Rant OnBreeding ( Pot Belly Pig or ANY animal)

Rant On Pot Belly Pig (& other animal) Breeding

Aug. 3rd, 2009 at 4:12 PM

This was written for a 'Yahoo Group' about pot belly pigs.. however it is also my view on dog and cat breeding. PLEASE JUST STOP IT!!Many are asking about breeders and why so many potbellied and other miniature pigs get dumped. Within are some of my thoughts on it.

Breeders would not breed so much if they took back all the pigs they sold that are rescued, re-homed, euthanized, or put into sanctuaries. The size of a pig is not always the reason, nor is it the major reason pigs end up in sanctuaries. Size never matters with cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, ducks, snakes, etc. that end up being turned into humane societies, animal control, or dumped on the side of the road, etc.

People move, divorce, lose jobs, and the novelty of the pet wears off. Kids move out and do not take their pets. Know what? Life happens.

Many are given up because of zoning issues. Yes, size sometimes matters. Many zoning codes require that the pig remain small. Some say that if pigs were kept small they would be kept for life. That is just not so. Breeders often don't tell the truth.

When the pig gets large, they are then banned. However, it is not the main reason...there are many small pigs in sanctuaries that were once household pets. If it were the case, why are so many Chihuahuas, Min-Pins, etc. ending up in shelters as well? They are small and remain small, as are little terriers, poodles, and cats.

If pigs were to stay really small, it would only mean more backyard breeders trying for an even faster buck. When I say breeders lie, I was not making that statement merely about them stating the pigs will remain small. Backyard breeders do that...they lie for their own benefit, not the pig's.

I would hope the so-called "good breeders" would never do that, but they are few and far between. I would also hope the people buying from any breeder would be educated enough to be sure they saw the parents, and knew the age of the parents before buying the offspring. Even that doesn't ensure they stay small.

If breeders took back and cared for all the unwanted pigs, they would be a sanctuary themselves, and they would quit breeding. I have met breeders I like as individual people. They are caring, wonderful folks, and very nice as humans. I have nothing against them as human beings. That being said, I don't like or agree with what they do. They do what they do for whatever reason they have to in order to make money.

They need to stop breeding and selling...they need to allow us time to get the number of pigs in sanctuaries down by finding homes for those still waiting. The sanctuaries are full. There are not enough others waiting in the wings to help out.

The number of people who want, and are physically and financially able to have/run sanctuaries are not expanding as fast as the numbers of pigs who need homes.

People tell us to look at the humane societies. Well, let's look. They have free or low cost clinics to spay and neuter. Even so, how many millions of cats, dogs and birds are murdered each year because people keep breeding? These animals are not always mixed breeds. Look at the Greyhounds, German Shepherds, Dobies, Danes, Terriers, Labs, etc. are in shelters. Look at all the rescues for the most well known breeds of cat....Persians, Siamese, etc.

Take a trip to www.petfinder.com, or any animal web site or message board, and look at how many dog rescues for popular breeds there are....rescue groups who can't take on any more because they are full. Ask some of those rescue people what their feelings are on breeders.

This is happening with the potbelly pig, too. Instead of going to sanctuaries, hundreds will be murdered.

Why? Because the sanctuaries are full of well-bred pigs from well-known breeders who do not take the responsibility for the pigs they bring into the world. They do not take them back and care for them when they are no longer wanted. How sad will you breeder supporters feel then?

Will you step up and start a sanctuary and fill it with over 200 potbellies? No? Why not? Oh, I see...you just wanted a cute pig for a pet. Well, what happens if you get sick, your spouse dies, or your house burns down and you have to move? Think about where your pets will go. All the sanctuaries are operating at capacity.

I think about it a lot, and it scares me.

Now look at the age of the sanctuary owners...their health, their financial problems. The owners of today are wonderful people and do incredible things, but what happens when they are gone? No one lives forever...will you step up and fill their shoes?

The more I type, the angrier I become, and I'm probably irritating all of you, and I don't want to do that. I just want you to think. I do understand the wanting of a pet pig who remains small and cute.

