Breeding animals for money.

So do I but, locally anyway, the market is saturated. My friend got two from a Ragdoll rescue centre. They'd also been an unsaleable litter.

I love rag doll cats.

My old neighbour's daughter decided to breed ragdolls. It was a very expensive process by the time vets bills etc were paid. There was one litter of lovely kittens but no one wanted to buy them and my neighbour ended up taking two. The daughter ended up £2000 out of pocket.

valdavi

Cabowich - prices for a pedigree kitten have gone up disproportionately in the last 8-10 years, so if you were doing it now you might well get a holiday out of it!

Ha, ha - I doubt it. I did consider it but when I looked into the logistics of it, everything has gone up - cat food, inoculations, registration fees, vet fees should things not go to plan, cat litter and other accessories. Long gone are the days when I could buy 48 cat food sachets for a fiver! It's all relative - I'd still end up holiday-less . No, I'll just carry on with my cats as pets only.

Very true. I would rather not eat meat than buy other than from my local butcher, whose meat comes from known local farms and a small local abattoir. I also buy only local free range eggs. The products of intensive animal farming are not essential to our diets.

Vegansrock a lot of people who eat meat do care about how the animals have been reared but unfortunately it's a luxury that not everyone can afford. I'm a meat eater but I buy from local farms, I have the sheep grazing in my own paddocks and get payment not in money but in joints for the freezer. I walk on the common where the dexter cows are used firstly for conservation purposes and then are butchered at a small local abattoir, the meat is delicious but expensive. My chicken, eggs and pork come from a local small holding, again expensive but I know how they are kept as the small holder is a friend. I'm not going to debate whether we should be eating animals or not, I'm content with my own decision but poor husbandry is the price we pay for cheap food and many people need to be able to buy as cheaply as possible.

true not try

vegansrock

Sheep. Cows, pigs, chickens all bred for money and many kept , transported and slaughtered in appalling conditions. But oops they aren’t puppies or kittens so don’t count unless they are dead on a plastic tray in the supermarket.

So try vegansrock. I suppose this thread is really about breeding pets for money. The others are just livestock, endlessly replenishable and replaceable, no one cares.

Fair enough, tickingbird
It's such a huge subject with a wide range of opinions.

And I agree, foxie48

Yesterday was the last day for XL Bully owners to obtain a certificate of exemption for their dogs.

I remember having to go to the Post Office to obtain a dog licence years ago.

Tickingbird I agree with much of what you say, just like to add that I wish dog owners, particularly first time dog owners, would do their homework and think about what sort of dog would fit in best with their lifestyle and family instead of choosing a breed based on looks or whether it's currently a fashionable breed. Too many people IMO end up with dogs that end up in rescue centres because the owners have chosen the wrong breed rather than there being anything inherently wrong with the dog. Also, I think you need to see the pup with the bitch in it's home surroundings and if the breeder is not happy with that then just walk away and if the dog is not registered then I want to know why. Generally dogs aren't registered because the breeder has "broken" the rules in some way and if they give the usual, it keeps the price down, a potential buyer should say, I'll pay for the registration but I want the pup registered! This would stop a lot of bad practices of over breeding a bitch. A lot could be changed if buyers were a bit more savvy.

Rafichagran and Callistemon

Fair enough. I was maybe a little too quick to react but sometimes new posters do run the gauntlet imo.

I’m quite involved in animal welfare and have strong opinions on the subject. However, I’ve bought pedigree dogs in the past so I’m as guilty as anyone else but having seen the misery some of these dogs endure, being bred for monetary gain, it does concern me.

I’m shattered and need to get to bed. I’ll post tomorrow when I’ve had some sleep.

Goodnight

No?

From some of the reactions in replies it seems that some posters don't approve of ANY breeders at all, however caring.

If no-one bred cats and dogs and sold them, where would people get their pets from? Rescue centres are one source, but would not be able to meet ALL the demand. Redomesticating feral strays isn't something that everyone would be prepared to take on, and many of them have learnt to be very much on the defensive and could prove a danger to their owners. Should owning a pet be impossible? Many people who live alone would be very lonely without a little friend.

The answer is to look for litters sold by licensed breeders whose care of their animals meets at least the welfare requirements. This is easier with dogs than with cats. there are regulations about cat breeding, but apparently not cats.

A licence is required for either or both of the following: Breeding three or more litters of puppies in any 12-month period. [This does not mean three from the same mother!!]
Breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs.

