How Is The Information Used

Responsible, registered purebred dog breeders are very eager and very quick to take on board any genetic testing for health issue regarding their chosen breed however I believe very little, if any, thought is given to how the resulting information will be used.

Of course these breeders will use this information to breed out any genetic problems and improve the breed but of course this information can become the purebred dog breeders worst nightmare if the wrong people and/or vested interest groups get hold of it.

RSPCA is one such vested interest group that has been on the purebred bred dog community war path using this very same information against the purebred dog. Rather then praise the efforts of purebred dog breeders for the lengths they go to in order to breed genetically sound animal, the RSPCA actively attacks them while the whole time Puppy Mills continue to produce sick animal which fill the rescue shelters and break owner hearts without even so much as a mention . What is ever so increasingly tragic and ever so sad is that these people/organisations have 'a sort of credibility' in the eye of the general population and the unsuspecting public accepts what ever is 'advocated' by them. In so many case it only equates to heartache as their precious and much loved dog becomes sick and riddled with genetic problems.

As a side note in the promotion of mutts/crossbreeds, for some years Don Burke of Burke's Back Yard fame, has mislead Mr. Joe Public and outright lied saying that the designer (mutts/crossbreeds) are genetically more sound. This was based on nothing more then Don's own shallow old wives tale. Not once did he back this up with scientific evidence. Mr. Burke had a good reason not to back his tales, it does not exist because mutt breeders simply DO NOT spend money on ANY kind of genetic testing, being of the same mind set as Don Burke; designer dogs (mutts/crossbreeds) are genetically sound = shallow old wives tale.

Victoria is introducing Animal Legislation (Animal Care) Bill 2007 which covers such things as health issue and directly threatens the purebred dog, by default or on purpose, because purebred dog breeders are the only ones who do genetic tests. Once again we all witness the poor thinking behind this Bill. Supposedly this Bill is aimed at reducing the unwanted dogs in rescue shelters and those being killed because no 'forever' home can be found for them.

It would seem that the RSPCA and others involved in this amendment to the Bill either have no clue how to tackle a problem/s (which seems to be one only they can talk about but not give accurate figures) or don't really want to solve the so called problem/s.

Dare I suggest that in reality the RSPCA does not have anything to gain in solving the so called problem and everything to loose, namely the Federal Government funding and the lucrative donations and bequests?

Those involved in the Tail Docking restriction will be well aware, especially NSW purebred dog breeders and owner, what the Federal Governments funding and those lucrative donations were used for; those gorgeous glossy posters and presentation packs made available for each and every MP, each worth thousands of dollars of money that could have been used to address true cruelty issues rather these glossy presentation packs.

And so back to all that information which can get into the wrong hands.

What is the best way to address such a huge problem?

I do not have the answer/s but the first step must come from the purebred dog breeders in that they MUST ensure the results of genetic testing do not get used against purebred dogs.

Purebred dog breeders MUST stand united regardless what bloodlines he/she breeds and/or exhibits.

Purebred dog breeders MUST learn to first say "NO" to any change no matter how good or bad it may sound. Say "NO, I need MORE time to digest all this (change/s) before making a firm and final decision." Say "NO, I want to discuss this with other breeders, owners, breed clubs and stack holder."

A shining example of a change is that of the changes made to docked breeds Standards thanks to Mr. Roger Bridgeford and the A.N.K.C., which did nothing but open the door nice and wide to the Tail Docking restrictions throughout Australia.

Purebred dog breeders MUST become politically active. They MUST engage in dialogue at Local, State and Federal level.

Purebred dog breeders MUST seek to have articles written in newspapers as an educational step, be that at Local level within your own township on on a broader scale such as one or more of the major newspapers.

Purebred dog breeders MUST use all possible contacts that can further ensure an existence of the purebred dog.

All this will help to protect you, the purebred dog breeder, the information gained from genetic testing and the legislative process which effects the purebred dog community.