i strongly feel that they should be. i can't imagine any RESPONSIBLE breeder that wouldn't have a contract in place with new owners. i capsed the word 'responsible' bc i think there are two clear cut types of breeders. responsible and irresponsible. i have 0 understanding and tolerance for the later. i feel the only reason to breed should be for the love of and to improve the breed. if the only goal behind a breeding is the power of the almighty dollar, then i find it incredibly tragic as well as infuriating.
shelters and rescues are filled with animals in need of forever homes. if you're not going to contribute something to improving a breed, then you're likely contributing to the population of dogs in shelters, recues, and on death row.
as much as i advocate and have a passion for rescues and fostering, etc, i also understand that if all of our canine companions were spayed/neutered, we'd soon no longer have canine companions. so responsible breeding is a necessity. especially with breeds like the EB that typically cannot breed easily naturally or easily give birth naturally. this incredible breed would likely be exctinct if it were not for breeders.
however, i also feel that a lot of the health problems eb's have today are a direct result of irresponsible breeding. breeders who do not pay to have their breeding stock tested, examined, x-rayed, etc prior to breeding to ensure they are not passing on gentic health issues after gentic health issues. my wonderful female eb came from an irresponsible breeder and though i love her like no other, she has suffered terribly bc of irresponsible breeding. and i know that not every person that had an eb with the health issues she's had would've been willing or finacially capable of ensuring she has the best health treatment available. many unsuspecting new eb owners don't educate themselves on the breed and the special issues they might have. i feel that's one reason so many end up in shelters and rescues. owners don't know what they're getting into and aren't willing or are not able to deal with all of the issues some eb's have. especially those brought on by irresponsible breeding.
wow. what a vent. sorry!
my point is, yes, i think any truly responsible breeder would not only require a contract that mandates the return of the dog/pup in the event the new owner can no longer keep them for whatever reason, but that they would also WANT to be an active part of the pup/dog's future. i believe a responsible breeder would want to not only screen potential new homes, but would also want to help educate and guide the new home throughout the dog's life to ensure the eb has the best chance for as good a life as possible.
the sad reality is, far too many breeders only care about their pups until the money is in their hands. then they're happy to forget and let whatever happens, happen. that sickens me and i feel irresponsible breeders are just as responsible for the over populated shelters/rescues as are irresponsible pet owners...if not more so.
i don't have strong feelings on the subject at all, do i?
