The stupidity in this world gets to me sometimes...

[CatsnRats]

My husband's aunt recently bred all three of her female dachshunds. None of them are papered and one of her dogs had a few puppies that are obviously not going to live long. At least one was also born deformed(although I can't remember how I know it involved a foot). What gets me is that she's asking for $350-$400 for this dogs!

She's a good pet mom other than this but I just can't believe she'd be so stupid as to breed her dogs when she can't even budget well enough to keep the bills paid and gas in the car. I'm thinking about "buying" one of these dogs for my mom for Christmas but making sure that the little beastie is never bred.

[Ltlpistol]

Knowing that the one pup was born deformed, I would insist on being guaranteed that if after a vet (vet of my choosing) check the pup I bought was found to have any health problems, they would take it back and refund my money!

[LadyLynn]

you know, even the deformed puppy needs love, and has much to offer the world. If you are looking for the healthiest for obvious reasons that's fine, but sometimes, the health, "Deformity" is not the issue.

[CatsnRats]

My mom told me she would love any animal in the world, regardless of how it looked(except hairless rats. She doesn't like those). I did find out that the problem with the pup was it was born with only two toes on one foot(nothing major but probably annoying for it). I just need to talk to my dad again about a pup. The most recent litter will be old enough to leave mum on Christmas Eve. I think I'd prefer to get my mum an older one though.

The biggest problem I had with her breeding wasn't that the dogs weren't healthy or anything(although she should've checked on all that before hand) but that she really can't budget worth crap nor will she allow anyone else to take over her finances(and several family members have offered). If anything had happened, I doubt she could've afforded vet care and she definitely can't afford to keep pups she can't find homes for. I saw it as breeding for the money, not for the breed. And that just ticks me off.

[katiem]

If you buy from her you're really just supporting what she's doing, and teaching her that she can make money by doing it. I would suggest getting a dog elsewhere, and letting your mom b a part of the decision. Also pets as presents are usually a big no-no. If you already know that your mom wants the dog and have discussed getting one, I would wait until after the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over. Christmas can be stressful enough without having a new puppy in the home, and it will be less stressful for the pup to come into a quiet home.
On another note I've got a friend who is doing a similar thing, except with Siamese cats. Everytime the cats go into heat they are bred. Brother to sister, and father to daughter, again and again. Now she is wondering why her kittens are runts, deformed or still born. I've told her time and time again that it needs to stop, but she's in it for the money, although she has convinced herself she's in it for the love of the breed. Should I ever get a Siamese cat, it won't be from her.
Maybe you could show her this:
http://www.brightlion.com/InHope/InHope_en.aspx
I showed it to my friend, she bawled her eyes out, but the subtle hint at "STOP BREEDING YOUR ????CATS!" wasn't enough.

[CatsnRats]

It doesn't matter what time of the year it is, my mother's house is always hectic. My five younger siblings still live there as well as my older sister and her family.

My mom doesn't want a dog though. In any case, my husband's aunt is finding homes for them anyway(which really ticks me off because the two shelters near here are euthanizing so many of their animals every single day just because they can't find homes for them(and won't scan for microchips or if the animal isn't registered, whether is has a tag or not, they won't contact the owner).

[katiem]

Oh, I know what you mean! My house (apartment) seems to be hustle and Bustle all the time these days! I'm glad to hear your mom decided not to get one, maybe oneday when she's ready she can adopt from one of those shelters you mentioned. It's such a shame that there are people still pouring out animals for cash when so many others are dying in shelters. Makes me want to kick my friend in the shins!

[CatsnRats]

When I was little(before I turned three because that was when we moved) my parents had a cocker spaniel named Max. I remember him as being a really big dog but, well, I was a toddler at the time.

He'd been left in the middle of winter, over a weekend, tied out front of an animal shelter(and Utah winters are not kind). He was a purebred cocker spaniel with just the sweetest disposition. I had a tendency to go take walks before my mom had woken up in the morning when we had him. And every time, no matter what, he followed me. If anyone had threatened me in even the slightest, he wouldn't have stood for it. I think when we moved to Colorado, my parents gave him away... But I think I remember my mom telling me he was really sick and had to be euthanized.

I miss Max... I'm not a dog person but I will always love cocker spaniels and other small dogs.

Edit- I know that was completely off topic but, well... thinking about my mom eventually getting another dog from a shelter just pulled up that beautiful memory of mine... If not for Max, I'd probably hate dogs with a passion today.

[katiem]

Oh, Max sounds like he was a sweetie! I love rescue dogs!