Heck, if humans remained small and cute maybe I would have some running around here, too. I also understand wanting a pig well bred, but it is time to look forward into the future. Look where these poor animals could be headed perhaps five to ten years from now if we don't take a stand now.

These animals cannot defend themselves, and if we don't do it, who will?

Ask the sanctuary owners how small they started. One sanctuary nearby has added a barn and about 20 pens in the past two years.

Why? Sanctuaries are full...full to capacity, and money is scarce, while breeders and their supporters take vacations and have fancy cars and nice dinners out on the town. Sanctuary owners go without most of those material things, and sometimes even necessities to care for the hundreds of unwanted pet pigs that irresponsible, money-grubbing breeders have produced..

Visit a sanctuary. Spend a day working in any sanctuary and see what sacrifices are made and how hard the work is...especially so, since most already have a regular job just to pay for the needs of their sanctuary which is already filled with unwanted pet pigs of all sizes, colors, and reasons for being there.

People who have not actually been to a sanctuary, helped, or sat on a board of directors realizing the financial burdens will never grasp what is really happening while the breeding still continues.

There are too many helpless pigs needing love, and not enough homes to provide it. It is even sadder that most people don't give a rat's butt.

Just stop the breeding...just stop it, PLEASE. There is no good reason for breeding.

OH, YES, I FORGET...WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE REAL POTBELLY PIG DOESN'T DIE OUT. (Tongue in cheek statement about those sending pigs to Asian Countries thinking they are saving the breed.)

*scoopsdaily Hedy (2003)mhn

My Animal Companions Through 56 Years Of Living

Starting on August 29th 2009
The only way i can do this is in outline form.. scattered and in pieces
there just is no way i can go back in order of thoughts and bring to life the love and memories of the MANY animals in my life..

forget the correct grammar..i may go through and edit, and again i may not..
memories can flit by and some will grab me..and some will hold me longer than others..
but i must go with the flow...

this is odd that it matters so much to me

because i have no one 'to leave' this for.

i guess i just want others

to KNOW these precious and loved animals existed

and their lives MATTERED

ALL MY PETS WERE/ARE RESCUES

except Kelly {NC} and Basil {Fl} Chihuahuas

i got them at pet stores

i have been laying in bed for the past hour with so much going on in my head i had to get up and start writing..it is almost 4 am aug 29th 2009

i am just going to list the animals that joined my journey thru life ..

the number of them might shock some of you..

as there have been many in my life [scroll down to see list~laughing]

i will come back, and as with the 'special humans' in my life,

i will fill in and add what comes to mind

when i am able to sit and take hold

of these wonderful and sometimes terribly sad memories.

If you recall things about my animals..

PLEASE write and tell me, i really do not want to leave out anything..

My animals have given me life and a love that never ends

Queenie, next door Border Collie I grew up with..

Black and white and my constant companion when very young.

Trudy and Walt Barto lived next door and owned Queenie

BUT Queenie spent ALL her time with me and we loved each other.

One day I came home from school and Queenie didn't meet me at the corner...

My grandparents and the Bartos told me they sent her to a BIG farm to live

so she could run and play..

I didn't know until in my 20's that farm 'was heaven'

Doxy, the little loving Dashund I went with Mommiw Wiggins and her family to get,

I must have been around 4?

at least in the pics i have i seemed terribly young but really cute..hehe

Mommie WSiggins babysat me as my grandma worked

and so Doxy and i had lots of fun.

Skippy, my squirrel

Shag little apricot poodle I, my mom and stepdad loved.

Norman accidently ran Shag over with the car..he had NO idea Shag got out the door,

followed him and was under the wheels when dad moved the car..

I will never forget getting the call at my friends Wendy's house.

I couldn't even understand whay my mother was saying.

CAT, was so bad when a kitten, we couldn't come up with a name for him..

gray, big and fluffy, he attacked all my friends. i kind of thought it was FUNNY..

