the problems with arbitrary edicts that attempt to alter breeds is that they swing selection pressures in ways that result in unintended consequences.

When you pass laws on a breed like mine to stop docking tails, it doesn't end there. Breeders begin select for straight tails to remain competitive - something they've never done before.

If the gene pool contains only a few sires capable of passing the straight tail (or longer nose, or whatever physical trait the policy makers decide needs to change) to his offspring, guess what transpires over the next 20 years?

The breed begins to lose family lines as the desired tails are favoured, the curly ones dropped. And this results in what is known as a breed "bottleneck event", the loss of genetic diversity, and higher rates of inherited defects and disease over the long term.

And once people figure out what's happening, there's no way to go back to fix things. Once a sire or dam line dies within a closed gene pool, it's gone forever.

A well-composed piece. I wish all news articles were written to such standards.

Years ago, on Salt Spring Island, I attended, with my working stock Border Collie, a seminar given by Robert Harlow http://www.cfba.co.uk/robert.htm

I recall that he described the differences, having attended a Crufts show or somesuch, between Border Collies who had been bred for 'conformity' and those that hadn't; the former just sat there looking pretty and dumb, while the latter were alert and constantly wanted to know 'what was going on'.

These traits can be passed to humans.

Well written Kate
I have had pure bred Beagles for pets for over 20 years now and after reading you article my visits to the vet over the years are starting to make sense.
I have noticed how increasingly righteous and preachy they have become over the years to the point where I almost dreaded going to see the vet.
Thanks to your article I now understand the context of this righteousness and pushing back will be fun.
Thanks.

I have a whole new appreciation for pure breds...now, where can I find a good beagle producer?

Well done and beautifully written Kate. The piece gave a fascinating insight into the world of dog breeding and how ill informed statist interveners are trying to destroy breeders livelihoods.

three paws up from those who cannot speak on their own behalf....

Great article 'Kate'.

A very informative article, Kate! It brought a question to mind, however. I have two pugs (male and female) that were fixed when I bought them from the breeder. I didn't mind, as I had no intention of breeding either of them. Would you recommend this, or is it best to leave their reproductive organs alone and simply practise responsible pet ownership?

You go girl! The animal activists have been making life worse for farm animals and the farmers who know what these animals really need for a long time now. Their ultimate goal is to turn us all into vegans.

Very nicely written article, by "Catherine", whomever she is :-)

As someone who knows an owner dealing with double knee surgery for their cane corso, I can't agree more. This is someone who loves their two-year-old dog to death, but a $5,000 vet bill is hard to stomach.

I've owned versatile gun dogs,german shorthair pointers and brittanys all my life.During that time I have was fortunate to have a vet who actually trialed,hunted and owned many different breeds,so over the years a mutual bond developed with my dogs recieving superior care.Recently he retired,the clinic was sold,and the straight out of U.of G. vet college new owner ,not even knowing what breed I had just brought in to update shots demanded as Claude 11.17 stated in a rightous and preachy tone 'why I did not have this dog microchipped and neutered'.Long story short after my explanation that he was a field trial champion,was occasionally used as stud to improve the breed,we parted company and I have finally found a new vet who understands what it is all about.

I've been listening to a few Phelim Macaleer pieces.(one of new heroes) One of his statements is a classic and applies to this topic as well as the enviro-nut stuff.
Not a direct quote but the basic concept:
The left accuse the right of being obsessed with what goes on in the bedroom. The lefties however are obsessed with every other room in your house...kitchen, fridge, lights in the LR, plumbing, furnace. etc. ad nauseum.
Now the kennel.

And adept with word pictures as well: "...as a second-hand pickup truck from the Formula One track". I got it!

Great op-ed. Merry Christmas to you and yours!.

Garry

Writing Talent Par Excellant !!

"As someone who knows an owner dealing with double knee surgery for their cane corso, I can't agree more. This is someone who loves their two-year-old dog to death, but a $5,000 vet bill is hard to stomach."

I certainly don't want to see any more legislation regarding animals. I don't understand, however, the motives of someone who would want to breed a dog that requires knee surgery at age 2, or that typically requires a C-section. Its very selfish behaviour.

