[ SHOWGSD-L ] OT - The Other side of the Story (Kennewick)
- From: "Ginger Cleary" <cleary1414@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Showgsd-L@Freelists. Org" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 19:57:28 -0400
I am sure by now that the majority of you have heard of the raid and seizure
of some hundreds of American Eskimos in Kennewick, WA... if not, just google
it, it is all over the news. Anyway... here is the other side of this sad
and tragic story.. and something everyone should think about.....
Ginger Cleary,Rome, GA www.rihadin.com
'Emergencies' have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of
individual liberty have been eroded. F.von Hayek
Member GSDCA
Member Sawnee Mtn Kennel Club
GA Director RDOES.
-----Original Message-----
Permission to Cross Post
-------Original Message-------
Hi everyone,
I read this article and actually heard about the situation last week from
one of my friends. This story really hits home for me, as I met this lady
years ago, and I have to tell you that the media is painting a picture of a
puppy mill in horrible conditions. This may be the case today, but there is
a whole lot more to the story that you are not aware of, and should be. This
might ruffle a few feathers of some of you, but I have seen this place in a
whole different landscape, and from a very different perspective.
Let me qualify myself a little before I go on. Back in the 1960s when this
breeder got started, I lived on the same block on the then country road. I
worked around the corner at a cabinet shop. I worked at the shop before I
went into the service and after, so I have a six year experience of that
area. I graduated from Kennewick High School. I still call this area my
home, and would move back there in a heartbeat if the cards were right. I
never knew they ( notice I said they ) had a kennel. I lived there on the
same block approximately two years, and not once was I aware that the kennel
existed. The first I knew of it was many years later when visiting my friend
Don Harris ( Showtime Cockers), he took me over there to meet the owners of
the kennel and talk first hand with them. Our reason was to question the
breeders about health problems and how they tracked them. The breeders were
developing a miniature version of the Eskimo dog, and they prided themselves
on having such a hardy little breed that seemed clear of health problems.
The breeder had generations of knowledge about this breed and worked hard at
eliminating the genetic problems. I was so impressed that I wrote a long
post on Sandy Bell's list shortly after. This was not long after her list
got started. Anyway, it was a few years back. For those of you that may have
been on that list, you might remember me making the statements about this
breeder who had at least two hundred of this breed, and how well they were
cared for and the conditions they were in. I mentioned the drip system for
fresh water and the extensive record system this breeder had. Sadly, I also
made a statement that apparantly has come true. I said that we would
probably some day read about this breeder when they get too old to keep up
the facility and there isn't anyone to take it over. I said we would hear
that they were puppy millers, and not pioneers for a newer and hardier breed
that they were actually trying to develop. The article makes it clear that I
wasn't just dreaming, but instead making a prediction that would come true.
I saw this kennel when any one of us would be proud to say it was ideal. The
records for every dog, were accurate and up to date, the dogs healthy and
clean, and the breeders seemed to be on track with their goals and interests
on developing a family pet that would bring long years and love to their
owners. I have to tell you this is very hard for me to write. I just wish
that the media would do a real story on the tragedy of this breeder, and how
his love of the dog came to be the very thing that made his wife a target
for the world of do gooders. Remember I said I lived nearby and never knew
they existed? Well, when Don Harris turned into his driveway some years
back, I was in shock at how quiet it was and Don was surprised to hear I
actually lived nearby at one time and didn't know it was there. When we
walked around we remarked at how it didn't smell, and we talked for long
hours afterword about this breeder.
Now for the part that the media failed to say, probably because it would
make this a tragic story about a man and his wife, and not as dramatic as
the story about dogs being rescued and living in such poor conditions.
Imagine if the story went something like a husband and devoted breeder dies,
leaving his wife with an overwhelming task of caring for their large kennel,
and nobody came to help her. Eventually, the lady was burdened with much
more than she could handle. Nobody came to help her downsize, nobody came to
help with the animals they claim to care for so much. They just let her
struggle until the sheriff happened by. Where were the neighbors before the
media arrived? I venture to say the HSUS is seeing this as a victory in
their books, and not the first to offer to give any financial support in
finding a new home for the dogs confiscated. They take the shots and we
sweep up the mess left behind. I see it as a story that needs to be told in
a different light. Instead of taking the dogs away to a different place, why
doesn't the HSUS put up some of it's millions to provide help until this
lady is able to free herself of the overwhelming tasks of caring for this
kennel. The years of devotion means nothing to the HSUS or those that do not
know the whole story.
My heart goes out to this lady, and I hope that the judge that hears her
story will look past the spotlight of a top selling rescue story, and see
the side of the picture that I do. Not long ago I was in a private
conversation with Lewis Western and we had talked about breeders that have
too many dogs and I mentioned my wife and I cut back on dogs because we did
not want to wait until someone came to our door and made the decision to
shut us down. I can only fault this breeder with not asking for help unless
she did. They had a business and pet stores that were dealing with them for
a long time. Why didn't someone do something earlier? We need to be the
protectors of our breeds, and sometimes it means we need to step in and help
a fellow breeder see the whole picture, and let them know when it is time to
stop.
Please before convicting this breeder on the lists, take a few moments to
think of it from a different perspective, and look around you. Let this be a
lesson that we all learn from.
Bill Mixon
Permission to cross post
Denali Cockers , Where quality is what we strive to produce
www.denalicockerspaniels.com
denaliadogs@xxxxxxxxxxx
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