Patches, a big grey and white cat my mom found..

guess this was my first cat..he slept with me

and 'helped' me type my book reports and papers for school.

you all know how that goes...gosh he was a beautiful cat!

getting tired so just going to jot down names and come back later..to fill in things..

these are not in any order...but i am trying..to go back thru the years somehow

Hound-German Shepard (not mine but..)

Mystery Cat

Lady

Texas

Willard Rat

Winnie Rat and the bird and cat and rabbit..hehe

Barley Cat

The Rats

Ebony

Peppi

Skippy

Jackie white and orangedaughter of skippy and kelly

Bobby-mahogeny son of kelly and skippy

Andrew blk son of kelly and skippy

Girl [Red Pit Bull]-pink nose

not really mine.bought her for a boyfriend

but i LOVED that dog!

Kelly fawn chihuahua

Sunshine fawn daughter of kelly and skippy

Queenie - MY border Collie

Tibbets

Casey orange and white son of kelly and peppi

Emily Cat Black

Marshall, cat that came w/house i bought in NC

Oscar Pig

Dillon Pig

Remington Pig

Onyx Pig

Sebastian Blk Lab

Benjamin Blk Lab Mix

Basil Chihuahua

Abigail Min-pin

Molly Min-pin

Charlie precious lil grey fluffy dog

Smokey (Moki) Pomeranian

Nikki Blk Lab Mix

Bentley Blk Lab

Mr Willoughby 4lbs my heart & soul

Frankie Cat Black

Nina Beagle

Buddy-deaf/blind 12 yrs old Black poodle

Natalie dog-belongs to a great friend but lives here now

Letter To Best Friends, Aunts, Uncle Nels & Cousins

August 28th, 2009

This will be a work of passion,

about respect, love, friendship, heartbreak, hurt, and loss.

All the things that make people so special in our lives.

And the memories we hold and those we wish we could forget.

This is something that will be ongoing (it began for FIVE friends & kept growing)

as I will be jumping back and forth between everyone

as I ponder and reflect on what was and what is.

And of course, there will be what I miss about each person.

I will have sections on people in the order they came into my life.

Some will flow easier and faster than others so if interested, please check back now and then.

This means so much to me to get these thoughts and feelings out..

I feel life passing me by

and to be quite honest i am afraid you will not know

how much you have meant to me if i do not have it here for you to read.

'56years' just kind of slapped me in the face...

It is just so much easier to do it this way as the thoughts flow

i can place them under those i am thinking about.

I will not put last names but you will know who you are..

Just remember, if you are here..

>> I LOVE YOU <<

and YOU have ALWAYS mattered to me

I wish I had told those that have already passed on

everything I thought of when thinking of them through the years,

what they meant to me and why.

I wish I told them how they helped form my life

and the sorrow and or guilt I feel at not telling them so.

My ONLY hope is that they, had NO doubt

of the love and the respect I held in my heart and soul for them.

The idea for this has come a day after seeing pictures of my Aunt Margaret's 88th Birthday Celebration with my cousins up in Apalachin New York.

It was like what I saw/experienced as a child

when seeing all my aunts, uncles, and my grandparents

(Bob and Emma Berg)

all sitting around laughing, drinking beer, playing horseshoes, telling jokes

& my cousins and I were the kids.

Those were, without any doubt the best days of my entire life!

I literally sat here and cried and cried for all I had missed,

all I had and what kind of life had been taken away from me.

I was removed from my loving grandparents in Vestal, New York

to go live with a mother I saw maybe 3 times in 12 years

and did not know with her new husband in Miami Beach, Florida.

The day they took me away in the car, is the ONLY time I ever ever saw my Grandfather cry..

and i will never forget that.

Grandpa standing on the side of the road with tears running down his face.

They raised me for 12 years.

How I cherished that man..and my grandmother.

I swear, it is because of them I have such a love for animals and know giving is 100 times better than getting.

This letter/blog/tribute will take time..and will be scattered..

Those of you this is for, really have no idea who i have become or why.

Heck, I doubt I even know..!! I will try to write every day..

This is a major priority of mine now..

Too many of you need to know...

I love you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~