I think it is all about how each one of us feels what is right for US. Personally, I have had a friend that let two of her Chihuahuas get pregnant from a neighbors male and she said she would never do that again because it was a lot of pain for her girls and by the time that she gave the first pick of the litter to the male’s owner, she was left with one puppy and way more vet bills than she could have sold her one remaining puppy for.
When I got Dolly, my only intention was to have a pet. I had her spayed because I knew that there are medical reasons for being spayed early, and I had no intention of breeding her. I then got Desi because I knew she needed another Chihuahua to play with as my spinal problems got worse and I couldn’t play with her the way that she deserved. In my opinion, and for my reasons, I went to a breeder to make sure that puppy was not from a puppy mill…and although the breeder advertised on a website and her house was clean when I went there, Desi had a few problems that were caused by the breeders reckless abandon of what animals you should breed and which ones should never be used for breeders. I got Desi from that breeder – she did not remove the dewclaws like most reputable breeders do the first couple of day of life before there is a blood supply to them; she obviously either bred a male that had the testicular problem, or she used two breeders who were too closely related, and Desi had to be neutered earlier than my vet normally will neuter a male Chihuahua and he had five incisions in his belly in order for the vet to untangle and remove all that was supposed to be. In addition to that, the breeder let all the puppies free feed. Well…Desi is not one to stop when he has had enough, and the puppy fat that was on him was so much that at four months, the vet had me put Desi on adult food because he was not losing the fat fast enough. I had to teach him how to chew his food because he would inhale it, and that probably started because all the puppies were vying for the same bowl of food. I didn’t get either of mine to be bred, and I can’t have any more in my HOA. But, if I had gotten the two at the same time and then I decided that I wanted some more, I might breed so that I could get their offspring (however, I wouldn’t have done it with Desi because I know the consequences of his puppies and he could have also had an artery or an organ choked off, or the unattached testicle could form a really big ugly cancer). I would not breed just to do it and keep one puppy, or to make money. I have my reasons for getting them when and how that I got them. They were already born and alive and so I did rescue them, just not from a shelter. I have a friend that has standard doxies; she bred her male and female and they had five puppies. My friend kept three of them and her daughter has two of them. They wanted to have them all in the family. They love them all and take very good care of them all. Dolly & Desi are all that I can have. I am very happy that they are getting along so well, and that they are both by my side when I am going through some difficult days. I could very well pass away before they do. This is another thing that fills up the shelters. People have pets that they love, and either they have not planned ahead for them at all, or they didn’t plan well enough, because many dogs end up in shelters because their owners pass away or are put into a skilled nursing facility. I believe that you have to plan for your dogs just as you would if you have minor children. When I just had Dolly, she would have been left to Judy and she would have kept her and loved her and I know that they both would be happy. When I got Desi and after a few months I saw how they were bonding so well, so now the plan is that if something happens to me, that Judy gets them – but it is a verbal promise between the two of us, that she will make sure that they go to a good home where they will be able to stay together and they will be loved. The other big thing here in Las Vegas is so many people are losing their homes to foreclosure. They don’t have money to pay their mortgage and they may not have money to pay rent either. So many people have left their dogs and cats in their houses – with the electricity off so they could die of hunger or from the inside temperature of the house without any heating or air conditioning. It would have been better for them to take them to the shelter themselves than to just let them alone in the house not even knowing if someone will find them there before they die. I believe the problem is not only in breeding too many, but taking care of and at least leaving them with a no-kill shelter until they go to a very lucky home. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of enjaelove Sent: Monday, January 16, 2012 10:12 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Chihuahuas] I Have To Say... This list is about our love of our chihuahuas. Some folks here have been in the dog world longer than others. Some folks have been professional breeders. Some folks are life-long rescuers. Some just have a family-member who happens to BE a chihuahua. I have noticed the ones who jump on and say don't allow your pet chihuahua to breed. Get them fixed ASAP. Those with a differing view point seem mighty quiet. I'll probably get blastedfor this but I disagree.
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