Laura Lang wrote: ...
>DO YOU pet members truly believe that it is possible to breed to improve >specific things (such as hips, eyes, hearts and patellas) without seeing an >increase in other defects--such an immune disorders? > ***Yes, I certainly do believe that this is possible, especially if it is done whilst limiting the amount of in-breeding that was one of the causes of the problem in the first place, rather than building walls around an already constrained gene pool. >And if you do, please >state the specific research you've found that says so. > ***No. However, I'd be very interested in specific research that shows that careful selection of dogs that don't have hip, eye, heart and patella defects coupled with attempts to reduce in-breeding leads to immune disorders or the early onset of cancer. >Or is it that you >prefer to see better hips, eyes, hearts and patellas but don't care if the >average dog gets cancer or an overwhelming infection at age 6 and dies? > > > *** Sorry, I seem to have missed out on the emails from uncaring pet owners explaining that they don't care about their dogs dying a painful and premature death. Or maybe there weren't any and you're basing these helpful accusations on specific research? As a pet member and a recent arrival to this list I must say that I have been astounded at the level of arrogance, intolerance and bitchiness that has been on recent display here. And that's coming from people who want to "educate" pet owners and who, apparently, need their support and votes to achieve their objectives. Extraordinary. Some of you even manage to make the words "pet member" sound like an insult. I'm very grateful to all breeders that are helping us to understand the importance of health testing, that are doing it themselves and that are working hard to provide healthy puppies and create a climate where others breeders will be encouraged to do the same. I'm delighted to read messages that help me to understand such work and also learn how to support it, for example by continuing testing and registering the results. On the other hand condescending messages from arrogant breeders who look down on pet owners, for example because they've garnered a smattering of knowledge about genetics and think they know it all, do not get my sympathy. One final point: I really don't care which particular initials make up the name of your club, or what particular order they're in, who was right or wrong about what in 1996, or earlier, or even now. But I do care about my dog and I'm very open to doing the best I can for him, learning about how to protect his health as much as possible and understanding what I can do to best help the breeding community or advising friends who want a Cavalier King Charles too on what to look out for when contacting breeders. Chris Arden ========================================================= "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 2002 by its original author.
