Guest guest Posted July 25, 2006 Report Share Posted July 25, 2006 Earlier this month, the Shanghai Daily published an article about a pet matchmaking company's plan to host regular " dog matchmaking events " in Shanghai, aimed at pet owners who wanted to find the perfect breeding partner for their pet. The Shanghai Daily presented this information in a playful, carefree manner. Second Chance Animal Aid, a non-profit organization in Shanghai, were not amused. They have written a response to the newspaper, but the newspaper has not published their letter. -Shanghai Daily article: Dog date party helps dog owner By Fu Yingqing (Shanghai Daily) 2006-07-06 A dog matchmaking event will be held in the city this month, giving lonely-heart hounds a shot at puppy love-and owners the opportunity to find the best breeding match for their pets. Hosted by gougou520.com, which calls itself China's first professional online pet matchmaking company, the event will gather 100 dog owners in Hongqiao area to find their pooch the perfect partner. Organizers said the event would be held in mid-July but that no specific date had been set. They said they hoped to hold events for different breeds every week. Pet owners looking to register should log onto the Website, with the most popular breed being picked for the first event. " Matchmaking will be held for one type of dog every time, " said Zhou Handong, the Website's director. " Because most people prefer to partner their dogs with ones of the same breed. " Since the Website was launched last December, more than 2,000 pets have been registered and 100 successful matches have been made. But it's not just the dogs who may get lucky. " For single pet owners, this might also lead to a real romance, " said Zhou. " We found most people who register are under 35 and working-class singles. " Breeding experts said the Website was a good idea, but suggested owners learn the basics of dog breeding first to ensure a good match. Shanghai has about 30,000 pet dogs, according to Song Wenjun, general-secretary of the Shanghai Pet Society, a branch of the city's Zoology Society. " There is a large market there for pet matchmaking, " said Song. " But it's better to find out the health history of the dogs' parents to make sure there is no risk of hereditary diseases. " To register owners must include their pets' names, photos, ages, breeds and personalities. http://chinadaily.com.cn/citylife/2006-07/06/content_634585.htm -Second Chance Animal Aid's letter of response to the article: To Whom It May Concern: We read with shock and disappointment the article in the Thursday, July 6 Shanghai Daily entitled “Dog Date Helps Owners Find Perfect Pet Partner” written by Fu Yingqing. We represent Second Chance Animal Aid (SCAA), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping abandoned and neglected animal companions in Shanghai. One of our goals is to educate people about spaying and neutering dogs and cats. The animal population in Shanghai, and in many other cities, is out of control. We have been working diligently to help abused and abandoned animals, spending roughly RMB 200,000+/year to make these animals healthy and to find loving homes for them. It is shocking to us, as well as to our over 500 members, that this irresponsible exercise in excessive breeding would be organized and promoted. Every day we receive many calls from people who have found a dog, cat, puppy or kitten and want our help in getting it healthy and finding a home for it. Often, these people get upset with us because we cannot help them - we do not have a shelter and depend on dedicated volunteers to take needy animals into their home. We are overburdened. Organizing and promoting a dog matchmaking day will undoubtedly result in more unwanted dogs. Some may argue that breeding purebreds is different - it is not. Purebred animals are as demanding as any other pet and many will certainly be abandoned at the first sign of behavioral problems. The health benefits of spaying and neutering animals apply to all cats and dogs, regardless of breed. Some of the benefits of spaying and neutering your pet include: increasing your pet’s life span; eliminating or reducing the risk of certain cancers or other expensive and difficult to treat diseases; reducing aggression; reducing the likelihood of a pet biting anyone; reducing the risk of your pet running away from a safe home; reducing the number of unwanted / neglected animals wandering the streets or caged in overcrowded shelters We urge all responsible pet owners to put the health and well-being of their pet, and of the pet community at large, ahead of a desire to recklessly breed their animal. We also encourage all responsible pet owners and animal lovers to boycott this irresponsible event. While we are very grateful to Shanghai Daily for your sponsorship in the Monday issue of your paper, this kind of event is working against what we are promoting. For more information on responsible pet ownership, please refer to the SCAA website (scaashanghai.org) and our links to other animal welfare organizations. Sincerely, Carol Wolfson, SCAA Founder and Executive Director Cat Brandell, SCAA Director Lee-Anne Armstrong, SCAA Foster Care Director http://www.scaashanghai.org/dog_date_pet_partner.htm (Chinese translation of rebuttal) http://www.scaashanghai.org/dog_date_pet_partner_ch.htm --\ ------------------------------ Email address for Editor of the Shanghai Daily: General editorial affairs: editor =========================================================== [Poster's note: The following are general items on the topic of spay/neutering and irresponsible breeding, from various sources] BENEFITS OF SPAY/NEUTERING Spaying or neutering your pet prevents the suffering and tragic death of thousands of animals. Spaying (the procedure for female animals) and neutering (the procedure for male animals) are two of the most common surgical procedures performed on cats and dogs. Spaying or neutering your pet is simple, avoids the cost and hassle of dealing with litters, decreases aggressiveness (e.g. biting), and can increase your pet's lifespan. Many healthy kittens and puppies are euthanized before reaching six months old. Yet some pet owners continue to allow their animals to breed. The consequences of strays can be staggering: One unspayed cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens in seven years and one unspayed dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in six years. There simply are not enough homes to adopt them all. The most heart-wrenching result of our failure to spay and neuter is the fate of all the resulting unwanted animals. Unwanted pets that get euthanized in a shelter are often the lucky ones; others get abandoned or otherwise killed or disposed of. Stray cats and dogs on the streets usually live miserable and short lives, ending only when they die from cold, starvation, disease, or worse. But it's not just the animals who suffer due to our failure to spay and neuter. Capturing, impounding and eventual euthanasia costs taxpayers/private agencies a huge amount of money every year. In addition to the