Alida You carry on spreading the word! VBG I've sold more puppies over the years through people who previously had bought from me I rather think that what ruffled some of us and perhaps made our replies somewhat caustic was the comment or assumption that we as breeders did not keep any oldies but past them on when they were no longer of "use" to us. Possibly that was not what the person that sent post meant. There are many times when I have pressed the send button and thought afterwards that I could have phrased something better - just as well my skin is pretty thick!
Annette ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alida Margolin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 11:30 PM Subject: [CKCS-L] Letter from a non-breeder > (Peggy Mickelson wrote, "... The second thing is that I am amazed that a > non-breeder is telling anyone what questions to ask breeders and giving > advice on where to get a puppy. Especially a non-breeder who believes that > most breeders don't keep old dogs.") > I am a non-breeder, and member of this list for over 2 years, since well > before I got Remy. I will never be a breeder (though not for lack of > interest... maybe in the next life?). I wouldn't say most breeders don't > keep old dogs; I'm not in a position to make *any* statement about "most" > breeders (in fact, I wonder how many breeders could knowledgeably do so > either). I've been dismayed at how sarcastic and vitriolic some recent > posts have been; these have been directed at some of the people I had the > pleasure of talking with (in person or by phone) before I found Remy. They > don't deserve this treatment. They never had an unkind word to say about > anyone else. (And they don't need me to defend them by name, and fan the > flames.) > I'm writing, however, to point out that *non-breeders* (i.e., owners of > PET Cavaliers) *could* well be in a *very* good position to advise > prospective buyers. Someone (I think it was Anne) mentioned that perhaps as > many as 90% of Cavaliers aren't shown or bred. Of course, some of these are > kept by breeders; that still leaves a huge percentage that are sold as pets. > So, most Cavaliers seen walking around (with their owners) are pets. I can > hardly walk Remy for a block without someone stopping me to ask about him. > If you look at the numbers, you'll realize that most future Cavalier owners > are more likely to have their *initial* contact(s) with a *pet owner* rather > than a breeder. It is the face-to-face meeting with a Cavalier that, > whether we like it or not, is most influential in most people's decision > that this is the breed they want. I'm sure that statistics would show that > face-to-face meetings occur more often with the large numbers of > non-breeding pet owners out there, or (far worse), pet shops or backyard > breeders - NOT the relatively small group of committed, experienced breeders > such as are on this list. Unfortunately, I have never been stopped by a > stranger who had any inkling, before our conversation, that *any* of you > exist. Responsible non-breeders can also do their part to promote the > wellbeing of the breed. Personally, I think more non-breeders should be > encouraged to do so (or at least not have their role dismissed). > The reality of sheer numbers means that - like it or not - there are a lot > more *non-breeders* (pet owners) on the "front lines" -- likely to meet (or > be accosted by!) future Cavalier-owners -- than there are breeders. If a > person is receptive and I have the time, I do offer advice (including where > NOT to get a puppy, how to spot a broker, how to find good breeders, health > problems common in the breed, etc.) Will I continue to do this? You bet I > will! I'd be dishonoring my love for Remy (and all the future little > "Remys" out there) if I didn't. > Alida Margolin-Ahlskog > > ========================================================= > "Magic Commands": > to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL > to start it up gain click here: > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL > > E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. > Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html > > All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 1999 by its original author. ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 1999 by its original author.