Well done Kate, this morning I picked up the "original dead tree edition" of the National Post. An excellent photo, a full size column not hidden beneath the fold or half way through the sports section... Hey it's all we've got left in old media!
:)

It is a great article Kate and I enjoyed reading it. It seems like everywhere, even in Saskatchewan with a supposed conservative government, there is a continual incremental creep of state intrusion going on. Pretty soon we will have to ask for permission to go to the bathroom.

Luke
[....A very informative article, Kate! It brought a question to mind, however. I have two pugs (male and female) that were fixed when I bought them from the breeder. I didn't mind, as I had no intention of breeding either of them. Would you recommend this, or is it best to leave their reproductive organs alone and simply practise responsible pet ownership?]

"responsible ownership"????

Freudian slip there Tovarich....
The Kool-Aid is staining your teeth....
Have you had your vascectomy yet???
Try a hamburger...you will like it.

The real problem is these loons are against ANYONE even having a pet.....and trun us all into VEGANs.

I am not siding with you on this one, Kate. I love dogs too much for what they are, that is what humans are not. I make a point of adopting abandoned dogs that don't make a perfect picture; they never disappoint me.

the 2nd doggie we adopted was a floppy eared harrier hound. Bunny. I have a watercolour done by a local artist from a photo I took.

her ears well full of mites before we took her in. we didn't get those endearing floppy ears cropped but after that infestation was quickly taken care of, I would do the sniff test every 1 or 2 months the whole time we had her.

I adore canines of all type and have the greatest sympathy and respect even for those snarly junk yard types.

and lookie here, past the 15 1/2 million mark already Kate.

Sasquatch:

Not sure if you didn't take your meds this morning, but maybe take a second dose just in case! I'm not sure why you feel the need to judge me because I used the term "responsible pet ownership.". I was referring to ideas like fencing your yard, tieing up your dogs, etc.instead of spaying or neutering. Does that pass muster for you?

A great op-ed Kate. We have had pet dogs and cats all our lives. More and more we are having bad experiences with vets each year particularly the sales pressure to purchase very expensive and in many cases unnecessary procedures and shots.
The pressure by clinics to keep pets alive with heroic operations and on life support when they are well up in years is insane.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Kate.

Well said Kate. Didn't you say this once before though? Merry Christmas. Eric

Yiipes! I would hate to think of a Yorkie with an un-docked tail. Might as well end the breed. Who would want one in their house smelling like like a litter box on a good day?

Very good article Kate. I have ACDs and compete in the agility ring. It is an absolute pleasure to see the different breeds perform, and marvel at the differences. Good friends of mine are breeders of champion poodles - the care and concern they have for the dogs AND the breed is something to behold.

Keep up the good work.

You are a renaissance woman. If you haven't reproduced, I hope you do. The gene pool can use it.

You are a renaissance woman. If you haven't reproduced, I hope you do. The gene pool can use it.

joe....?

try to keep it in your pants....the lady runs a respectable joint.

Wonderfully readable and informative, as always!

AS I read your retort to the vet, I had to pause and wonder about your punctuation. Did you mean to write: "But how will that affect her future as my foundation, BITCH!"

You are a renaissance woman. If you haven't reproduced, I hope you do. The gene pool can use it.
Posted by: Joe at December 17, 2009 1:49 PM "

(psssst, joe, ya need to find out who does the chauffering when Kate is away doing a dog show)

Joe is skating on thin ice... It's a good thing he didn't mention "Best in Breed". Braver (arguably dumber) men have died for less.

Good God, these Malthusian social Darwinist lefties have even infected the veterinary sciences. The death cult of depopulation-euthanasia-abotion-sterilization marches forward into the animal kingdom. Vet authority must attract them like maggots to a festered wound. I bet they just love doling out those death shots and ripping pups and kittens apart - just love it!6

I wouldn't go that far, Bill.

But pet owners should really seek out clinics that remain respectful of the the traditional owner - veterinarian relationship.

I should stress that there is nothing wrong with spaying and neutering, both are sensible elective surgeries that can prevent problems and make pet ownership easier.

But if the argument that tail docking (which is usually done at a few days of age when nervous system development is incomplete) constitutes elective surgery that exists only to serve the owner's convenience, then surely the same logic applies to spaying and neutering - for there is nothing that those procedures prevent that can't be accomplished with a fence and a leash.

