Take a look at that gorgeous purebred you own. Drink in all its loveliness. The story of the breed. The purpose for which it was created. How do you see your dog fulfilling that purpose in different ways in your daily life? The temperament you get to enjoy each day.
Can I ask you something?
If there’s a cause that is near and dear to your heart, you’d move Heaven and Earth to try to help out, right?
I don’t believe any of us – for one second – would be ok with a future without all the breeds we have today. Yet, if we know that the cause will require our support, whether it be our time, our energy, or our finances, and we do nothing…
Aren’t we just part of the problem?
Ouch. Yep, I know. It smarts a little 😣
Am I saying we all need to zealously paint signs and march to our state government buildings, chanting as we go? 📢 Not so much. In my humble opinion, I don’t think that sort of action changes anything (it does expend a lot of energy and time and gives the media something to mock, however).
Is having a whinge at the dog show or a keyboard rant on Facebook a force for real and measurable change? Maybe to your demeanor! But who likes to be around the hopeless, disempowered, and bitter folk? (not this little black duck!).
Wouldn’t we rather be a positive force for change, at a grassroots level, that gains momentum and starts with our fellow neighbors who may not have a Scooby-Doo about what’s happening?
Because it’s becoming very clear that there are some people who seek to remove companion animals from the picture altogether.
This is not at all histrionic. I’m not smoking my socks here either. 🧦
Some of these same people have strategically placed themselves in various federal, state, and local levels of politics and have become, over time, closely aligned with key policy-makers.
Kinda sneaky, right?
And so we have been witnesses to the fruits of their labors with the various changes in legislation in different places in the world that have been occurring over the last few decades.
And some are not so obvious; they’re subtle. Sometimes you might agree with them. Maybe a little.
Maybe it’s against cropping or docking. Perhaps it’s disallowing certain grooming practices in some nations. Maybe it’s tax breaks for adopting a rescue in others. Or the restriction of certain breeds. Or the ever-present financial incentives to sterilize every dog.
Whatever the agenda against purebreds, it’s being pushed. And hard.
And look, if we play forward all those scenarios to their natural conclusions, we’re looking at adjusted breed standards, encouragement of bad breeding practices, restrictions on breeding, some breeds facing cancellation, and fewer purebred dogs in the gene pool more generally.
And we have to ask ourselves; are we OK with this?
At a time when things in society seem to be turned upside down (and common sense ain’t so common anymore), those of us with two feet firmly planted upon this beautiful, resilient earth are left wondering; how can I help?
What can I do? Is there anyone else out there who is willing to stand in the gap for our beautiful purebred dogs with me?
Purebred & Proud was born out of necessity. A great need to get an even greater message out. Simple yet significant messages in the hands of the best-purebred ambassadors out there – YOU! – to spark great conversations with those around you (that didn’t require a degree in politics).
There is much to be said for grassroots movements. Many people taking small, similar steps and pushing against the status quo. Questioning the supposed authorities. Demanding, en masse, better outcomes.
We can be sneaky too, you know 😏
