I was in a focal pet store the other day, oing a littie Christmas browsing, when I overheard a = Conversation between a customer and a store employee. “ZT just think she is the prettiest girl,” said 3 woman, clutching the leash of her young golden retriev- er. “Ethink P'm going to breed her.” . When I beard this i wanted to ran over to the woman, grab her by the shoulders and shout, “My Gad woman, have you not been down to the local ani- mal shelters? There are so many unwanted dogs of all ages that are pretty in their own right, why do you want to make more?” But instead, I kept my thoughts to myseif, placed the squeaking chicken back . on the shelf and walked away, . ". All of our dogs have wonderful things about them that we love. Just listen to owners brag about their dog’s [atest achievement or quirky behaviour. Some of these dog own- ers go so far as to chink that others should experience. these qualities by having one _ of their offspring. ; -But in the world outside of Disneyland one should think long and hard about athe consequences of the sit- . tation before the candies are _lit; Barry White stars play- cing and the dog next door pays a visit. ; . ov Without stating the obvi- ous, the biggest conse- canine connection quence Lo consider is the addition of puppies into an already overpopulated canine world. Shelters are still filed with dogs that need good homes. Having a family dog give birth could potentially rake homes away from dogs who have been in these shelters for months. There is also no truth to the statement that breeding, a male will calm him down or having a litter of puppies will calm a female dog down. Spaying or neutering a dog can accomplish that. When breeding any dog, there are health issues that need to be addressed. Can a family dog owner guarantee that the dog they are going to breed their pet with is free of genetic abnormalities? Some of these health issues such as hip or elbow dysplasia are difficult to pre- dict, even for professional breeders. Also, what if the two dogs are somehow related? If the pedigree is not known or checked thor- oughly, the two dogs could produce mentally unstable pups because of inbreeding. What if Fig had a liter of 12 pups: Could good homes | be kk sund for all of the pup- pies? Its not as though there is a dog shortage or anything. How could anyone feel comfortable bringing the fast of the puppies down to the shelter and saying “Do what you can with these.” What if the pups that are sold become dysplastic as- they mature, or come down with some other genetic defect? Should the family be held responsible as the breeder of these dogs? Or is it morally correct to say, “It's your dog new and not our prob- lem any Jonger,” and then let the other farnily deal with a problem that could have been avoided? Reputable, professional breeders only breed when there is a demand for their dog. Most have waiting lists of potential owners, so unwanted dogs aren't born. Besides physical appearance, health, temperament and structure are all scrutinized before the dogs are bred. These fastidious efforts guarantee the health of their pups. And if a problem occurs most help with med- ical costs or replace the pup if necessary. Bringing a litter of pup- pies into a world where dogs © are euthanized daily because no one wants them is a huge responsibility. Ifyou are considering breeding your dog, please don’t take it lightly. — Joan is the ewner of Sierra K9 training. For training tips or questions, e-mail ber at . The News welcomes comments in the form of a letter to the edi- for, the Day and: CLINIQUE present... t ticket for 1z tickets for _ 1S tickets for 30 tickets for 4S tickets for 6O tickets for ‘BGAAT Catching sight of your auto insurance renewal notice is enough to drive you around the bend. You begin to dread the inevitable run-around. Relax. Simpiify the whole process instead with just one stop: BCAA. They'll handle all your auto insurance needs—easily, efficient- ly and with a sanity-restoring smile. Human's name: Danielle, nine years old. Pet's name and age: Smokie is a one-year-old Lhasa Apso. Favourite activities: Smokie has a penchant for stealing the secks of his family members. Favourite treat: Smokie will do just about anything for a little yogurt. 2 NEWS photo Bila Wakotield Pet tale: Not only does he like to steal socks, but Smokie is also known to hide them in odd and-unusual locations around the house. if you would like to appear with your pet in Pet Pause, please write to Terry Peters c/o the Werth Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, 8.C., V7M 2H4, Or send e-mail to . Choose from a complete range of auto insurance, including basic! ICBC coverage, optional policies and even policies for your.RV or Contact us three easy ways! Visit your nearest BCAA office Call 310-2345 Visit our website: www.bcaa.com collectible car. So stop driving yourself crazy over auto insurance... and drive down to BCAA instead. BAA Inswence | Auto Insurance is underwritien by various underwriters.