Great article Kate, very well written. While in principle I agree with your hands off approach to breeding, I'm curious to know how you would propose to deal with the problem of so-called "puppy mills" -- irresponsible breeders who simply breed large numbers of animals to be sold to pet stores, directly to dubious owners no questions asked, or abandoned. I come at this having worked with ARF, animal rescue foundation in Calgary and having paid for the airlift of pit bulls out of Ontario following their non sensical ban in the interests of keeping the animals from being destroyed.
While I'm sure you're a very responsible breeder and seller of animals, others are not. Is there no place for government oversight and if so, how much?

Well written article Kate.

Yes, the authority that Vets think they have is amazing. I took an albino boxer as an adoption dog from a vet and returned it a few days later as it was deaf and I wanted a dog that hears better than me. They told that was too bad and for $75 they would put it down for me. When I said I'd just take it out and shoot it if putting it down was what they were going to do, they were shocked and found a home for it. Kill it for $75 and adopt it out if you don't pay the $75. Says something about some vets. It's all about money and power! Notice I did say some because it's unfair to lump them all in the same heap.

That should be, "Is there any place for government oversight . . . "

Meanwhile puppy mills flourish across Canada, sick deseased dogs being passed off as pure breds and the sytem looks away. People get dogs and tie them to dog houses and forget they exists as they starve and freeze to death. You'd think the do gooders would do something about the real inhumaity that exists instead of creating another layer of nonsense for reputable breeders.

For the record I believe only licensed dog breeders should be allowed to sell dogs, it would run the puppy mills out of business and stem the tide of mutts being abandoned or sold to stupid human beings.

"...sold to stupid human beings".
Unfortunately Rose, you can't legislate to get the stupid out of humanity. As it is Darwin has his hands full.

When the veterinary association in Britain ruled that it was unethical to dock or crop for "cosmetic" reasons, it was apparently not difficult to find vets who would perform those procedures because of (real or imagined) injury. Tail injuries in undocked sporting breeds are not rare, and often don't heal well. Sometimes you just have to find a sensible vet.

One thing that really bothers me is vets (and even pet food stores) preaching "hybrid vigour" BS. Another is the insistence that we are duty-bound to provide every possible treatment for our pets, rather than deciding as owners what is best.

We'd known for a couple of years that our old dog's kidneys were weakening. When the kidney failure became significant, we decided that he'd had a good, long life (he was 14 years old; 12 is a ripe old age for an English setter). We refused to put him on a special renal diet (he wouldn't have eaten that bland, unpalatable food anyway). Our vet was aghast.

We now have a different vet.

Well written Kate.

We nurtured our dog after he bit the parents of one of our children's friend. They were very good about it, stating they came up behind the dog and startled him, they did not want us to put him down, but suggested we neuter him. Later, we discovered our dog is quite possibly a rare breed - thought to be extinct until very recently - Broholmer. Our dog physical features, colouring, size etc is literally indistinguishable from the Broholmer. I actually thought these people on the Broholmer Society Site had somehow gotten hold of the pics of our dog. My son, whose dog it is - which he accepted a pup as payment for an out of town job he did - was devastated when the dog was neutered - he wanted to breed him. We get so many positive comments on our dog. It's a real shame. Beautiful dog.

$5000.00 a little too much to spend on Bowser? My sister is up to about 7 grand on her chocolate Labrador.

To me dogs and cats are but goldfish with hair. Flush 'em and pick out a new one for the kiddies.

Only kidding!

I had a dog die when I was about 14 years old. 31 years later I still miss her.

Holy shit! For 12 years I had a HUGE German Shepperd that had one ear up and the other down.Whats with that? We've also had dobermans with the ears down. Is that a no-no. And now we have 3 Jack Russells with docked tails. Am I going to jail?

I always find Kates articles simply written yet incredibly descriptive and rivetingly interesting.
Not surprising there wasn't a single word in the whole article that I didn't know the meaning of. Unlike many journalists where you have the article in one hand and a dictionary in the other.

Horny Toad

Bravo Kate - although I would expect nothing less from you. Well written, with excellent points of reference that anyone can appreciate.

"AS I read your retort to the vet, I had to pause and wonder about your punctuation. Did you mean to write: "But how will that affect her future as my foundation, BITCH!""

Love it, love it, love it!!!!!

I tend to keep what I find under the back porch, but good for you. I'd buy the Post today, if that were possible.

