Written by PETA
Here's yet another good reason to give breeders a wide berth and adopt a mutt: Some of the most common breeds of dog are the most prone to cancer, if you go by claims filed with the companion animal insurance company Trupanion. Boxers rank first on the cancer scale, followed by German shepherds, golden retrievers, Rottweilers, and Doberman pinschers.
Many other health problems plague "purebreds," including crippling hip dysplasia, blindness, deafness, heart defects, skin problems, epilepsy, difficulty breathing (in pugs, bulldogs, and other breeds with unnaturally short noses), and screamingly painful disc disease (common in dachshunds, who have long spines). Breeders' common practices of mating dogs who are related and breeding dogs for specific, distorted physical features are to blame. We can lessen our chance of losing a beloved companion too early (and save a life!) by adopting a hardy Heinz 57.
Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post
I think it would be best if we eliminated pets from our lives altogether, I mean, surely these animals are not happy being segregated from their own species, scolded when attempting communication with a brother or sister, allowed outside, on a leash once a day, twice if you are lucky...rest of the time they are playthings for humans also fulfilling some asthetic need, rather sick if you ask me
Approximately 6 to 8 million animals are handled by animal shelters in the United States each year. Some are reclaimed or adopted, but nearly 4 million unwanted dogs and cats are left with nowhere to go. The births and deaths of millions of homeless animals could be reduced and prevented through spaying and neutering. Yet countless numbers of puppies are born every day, thanks to breeders who often breed closely related dogs in order to retain certain breed characteristics. Not only does this contribute to the overpopulation crisis, it has also led to genetic diseases in virtually every breed. As long as there are dogs dying in shelters, there is no such thing as a responsible breeder.
I have a pure-breed English Staffordshire Bull Terrier who I got from a registered breeder in NZ - and I think that if you are are wanting a 'pure bred' dog - make sure you are getting it from a registered breeder, like mine is from the NZKC - kennel club - this way all paperwork is kept from both parents and you can know that your pup has been bred properly from different, healthy lines. Although I volunteer at the SPCA here locally and there are some gorgeous furry friends here that need a loving home, my next dog will be a rescue pup.
Not entirely sure how true this is....
Nothing beats a Heinz 57 dog for unique looks! My dog is a border collie/black lab mix who looks like a tall, black border collie when his winter coat is grown in, and a black lab after he has had his summer shave down...
Many dogs get cancer for the same reason people do, their diets consist primarily of artificial food. If owners began feeding their pets only those dry, canned and dehydrated foods recommended by The Whole Dog Journal in their winter issue(s), there'd be a whole lot fewer animals not only with cancers but with allergies and other maladies as well. We have a 6.5 year old Spinone Italiano we got as a puppy from guy who bred his female for the first time (he now has three of them). We've fed our dog nothing but whole food, dried kibble and dehyrdrated mixes from The Honest Kitchen - both of the latter recommended by The Whole Dog Journal. We see our neighbors purchase the crap full of fillers, questionable meat and artificial colors and preservatives one can find at the grocery store and watch as their dogs visit the vet five or six times a year with one malady after another. Garbage in, garbage out people .. for people as well as for dogs.
Although it doesn't prevent cancer if it is in the genes, doing your best to avoid foods with preservatives and by-products is giving them that extra chance at good health. I feed holistic food to all of mine, and although it is pricey, their health and lives are worth every penny
My dog was born the same day as me and he is now 16. He is a bully staffie X. He is getting put down because he is losing control of his bladder. He also has lots of lumps on him that me and my mum think are cancerous. he also is practically blind and deaf. so you have to be crawl to be kind. it will be sad for him to go but have to put him out of any pain he in before it gets worse.
My boxer is a rescue and currently has cancer, but without a doubt, I would rescue this "purebred" again in a minute!!!
Our last 2 Pure Bred German Shepherds both passed away at the ripe old age of 15! They never had a sick day in their lives one had a stroke when she was 11 but recovered fully and lived another 4 years. Go figure
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