Source - Pet Rescue

www.petrescue.com.au

You’ve probably been in this situation before – someone finds out you're a pet lover and announces proudly "I’m actually thinking of letting Missy have a litter this year".

People breeding their pets are the reason we see thousands and thousands of needless deaths each year in shelters.

Euthanasia is the leading cause of death among healthy companion animals in Australia.

So how do you convince someone who doesn’t know the issues behind this harmless "hobby", that they themselves are going to become part of the problem? Below are some of the common misconceptions people have about pet breeding that might help you lead them to reconsider.

My children should see the miracle of birth

Most whelpings happen in the privacy of night when no one is there to see the delivery. Unless something goes terribly wrong – then your kids can experience the joy of sickness, deformity and death... heartwarming stuff!

If you must fill your house full with baby animals, why not visit your local shelter to ask if they have any mums and bubs that need temporary accommodation? Puppies and kittens need to be socialised into a home environment, so you might be able to help them rear a litter.

I’m going to make big $$$!

The average litter size is 7-10, all of which need veterinary care, high quality food and to be vaccinated before sale (most buyers now expect this).

The parents should be tested for genetic and infectious diseases before mating. An emergency caesaerean delivery, or intensive care for a sick puppy or kitten will quickly turn a break-even litter into a big expense. And this is IF you can sell the bubs!

Plus you’ll need to take some time off work - the mother should not be left alone at all during whelping, and only for short periods for the first few days after. After delivery mum needs special care and feeding - babies need constant checking and the whelping box needs LOTS of cleaning. Be prepared for sleepless nights!

If you have any sick babies or a mother who won’t take care of her litter, count on this being a full time job until they are a few weeks old. As the babies grow you need to allow time for socialisation, grooming and training.

If you can’t provide the time and money you will either have dead babies or babies that are anti-social, dirty and/or sickly – hardly a buyers delight!

But my pet is so loving/so pretty/so good with people – everyone I know wants one just like her!

Firstly, offspring aren’t clones. Just because your pet is lovely doesn’t mean that you’re going to end up with 8-10 identical pets. This is especially true of crossbreeds who are completely unique mixes that cannot be replicated with any certainty.

Secondly, your pet may be lovely, but MOST pets ARE! Lovely and pretty and unique – just like the majority of pets surrended to, born in and available at rescue centres. You don’t need to bring more pets into this world when there’s lovely pets desperate for homes who will never find them.

Finally, "everyone want’s one" is a statement that often ends up not being true. It’s easy to gush over a lovely pet – offer to take a puppy or kitten in conversation – but when it comes to the crunch, when it comes to the 10 year commitment, house breaking, sleepless nights and training – you might find these homes suddenly evaporate. I mean if they all REALLY wanted a pet, don’t you think they’d already have one?

But crossbreeds are tops and if no one breeds them, they’ll no longer exist!

Wouldn’t that be a lovely problem to have - an Australia wide shortage of cross breed pets!

Unfortunately we’re a long, long, LONG way from that ever being a problem. Fanciful notions that they’re you’re doing the world a favour by keeping the "mongrel" alive and well don’t take into account the hundreds of thousands of unwanted crossbreeds that never make it out of the shelter system.

Come help kill a few at your local pound and see if you’re still sure that we need more!

My pet is pure - I can breed purebreds!

Just because an animal is purebred, doesn't mean it will produce healthy, genetic disease free offspring and that it should be used to breed.

Around one in three pets in shelters are a purebred, so there's no shortage of these pets either - why not just enjoy your pet for who she or he is and leave the breeding up to the professionals?

Still not getting through?

Sometimes warnings from knowledgable professionals speak louder than your words ever could. Give them the addresses to these websites and ask that they seriously consider the implications of becoming a "backyard breeder".

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C-Section disasters... another good reason why pets don't need to breed
Dolittler Veterinary blog
By far the biggest mistake inexperienced breeders make is to assume nature will provide. This bountiful life force, she’s always in control and knows just when the little darlings will come into the world, right? Think again.

What is pyometra and why shoud I desex my bitch?
Balgownie Vet
Pyometra is a common problem in older un-desexed bitches. The risk of a pyometra infection, after hours callouts and emergency surgery are additional reasons why pets need to be desexed.   Read more...

"For every animal that dies in a shelter there is someone, somewhere that is responsible for its death."