tax burden of pet overpopulation, a host of societal problems also result. As a potential source of rabies and other diseases, some abandoned pets become public health hazards. Stray animals scare children, bite passersby, cause accidents, and soil streets and parks. Society seems to have adopted a distressing view of animals as disposable " goods " that can be dealt with only via the inherently disrespectful solution of euthanization. The failure to spay and neuter is costing us all. The good news is that communities with active spay/neuter programs and legislation are seeing very encouraging results. Not only that, but spaying and neutering pets lets them live longer, healthier lives, and also often makes them more affectionate and easier to care for. Spaying And Neutering Your Pet About.com Richard Green Many Unwanted Pets Are Euthanized Every Year Many people buy puppies and just don't understand why it is so important to spay and neuter their new family member. Unfortunately these same people many times are the ones that end up dropping off their dog at the nearest shelter when the thrill of owning a new puppy wears off. Owning a dog is a big commitment and these wonderful loving creatures expect little more than a roof over their head, to be fed properly, given a little love, and to be cared for when they are sick. In return they will give you unconditional love even when you don't really deserve it. According to the Humane Society of the United States millions of dogs and cats are given up to shelters or left to die on the streets every year. Every cat or dog who dies as a result of pet overpopulation—whether humanely in a shelter or by injury, disease, or neglect—is an animal who, more often than not, would have made a wonderful companion, if given the chance. Tremendous as the problem of pet overpopulation is, it can be solved if each of us takes just one small step, starting with not allowing our animals to breed. Breeding Your Pet May Not Be A Wise Decision Reputable breeders sell most of their puppies, other than show quality prospects, with a limited registration. This means that the dog can be registered with the American Kennel Club but any offspring will not be eligible for AKC registration. All reputable breeders care about the puppies they sell and care about the breed they represent. Their main goal is to produce dogs that adhere as closely as possible to the AKC Standard for that breed. Breeders spend many hours educating themselves on proper breeding practices and how to avoid health and genetic problems that are common to their chosen breed. Inexperienced people that buy dogs to breed are being totally irresponsible and aren't taking the time to think about the future of the resulting puppies. They don't have the education to know which males and females should or shouldn't be bred. An incorrect match could have devastating results including blindness, deafness, and some real nasty genetic problems. As a society we really don't need any more unwanted dogs in this world to contribute to an already overwhelming problem. Be A Responsible Pet Owner Owning a dog really is a big responsibility and no living creature deserves to be dumped off at some shelter in hopes that someone else will take care of them. Dogs need a great deal of love and attention. Food and veterinary bills can really add up and should be taken into consideration when buying a puppy. If you buy a puppy from a breeder on a limited registration, you are normally buying from a reputable breeder, and you are becoming part of the solution instead of contributing to the problem of dog overpopulation. http://stlouis.about.com/od/animalspet1/a/spayneuter.htm IRRESPONSIBLE BREEDING A science all its own, dog breeding is a huge responsibility and expense, and should never be done on a whim, to make money, or at all, unless you have a titled champion dog on your hands and good bloodlines. Why People Want To Breed Dogs, And Why They Shouldn't About.com From Krista Mifflin, Your Guide to Dogs Almost everybody loves puppies. Who could resist that sweet puppy breath or soft, downy fur? Unfortunately, when it comes to dog breeding, a love of puppies is simply not enough to breed your dog. Hundreds of puppies are born every day, and hundreds of adorable puppies are put to sleep in shelters across North America. We have a serious pet overpopulation problem right now. The Reasons People Want to Breed Their Dogs: I want another one just like my dog. I want to make money. I want my children to witness the miracle of birth. Puppies are cute, there's always people who want puppies. The Reasons People Should NOT Breed Their Dogs: I want another one just like my dog. This never works according to plan. When a dog gets pregnant, the puppies will take the father's traits, personality, and physical, and the mother's traits, and mix them up, taking some of one, some of another, and developing their own altogether. You will never get a perfect match. Instead you may end up with the worst traits of both dogs. Even cloning a dog (see Cloning Your Dog) has proven that while a genetic match is possible, looks and temperament are still in the hands of Fate. I want to make money. I can't believe people can still think they can make money off of puppies. The cost of breeding will overshadow any profits you think to make. The puppies need their first shots before going to their new homes, the mother needs frequent check-ups, and heaven forbid if something goes wrong. And something always goes wrong. I want my children to witness the miracle of birth. This " miracle " can now be easily viewed by both children and adults thanks to such wonderful programming as " A Baby Story " and " Maternity Ward " , both available on cable television. Not only that, but how much of a " miracle " will your child be seeing if your beloved pet dies halfway through delivery? Puppies are cute, there's always people who want puppies. No, unfortunately this is the most ignorant assumption made these days. Not everybody wants puppies. Hundreds die everyday because of the lack of homes. How heartbreaking to hold a twelve week old puppy and put her to sleep because somebody thought for sure there would be somebody else who wanted her. For every puppy born, three die in shelters. There are too many out there and not enough homes for them all. If this is not enough reasons to stop you from breeding your dog, then here are a few more: Complications in birth and pregnancies happen all the time. You could face losing your dog to death, and all the puppies with her. Will YOU pay the $1200.00 for a much-needed emergency cesarean section when she cannot deliver the pups? What about sexually-transmitted diseases? That stud dog you had picked out may have one. They are more common than you think. How about genetic diseases? They abound. Breeding is not a careless affair, it is so much more than bringing bitch and stud together during a heat cycle. Please think it over carefully. http://dogs.about.com/cs/generalcare/p/no_breeding.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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