Fri 2nd Dec: How can anyone support breeders?

Jingle the pom

I had to take the breeder pom and sharpei to AFCD to be registered under my name, and it turned out that the sharpei had no microchip anyway so it was a very straightforward matter.  The pom, with her poor little bent legs, had a current license but since it was due to expire soon she had a rabies vaccination, and I found out her registered age of seven years, six months.

I had also taken poodle Bell to have his rabies shot and license update, and while Andrea at the Homing Centre had advised that I had it done at Acorn, while I wasn't looking the crate door was opened and out Bell walked.  He was very happy to trot round the AFCD compound at the end of the leash, but when it came time to inject him he was having none of it, and no matter how many tactics were used to try and divert his attention he managed to avoid the needle.  Eventually he even pulled back out of the harness and fled, but luckily allowed me to loop a leash round his neck when he found himself trapped in the kennel block.  One way or another someone managed to stick the needle in and inject the vaccine, and I'm happy that it will be another three years before the process needs to be repeated.   In contrast the sharpei girl, now called Carol, was very calm and easy despite being really scared, and Jingle the pom was no problem at all.

Dr Tony was today's vet and just the right person to take a look at Jingle's twisted leg, another case of a patella luxation that had been ignored for years.  The other kneecap is also very loose and will need surgery, but before that can happen we will need to treat the heartworm which a test showed the poor girl has, not to mention ear mites and disgusting teeth.  I know I am always talking about how much I hate breeders, but looking at this pom who has still been used to produce puppies despite being unable to walk and not having had even the most basic of care, makes me so angry.  We really need a foster home so Jingle can have all of the treatment she needs, so please let Cindy know if you can help by emailing foster@hongkongdogrescue.com.

This pom was still being mated despite the huge hernia

The other pom from the same breeder, who hasn't yet come to us, had surgery for on a very large lump which turned out not to be mammary tumour but a hernia, which when opened was found to contain two (dead) puppy foetuses.  In fact the sharpei, Carol, also has a similar inguinal hernia which will be fixed when she is spayed, so I'm extremely grateful that she was rescued before being forced to have more litters.

Words can't really express the dismay and sadness I feel at knowing that dogs like these are suffering so that the pet shops can be supplied with puppies and the breeders can make money.   People who continue to buy such pups are just as guilty, as without them the whole trade in life would end.  There can be absolutely no justification for supporting this kind of cruelty, and I just hope the new Animal Trader Licensing Laws will go at least some way towards closing down these disgusting places when they come into effect next year.