Lisa > How can we possibly expect to improve health in the breed if over 2000 per > year are bred in the USA alone, and these are ONLY the Berner pups > registered with the AKC!
and, more cryptically: > With a population of Berners, regardless of source, exploding, perhaps an > understatement, and with, in the USA, no rules to prevent anybody and his > brother from breeding 'em, folks, there is going to be a flood of Berners > needlessly euthanized or abandoned because people will not or cannot spend > the money to ascertain the dog' wellness. I feel so strongly that this has > or will become the breed's reality that I shall even say that those > pondering this weighty problem would do well to mark my words! Please don't see this as a personal affront, as it TRULY is not intended as such, but what, please, is the PRECISE point that you are trying to make in your rather pessimistic message? I'm sure there IS a point, but it completely eludes me. Are you saying that people should stop breeding Berners? Are you saying that people should stop buying Berners? Are you saying there are too many Berners? Or are you saying that only the wealthy should even remotely contemplate buying a Berner, because they can become ill and veterinary treatment is expensive? Whilst the latter is true, it surely doesn't exclusively pertain to Berners? ALL dogs, purebred and crossbred, can and DO get ill. I know plenty of crossbreeds who seem to spend more time at the vet's surgery than out of it. I know purebreeds who never see the vet and live to a right old age. And vice versa. Speaking strictly for myself, my two Berners see the vet an awful lot - BECAUSE THEY HAVE A VERY, VERY CONCERNED OWNER. Me. It's me who insists that the dogs are seen that often becuase I worry about every skin tag, cough, wart, limp, whatever. It's not because they are that frail. Most limps and warts and sneezes dissapear without any interference. If I adopted a more fatalistic outlook and only brought my dogs to the vet when they are extemely ill, I would virtually have no vet expenses. But I don't. Because I just...well, want to protect them. Hopefully. Somehow. And this approach is probably true for a lot of owners who have horrendous vet expenses. But this attitudide is certainly not unique to Bernese, nor their owners? Summa, summaris : if you want to keep your money and your heart without bruises, don't have a pet. Any pet. Or have one and adopt a "survival of the fittest" approach. I'd love to do the former and I'll never be able to subscribe to the latter, thus I bid a cheery "bye-bye" to my money and my heart. Because I could not fathom life without my boys. Even if their life should be a short one. An expensive one. Could you imagine life without any of yours? I want MORE people to breed Berners, more people to share their life with them. Berners make you happy. And I'd love to be surrounded by as many happy people as possible. Wouldn't you? Be well Michaela, Harvey & Rupert Devon/UK