Joe @1:48 & 1:49 - speaking of the renaissance, Shakespeare said it too, but classy, like.

Right Davers! I really think the National Post s/b notified of their editing snafu.

there's Kate, shamelessly promoting herself on her own blog:-))))))

well written Kate!!!!

Me I try to keep my dogs away from the vet as much as possible, but when necessary we use a "farm" vet, little smarter people they are:-))))

Hi Kate, very pithy post, but before you condem the vets, look at the schools that produce them and who is contoling the curriculem. Most importantly strive to uncover who is promoting the "standards of practise" the vets are basing their position on.

I haven't looked into at all, but am certain their will be a UN standard (probably via Agenda 21 that covers these points and paints you as a barbarian.

btw our dog is a goldie and he is as wonderful a beast as a family could ever hope for.

Great article and so very true.

Some years ago we took in a starving tomcat.
It preferred clawing our leather furniture over all scratchposts offered. I took it to the vet and enquired how much they would charge to remove it's front claws. The cat loving vet stated that they felt this practice was cruel, and would not perform the procedure.
I then asked how much they would charge to euthanize the cat.
The declawing cost $125.00

Well-written article Kate. I am a semi-retired veterinarian, and an animal lover without reserve (although I like to think with a strong practical side - e.g. I am not a vegetarian, not anti-hunting, think PETA does way more harm than good, etc). A big part of the reason that I took fairly early retirement from the veterinary profession was that I did not like the direction the profession was taking, and I still don't. When I went to school, we were frequently told that people entered the profession for the love of animals, because it was way down on the pay scale in comparison to other professions. Well, not anymore, I can tell you - veterinarians have rectified that quite nicely, thanks very much, and not always justified, in my humble opinion.

Just one small point of clarification, Kate, with respect to the last line of your article. Perhaps a few rare breeds could die out if people are over-zealous with the spaying and neutering, but I think that the average vet will never run out of patients - there is still a lot of reproducing going on!!

Yeah, isn't it funny that those on the "other" side of the political spectrum who said the government has no place in the bedroom of the nation have now shoved their way into EVERY room in the house, bedroom and kennel included?

Great article, Kate. You're a woman of many talents.

After a poodle came our way -- a neighbour bred them, and my family -- well, I -- wanted a dog that didn't shed -- we fell in love with him, and began to appreciate "show" dogs. His father and umpteen of his cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters -- some filling dual roles -- were champions.

A testicle that didn't descend ended any possible championships, which was actually a relief to me, though getting to know our puppy's extended family and the person who bred them gave me a new appreciation of the dedication and care involved in dog breeding.

Keep giving them Hell, Kate!

Catherine? What a lovely name. Saintly and yet, imperious. Of course Kate would be its diminutive.

I've always said that C/Katherine is a dangerous name. There are lots in my family. I don't know a K/Catherine who doesn't know her own mind and who isn't shy about expressing it!

Nice article Kate Thanks, It seems there's an activist Statist working every freakin corner, trying to take away our right for everything and they're all so convinced they're right.

Miss Kate,

You are a formidable lady. Looks good on you. Give them hell. Take no prisoners is a good motto.
Don’t ever watch demolition derby, this one looks good to me.

Congrats on a great article Kate.

I've had mutts all my life, they just seem to fall into our house, in need, our last mutt was a greyhoundX. After Christmas we are going to look for a rescue Greyhound (or two). They are a gentle breed that have been abused by humans for profit, and their lives are so short if they can not run fast.

I have no problem with spaying or neutering if you just want a family pet, but if it is a potential champion of it's breed you would be crazy to do that. Vets unfortunately only look at dollars in some cases. My vet wanted extensive tests done on our 16 year old greyhound, who could not walk anymore, had stopped eating and was blind, we found a compassionate vet instead.

I read the article. I don't know much about the subject and I'm not an animal person generally, but it sounded good.

Personally I think the really good news is that, with multiple mentions in Lorrie Goldstein's Toronto Sun columns and now exposure as with this article, and also with the efforts of Ezra Levant to expose the phony human rights commissions, word is getting around that the blogs are pulling their weight and then some.

A beautiful piece of writing, Kate. It made a real emotional connection here despite my general indifference to the subject.
Here's the deal: I now feel that I could recognize a passage of your writing, were it presented to me unsigned. You have a truly distinctive voice.
It rings true from start to finish and is utterly free of superfluity.

