Sigh...this is all so true. The problem is we have so many puppy mills that to try and protect the good breeder we also end up protecting the bad ones. The ban on docking tails seems ridiculous at first glance, but if you have ever seen a box of puppies with infected tails because the jacka** who did it worked with dirty tools on dirty puppies. This kind of thing never crosses our minds because we keep our puppies clean and would never think of ever using a dirty tool. Its the same for dewclaws too. Don't write to me, I know how to do dewclaws that there is no bleeding and no open wounds. You would think these mill operators would know too. Truth is, they don't do dewclaws unless a customer won't take the pup(s) unless the dewclaws are removed. Then they take the now 7 week old puppy and try and cut the dewclaw off with toe-nail trimmers. Think that's bad? How about do it yourself C-Sections? Sadly that's true too. There are bills in the works to ban do it yourself c-sections, debarkings, ear crops, and tail dockings. They could add dew claws to that too as far as I'm concerned. Yes, it would be an added expense for me to take them to the vet, but if it meant another litter of puppies in some mill wouldn't end up with horribly infected legs, then so be it. As the economy gets tighter and costs higher the abuses tend to get worse. I can tell you the vets around here are mighty sick of half dead puppies and dogs that could have easily been treated if they would have been brought in on time, or hadn't been already treated by their owners. The other thing the mills are crying about is increased cage sizes. Right now the cage has to be no bigger than 6 inches longer or wider than the dogs length. They live in those cages 24/7. They don't want to hear about larger cage sizes or 20 minutes of required exercise a day. As I write I know of some show breeders who's dogs are not much better off than this...living in a crate 22 or more hours a day. I realize I'm stepping on toes. So be it. I for one am going to support such laws until its required that dogs have a reasonable existence. No, I don't think they have to have the same rights as humans, but a reasonable amount of space, exercise, and care and if you can't provide it, then you shouldn't be breeding dogs. period! Sue Tomlinson ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================