Tuesday, February 27, 2007 -
is Spay DAY USA. - 

PREVENT A LITTER

Hello....

I am just writing to inquire about your policies.  I am wondering why it is so important for a loving family who wants to adopt a boxer to have their other boxer neutered when they may use him for a stud and while the boxer they want to adopt is already spayed.

I so long to have a female boxer and have a perfect home to love and care for another boxer.  Why is it so objected to having a male boxer in the home that maybe used for stud service and is not yet neutered? 

Thank you for your time, Angela

Everyday, I and thousands of volunteers just like me, spend time rescuing, caring for, and rehoming unwanted and abandoned animals.  This is in lieu of spending time with our families, our own dogs, our businesses, and our leisure time.  We do this because there are more animals than people who want them.  For each animal that makes it into animal rescue and on to a website like Adopt A Boxer Rescue, tens of thousands don't get that chance.  Old and young dogs, and puppies alike, are euthanized and then incinerated or dumped into land fills.

Almost all pure bred litters are planned.  It doesn't matter if these litters are planned by puppy mills, backyard breeders, or dog owners like yourself that just want to pass on their special dog's genes.  The outcome is the same.  A large percentage of those born will be killed by euthanasia.

Preventing litters is the only way to stop this cycle.  Spay and neutering our pets is the only sure way to prevent a litter. 

I can tell you have a good heart because you realize the importance of adopting and adding a rescued animal to your family.  Should your current dog add 4, 6, 8, or more puppies to the world?  And if so, will you be responsible for the puppies that are produced by your puppies when they have litters?  Please neuter your male, and don't add to the problem by adding to the population and the cycle.

I hope I have convinced you, and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Sandy, Volunteer - Adoptaboxerrescue.com

PS: I have attached an article (*Please Read), which I hope will further convince you if I have not been successful.

Hello Volunteer:

 

I understand where you are coming from and I do agree with you in regards to the unnecessary pet population from irresponsible pet owners but to take away an opportunity from an animal to have a great home and life experience because you are trying to teach a lesson does not make sense to me.  I bought an AKC registered boxer puppy and it was one of the most fulfilling things I have done at a time in my life that I had the chance.  I am not set on breeding my boxer but it would be an option to me, given that it would be a responsibility I would have to take on in finding proper and loving homes for each puppy along with the care of each dog.  I am a responsible dog owner and understand the hardships of the overwhelming number of unwanted dogs.  SO, back to my point....I am willing to give an unwanted boxer a loving home for life and you are keeping that opportunity from happening. I am sorry that the world does not all accept responsibility for the things they choose in life but to punish someone for others mistakes isn't always the answer either.  I really despise having to spend my money elsewhere on a boxer when there are boxers in need at your rescue.  If you happen to bend your rule a little to give one of your boxers a great home, I would love to hear from you.  I hope you understand where I am coming from.  Angela

"Please note:  Owning an AKC registered Boxer does not mean that your boxer has met any breed standards.  All puppy mill dogs are shipped to pet shops with "papers" for AKC registration.  In fact non-canines such as cats have been known to have obtained AKC registration papers."

You say that  "I bought an AKC registered boxer puppy" and "it was one of the most fulfilling things I have done". 

I am sure you realize that the AKC registration did not make your puppy "fulfilling".  It was the dog's personality and traits that matched your personality and traits.  And I am positive that you will never know "fulfilling" like you will if you give a home to a dog that has been rescued.

And although I try to discourage all breeding because of the tragic overpopulation problem we face, there is only one situation of breeding that I can see there may be a reason for.  That is the breeder that has met the test of their breed standards by showing and winning in a breed class at major dog shows.  A breeder that is dedicated to their breed, and who studies the genetics of their dog's lineage, and who is breeding to eliminate health problems, disease, and bad temperament, and will only breed their animal after their dog has passed the challenge of being measured against others in it's breed, can help further the genetics of the breed we so love.  [Note: This is my opinion, and not necessarily that of all in AABR]

Angela, we know you love your dog, but have you done your homework?  Will breeding your dog help eliminate health problems, disease, and bad temperament?  Has you dog won against breed standards in the show ring? 

What do you think?

Sincerely,
Sandy, Volunteer - Adoptaboxerrescue.com 

This is Spay and Neuter week... email sandy@adoptaboxerrescue.com with your comments.

Attached FROM the AABR website:   http://www.adoptaboxerrescue.com/boxerfaqs.htm

Should you decide to breed your Boxers and add to this pet overpopulation problem, you must make sure that both dogs are physically, mentally and genetically, perfect specimens of the Boxer Breed. 

• Before you breed your dogs, you should enter your Boxers in Dog shows comparing your Boxers to breed standards.  You should make sure that they are up to the standards of the breed. If they don't win their class, then don't breed them.
• Do your Boxers have any predisposition to genetically linked diseases such as cancer or cardiomyopathy? If they do, or you don't know, then you shouldn't breed your dogs. See  http://www.americanboxerclub.org/health-screening.html
• Did your Boxers come from the pet shop or a backyard breeder, such as you plan to be? If so, then you shouldn't breed your dogs.
• Before you breed, make sure you've obtained firm commitments for adoption or purchase of all of the pups in the litter. If you can't, then you shouldn't breed your dogs.
• Before you breed your dogs, you should educate yourself in the many problems that can arise, and the high costs associated with the process.  Few breeders recoup their costs.  If you are doing it for the money, then you shouldn't breed your dogs.

Please note:  Owning an AKC registered Boxer does not mean that your boxer has met any breed standards.  All puppy mill dogs are shipped to pet shops with "papers" for AKC registration.  In fact non-canines such as cats have been known to have obtained AKC registration papers. 

Or if you are just interested in having a puppy as part of your family, you can do this by spaying and neutering your two dogs, filling out an application from our site, and applying for one of our beautiful homeless puppies! They range in age from a few months old up to 12 to 13 years old. They are all adorable!!!

Sandy,

I want to commend you for your response to Angela on the website.  Even if you do not eventually reach her, you are reaching everyone who visits the site, and you are also providing those of us already in your camp with articulate responses when we encounter the Angelas of the world.  You made many excellent points that I guess I knew deep down, but would not have been able to articulate consciously.  Now I can do a better job.

I also feel she is a kind person who wants to do the right thing, and her correspondence with you is part of her "homework" process - I commend her for this as well.  Perhaps she will move on, but perhaps after more life experiences, someday your points will make more sense and she will understand.

Thank you for being persistent and passionate about animals.  On your bad days, please remember that you DO make a difference in the lives of animals and people, but you may not always know it.

Keep the faith, and please - NEVER GIVE UP!

Sincerely,
Ann in Williamsport PA

In my opinion, your letter took no stand.  You gave people an out for breeding - go enter your dog in a dog show.  As a rescue group there should never be a 'maybe' when it comes to breeding and that has always been the policy.  You took the AKC's policy and placed it on a rescue group's front page.  Unbelievable and as far as I'm concerned, totally against what any rescue group should be doing.  Spay and neuter your dog unless you meet the AKC's criteria - not a very smart message to send to people.  Do your homework.  Ask the breeders what they do when their champion bitches throw whites?  I'm sure you've heard of culling.  Some of them drown their whites, others put them in the freezer to die.  So I'll ask you what I ask everyone that talks about breeding their dog - give me the names of 7 dogs on the site that you think should not have a home because you bred your dog.

Name withheld