John Begley: LOL.

Brilliant, Kate. Thank you.

I once visited a vet who began the examination of my Pomeranian by checking behind the ears for mats. I guess had she found any, I might have possibly lost possession of my dog!

Where I live you must belong to a breed club with an enforced code of ethics in order to get state permission to breed a litter (limit one litter per year). How stupid is that? Where is our freedom to breed creatively, as we see fit, for beauty, or health, or work, or whatever purpose we choose. Where is the encouragement to induce newcomers to try their hand at breeding?

Not only is there a five-year window towards extinction considering the reproductive years of the bitch, but also most likely there exists a five-year window for eliminating the interest and passion of new dog hobbyists. Either condition will bring extinction of breeds in the not-so-distant future, and both in combination are frightening.

Brilliant, Kate. Thank you.

I once visited a vet who began the examination of my Pomeranian by checking behind the ears for mats. I guess had she found any, I might have possibly lost possession of my dog!

Where I live you must belong to a breed club with an enforced code of ethics in order to get state permission to breed a litter (limit one litter per year). How stupid is that? Where is our freedom to breed creatively, as we see fit, for beauty, or health, or work, or whatever purpose we choose. Where is the encouragement to induce newcomers to try their hand at breeding?

Not only is there a five-year window towards extinction considering the reproductive years of the bitch, but also most likely there exists a five-year window for eliminating the interest and passion of new dog hobbyists. Either condition will bring extinction of breeds in the not-so-distant future, and both in combination are frightening.

"Conspiracy Theory 9/11 1/4 Jesse Ventura"

WEll I did and do Kate. I have had Brittany's for some 30 years - some trial champs, some hunting dog EX winners but by and large they were my hunting buddies and I have a good deal of respect for them. It Pees me off when I have vets lecturing me about the morality of hunting animal cruelty as they stich up the back of one of my dogs who went through a barbed wire fence incautiosly in the heat of a hunt on a hot sent. Yeah it's happened more than once and always from the usual source. As one other poster said it usually comes from some politically indocrinated tyro fresh from college.

This experience has led me to do much of my own non surgical vet work. These vet clinics in larger urban areas are bastions of PC retaliation against the tradition of the working gun dog.

A superb piece Catherine. From a very narrow perspective you painted a broad picture that all concerned citizens should at least thoughtfully consider.

The lamestream media in this country have overlooked what you bring to their table.

Of course being predominantly vegans the meat and potatoes don't appeal.

Sad that.

Syncro

I loved the article. You know the anti-Jews use the same arguments against circumcision. Hard to counter out right lies or innuendos. To plant seeds of mistrust in order to force their view. Which of course is more power & funding for them. They will regulate dogs out of existence in the name of their health. Gee sounds like the same rhetoric used in Health care.
I let my Animals if female to have a litter. I find they live longer. Oh yeah guess who owns most of the Pet food Companies. Yup you guessed it.
JMO

Something which appears to have gone unconsidered is that there are breeds which are used for specific purposes that would end up "non-existent" if the "pet police" have their way. And these aren't breeds used for hunting or show, they are ones which are downright "helpful":

1) Dogs used by police to locate humans and/or bodies (frequently used during major catastrophes, particularly such as earthquakes)

2) Drug-sniffing dogs

3) Explosive-sniffing dogs

4) Food-sniffing dogs (used to enforce quarantines against various things; I recently ran across one in Australia that was checking for items coming in that may have foot & mouth disease)

5) And, the "biggie" - "Service dogs", those utilized by the blind, deaf, and otherwise handicapped to allow them to "Mainstream". It's my understanding that many of these dogs are specifically bred for reasons of intelligence, personality and obedience (Kate, feel free to correct me if necessary). If "breeding is wrong" becomes a truism, then many of these breeds which have been developed to work with humans and perform important tasks will vanish - and no one has yet identified a reasonable alternative to replace them.

I'd love to hear a government mouthpiece try to explain to a blind person that "you can't have a guide dog; breeding them is forbidden by law".

As a dog lover, I learned a lot from this article. The tie-in to environmentalism was also astute as the 'green' movement is as irrational, unscientific, and mystical a doctrine as are most forms of groupthink including those who advocate the mantra of spay/neuter while espousing that domesticated dogs eat only 'raw' food.