The last few days, much to my bemusement, I have received phone calls, asking if I have any puppies available now or near future. One has to ask whether these people are living in some sort of alternative universe to ourselves. Why?
Well, let's look at why I'm bemused by people at this time inquiring if I have any puppies available. Firstly we have a little thing called, "Covid 19" doing the rounds at the moment. Not breeding the litter that I had planned, I will admit would of been a welcome injection of cash, to spay some of my girls and do some other veterinary work, but our bread and butter income is that of the partnership we have doing agricultural work. I can't really afford to be ill, I can't really afford anyone else in our home being ill. So not breeding, means I remove a risk of contact with people, because we breed our dogs, right in the epicenter of our home. So coming to get a pup from us, would mean coming into our home and what if our home went down with this illness, whilst waiting on a litter or having pups in the home? Secondly, there is a real chance in the next couple weeks of shutdown and restriction of movement,. Now getting a puppy, as much as you may want it, I can't see it being on the Government's list of nessary movement. Thirdly, if you have a litter due, bred before this all kicked off or on the floor at the moment you can be excused, but anyone mating dogs together at this time I would seriously question, their reasoning and whether they could be called an "ethical" breeder. I have already sent an email to my local MP asking to keep an eye over the pet breeding sector, as I believe we could have a welfare crisis on our hands, especially with big commercial dog breeders, as we can already see a big slow up in the puppy buying market. I have suggested maybe offering financial insentives (as they are in other sectors) to encourage commercial breeders to lay off breeding their dogs for a period of time, to ease the market and to ease the envitable off loading of dogs to shelters, as people struggle financially. Fourthly, say you manage to get a pup now. It's vaccinations done and it's time you need to get them out in the big widerworld. How exactly, do you plan to do that? At the moment the Government's advice is to avoid non-essential travel and contact, by the time your pup is ready to socialise, we may be on lock down. We could see a lot more badly socialised dogs, and over filled dog shelters, if people don't start looking further than their nose.
7 Comments
Sue
3/20/2020 07:56:01 am
I so agree with your comments it’s going to be a nightmare for animal rescues when all this dies down surely breeders can put things on hold until we get over this world wide problem Maybe not as I afraid ‘money’ is at the root of it all thank goodness for lovely people like you 😊xxKeep well,we are ok being over 70’s sensible!!!!xx
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Dear Jane, thanks for putting out these important messages. I wish you and all at poundlanespaniels best wishes in these troubling times!
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Judith
3/20/2020 03:23:08 pm
Some people don't have the sense they're born with. Maybe that's the problem - they aren't born with any!
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Louise
3/20/2020 03:50:05 pm
Thank you for being the voice of reason. I know many people who are struggling to get food for the dogs they currently have as the shelves have been stripped, as well as getting them walked if they have to self isolate.
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Bruna
3/21/2020 03:10:23 am
Hi Jane, I completely agree with your comments and it is a difficult and worrying time for us all. I wish you, your family and the gorgeous Poundlane Pack all the very best and keep safe and healthy. Hopefully It won’t be too long before we can all return to normal xxx
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Kath Grimshaw
3/21/2020 08:13:59 am
I've heard several people suggest that now is the time to get a puppy and have mentioned how it may be very hard to socialise a dog in lock down. When I think of the trips we made around the neighbourhood with Murphy in a bag, calling over random strangers to pet and cuddle him... it couldn't be worse timing!
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Andrew Smith
3/22/2020 08:20:01 am
Hello Jane. This is the first time that I have commented on your blog but now felt like a good time. Currently sat in the sunny garden with my 3 ageing CKCS. My wife and I had so hoped to get a puppy from you soon, however I am so relieved that you have put this on hold. This was totally the right decision and I agree with your comments. My anxiety levels are increasing day by day as I work as a community psychiatric nurse and worry about what’s to come in the future. Not a great time to bring a puppy into the mix!! Take care of you and your family, including the furry ones, best wishes Andy
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Click on this link The POUNDLANE Spaniel to view our main website Contacting usAt the moment we have an issue with our new landline. If you want to contact me at this time you can email me at [email protected]
Click HERE to know what our facebook page is for. “Humans are aware of very little, it seems to me, the artificial brainy side of life, the worries and bills and the mechanisms of jobs, the doltish psychologies we've placed over our lives like a stencil. A dog keeps his life simple and unadorned.” Brad Watson, Last Days of the Dog-Men: Stories
AuthorWelcome to this blog. I am Jane, a hobby breeder, situated in North Devon, England, UK (map at bottom of page ,shows where we are) on a quest to breed a healthier small spaniel similar to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Archives
June 2023
WE DO NOT EXPORT PUPPIES
Why I don't export AT POUNDLANE
Our breeding dogs are multi generational extensively health tested. With all our breeding stock having recommended and relevant DNA tests for their breed/breeds. We also have breeding stock annually eye examined on the BVA Hereditary Eye Disease Scheme for dogs, MRI scanned on the BVA scheme using the BVA chiari malformation /syringomyelia breeding protocol, and heart examined using The Kennel Club Heart Scheme for Cavalier King Charles breeding protocol |