Details of dog breeding regulations are at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dog-breeding/dog-breeding-regulations/

Cat buyers must satisfy themselves that the welfare of their kitten and its mother is being considered, by asking questions about how many litters of kittens a mother is permitted to have (two a year maximum), how they are fed, socialised and cared for, at what age they leave (8 weeks minimum) how the mother is fed and cared for, and how often do they see a vet.

Cat breeding is currently unregulated. Perhaps the UK could learn from Tasmania. nre.tas.gov.au/invasive-species/responsible-cat-ownership

Well that's odd. Do you have two accounts OP?

LovesBach

When you read that Dogs Trust and other charitable organisations trying to care for unwanted animals are struggling to cope, it's obscene to add to the number of animals needing homes. The term 'Designer Dogs' makes my blood boil - over bred and often suffering from deformities. It could not be more wrong to breed animals for money.

Every breed of dog is the result of mating two or more different breeds of dog together to get a dog with certain characteristics. Actually it's the breeding of dogs from too small a gene pool which causes problems. I dislike the term "designer dogs", not because they are unhealthy but because they are often bred by unregistered breeders who do not do the proper vet checks and are just out to make a fast buck. I know a number of Labradoodles, sprockers, cavapoos etc the have been bred responsibly and they are great family dogs. Poodles are super dogs, intelligent, very trainable with hypoallergenic coats which is why they are popular as a crossbreed but there are certain lines that are best avoided as they can be nervous. My neighbour's cavapoo is a delight and is the perfect dog for them, especially as the mother is allergic to dogs! I was talking to someone today who has a Jug, Pug crossed with a Jack Russell. It does not have the flat face of the pug but it does have the lap dog characteristics which many people like.

LovesBach

When you read that Dogs Trust and other charitable organisations trying to care for unwanted animals are struggling to cope, it's obscene to add to the number of animals needing homes. The term 'Designer Dogs' makes my blood boil - over bred and often suffering from deformities. It could not be more wrong to breed animals for money.

That pretty much sums up my opinion of the dog world.

Cabowich - prices for a pedigree kitten have gone up disproportionately in the last 8-10 years, so if you were doing it now you might well get a holiday out of it!

I seem to have caused offence one way and another. Apologies all round.
We have a lovely rescue dog who is such a character. I'll stick with that.

I used to breed Siamese cats back in the day (and not those bred to the point of looking ludicrous), and I am at a loss to see how anybody could earn enough for a holiday from doing this. I couldn't even buy a decent meal in a restaurant from the profit I made.

It was all done properly, though, and the cats were registered with the GCCF, inoculated and insured by the time they left for their new homes.

That's the worst bit - having to say goodbye to the kittens.

tickingbird

I find some of the comments towards new posters on this forum pretty nasty. Why? Some of you act like school prefects, expecting respect and subservience from new girls. It’s pathetic.

I remember well when I was on the receiving end when I first ventured in but I made it clear I’m no pushover and it soon stopped.

I feel like telling some to grow up!

Not really fair, tickingbird
This started as a very strange thread by a new poster inviting thoughts from other posters.
Without information it is difficult to firm an opinion so asking for more detail is normal.

Also, if a new poster has arrived and immediately starts telling other posters that their threads are strange, makes uncalled for comments and is generally rude, then posters might just wonder if said poster is genuine.

When you read that Dogs Trust and other charitable organisations trying to care for unwanted animals are struggling to cope, it's obscene to add to the number of animals needing homes. The term 'Designer Dogs' makes my blood boil - over bred and often suffering from deformities. It could not be more wrong to breed animals for money.

Absolutely agree Katie59

sodapop

Although I always have rescue animals, like Callistemon21 I can see the value of responsible breeding as well. Several breeds of animals would have died out had it not been for caring breeders.
It has to be an economically viable business and I don't have a problem with that provided it's registered and regulated.

All farm animal breeding is registered with trading standards and a vet has to inspect the conditions. Dog and other pet breeding should also be inspected and registered, it isn’t a threat to those that treat animals properly and it would stop the abusers.

Animals breed, their young get weaned and live separate lives, if you see a bitch after she has reared 6 or more puppies she is glad to be rid of them even if she is well fed.

My DD’s ex and his new partner bred from their pet dogs, sold the puppies then immediately rehomed both parent dogs. They must have got at least £1800 each puppy of which there were 6 no idea what they spent the money on as both work in decent paying jobs however apparently he is too poor to pay child support!. My opinion of him on both counts is unquotable!

caknib

Quite a lot of things are both lawful and problematic. Some things are unlawful and perhaps shouldn't be.

Something is 'problematic' is merely someone's opinion. 'Lawful' is what rules.