“Dog Breed of the Week: Bearded Collie” plus 1 more |
| Dog Breed of the Week: Bearded Collie Posted: 23 Feb 2011 11:02 AM PST  The Bearded Collie, affectionately called the Beardie, is a medium-sized herding dog that is perhaps best known for its memorable shaggy hair. Energetic, playful and often goofy, Beardies are easy to get along with and make excellent companions. The breed is also still used for herding today, and is considered a hard worker and independent thinker. Beardies are known to be excellent family dogs that get long well with kids. They are affectionate dogs that crave human companionship. Beardies are entertaining - they can be humorous and even clown-like at times. They are a pleasure to be around! Could this be the right breed for you? Take a moment to learn all about the Bearded Collie. Or, if you have shared any experiences with this delightful dog breed, please share them. Talk about your Beardie! Photo © foxypar4 on flickr This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Posted: 23 Feb 2011 10:31 AM PST  There's no shortage of news stories reporting puppy mill busts, and it's always tragic. But what worries me more than the busted puppy mills is the fact that there are numerous puppy mills out there that are still operating. Some states, like Missouri, have passed legislation to prevent the cruel practices of puppy mills, but will it ever be enough? What exactly is a puppy mill? Basically, the term "puppy mill" is used to describe a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation that puts profit above the health and safety of the dogs. These facilities often operate in rural areas, hiding from public view. They over-breed the dogs and force both dogs and puppies to live in abominable conditions. Puppy mills might try to masquerade as responsible breeding kennels, but the truth is that they are prisons for dogs. Knowing all this, one might ask how these facilities manage to stay in business. Ultimately, what keeps puppy mills in operation is quite simple; it's all about supply and demand. No matter how hard legislators and citizens work to pass anti-puppy mill laws, the "bad guys" will find a way to hide. The only real way to stop puppy mills is to cut off their profits. Puppy mills often sell their pups through brokers who, in turn, sell the pups to pet stores. In recent years, puppy mill operators have decided to cut out the middleman and sell puppies through online kennels. Set up a pretty website with cute puppy portraits, and it can be easy to fool consumers. One can only imagine what is happening behind the scenes. WE are the ones who can make a difference. If puppy mills can't sell puppies, what's the point of staying in business? Sure, changes won't happen overnight, but if we spread the word, we can gradually make a difference. Pledge to only adopt your next dog from a legitimate shelter or rescue group. Avoid so-called "designer breeds" or hybrids. If a purebred puppy is a must for you, only purchase your dog from a responsible dog breeder with valid references. Demand to see the living quarters of the puppies and the mother dog (father, too if possible). Advise others to do the same. What are you doing to stop puppy mills? Photo by China Photos/Stringer/Getty Images This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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