Pitbull/mix Information Taskforce (PIT)

This entry on breeders is by PIT co-chair Barbara Moran, a journalist who covered animal-related topics for "The San Diego Union" and law-related topics for "The Atlanta Constitution." She freelanced animal-related topics for national magazines and newspapers including "Dog Fancy," "The Los Angeles Times," "The San Francisco Chronicle," and "ZooNooz." Her travels took her around the world, where she covered endangered species, including pandas in China. She has written extensively about animal control.

Responsible Breeding Practices
(official statement of The American Kennel Club)

"The American Kennel Club believes that breeding programs should be undertaken responsibly for the purpose of preserving breed characteristics and producing healthy, well-socialized puppies. Responsible breeders are expected to give careful consideration to health issues, temperament, and genetic screening, as well as to the individual care and placement of puppies in responsible homes. AKC supports and promotes these and other responsible breeding practices through breeders' education programs, and commends those who offer similar guidance.

The AKC strongly opposes the breeding of dogs by those who do so without regard for the dogs' welfare. We support scrupulous enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act, and state and local regulations governing the humane care of animals. We further believe that USDA and other enforcement agencies should be given appropriate resources to ensure that regulations are met.

In addition, the AKC Investigations and Inspections department conducts more than 4,000 kennel inspections each year. When AKC inspectors find kennels that do not meet our minimum care and conditions requirements, they educate and encourage those breeders to raise their standards or face suspension of their AKC registration privileges. Proper authorities are also alerted to any cases of animal neglect."

The City of Oak Harbor has restricted pitbull breeds, but does nothing to control backyard breeders who exploit dogs by overbreeding them and selling puppies purely for profit. So in effect, it is OK for irresponsible people to breed pitbulls, but practically impossible for responsible owners to have pitbulls without being made to feel like criminals. Pitbulls are openly sold on the Internet with Oak Harbor contact information.

So what is a backyard breeder? It is basically someone who sells dogs for profit without regard for the breeding welfare of the mother dog, or the long-term prospects for the puppies. The breeder, who may be an unsupervised teenager, may produce more than a healthy number of litters per year, provide questionable health care and do no disease or genetics testing.

This type of breeder makes breeding decisions based on impulse, desire for money, or other inappropriate criteria such as: My dog is so cute. I just know people would like to have a dog like mine. I can give the puppies to my friends. It's "natural" to have puppies (actually it increases odds of disease for a dog). My kids should see the miracle of birth. Maybe I can start a new breed. Puppies are fun.      

This breeder may not conform to sanitation regulations or other standard business practices. Oak Harbor does not require any breeding licenses or inspections, which makes this type of breeding pretty easy to do. Oak Harbor and its animal control partner, WAIF, do little to encourage an end to backyard breeding, even though unwanted dogs eventually end up at the shelter where they are euthanized.

A responsible breeder is interested in the betterment of the breed, tests for genetic disorders and diseases, strives to carefully select breeding partners to produce puppies of a higher quality than the breeding pair. A responsible breeder is an adult who is willing to conform to local sanitation, zoning, and business licensing regulations, and who carefully screens prospective purchasers of any puppies -- especially as it relates to pitbull breeds to avoid having the puppies wind up in dogfighting rings. A responsible breeder does not breed more dogs than can be placed in good, stable, permanent homes.
        
 If you breed dogs, or you want to breed dogs, go to WAIF's shelters and look into the eyes of every dog that is cowering or going crazy there. If you can be absolutely certain in your heart that no dog you bring into the world will EVER face that fate, then maybe you are a responsible dog breeder. If you want to breed a pitbull breed, then visit your local humane society first and ask to see dogfighting videos there. Your puppies stand a greater chance than any other breed of dying in a dog ring. That cute little puppy you just had to breed could wind up like this or worse.

       Think about it.   

Visit The Lawrence County Humane Society's comparison chart entitled:

Traits of Responsible Breeders vs. Traits of Backyard Breeders  

If you know backyard breeders, print out this chart and stick it on their door. Better yet, take a copy to the Oak Harbor City Council and ask why it won't do anything to regulate this type of activity. Other communities are taking responsibility by passing laws that distinguish between legitimate breeders and backyard breeders. Here is just one sample law.

It makes no sense to practically ban a type of dog without monitoring its uncontrolled backyard breeding. Cities like Oak Harbor need to stop the problem at the source, not wait until the dogs wind up at WAIF for euthanasia. Please ask Oak Harbor politicians to address the problem by emailing them at info@oakharbor.org

        Thanks so much.
Bob Baker and Barbara Moran
Co-chairs (PIT)