Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9511010031
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MEGAN SCHNABEL
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
First, consider the timing. Chances are, you're going to have your hands full with buying presents for the in-laws and presents for the kids and presents for the office party. Do you really want to be dealing with the, ahem, presents that a four-legged family member will be leaving around the house?
"We do not encourage Christmas puppies," says Lee Fitzgerald, president of the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders. New pets require a lot of time, a commodity that's in short supply during the holidays. Instead of giving your kids a pet on Christmas Day, she says, leave a stuffed dog under the tree and tie an IOU around its neck. Then, when life has returned to normal, bring home the real thing.
But whether you decide to buy Spot or Here Dog or Kitty Kitty before the holidays or after, make sure you do your homework first, especially if you plan to buy from an independent breeder. There are plenty of people out there selling animals that are advertised as "registered" or "certified healthy" or "show quality," but do you really know what any of that means?
"A lot of people are just real dumb when it comes to puppies," says Dreama Altizer of Roanoke, who owns several dogs and occasionally breeds Chinese Shar-Peis. "They kind of know what they're looking for, but they don't know what they're getting."
A big part of dealing with breeders comes down to common sense.
"If people don't let you come to their house, do not buy from them," Altizer says. Some breeders will tell you to meet them at a restaurant or some other drop-off point; don't do it, she says. They're probably trying to hide something. Only by visiting the kennel or home will you be able to see what kind of care the animal has gotten.
Many breeders advertise "AKC registered" puppies. This means that both parents must be purebreds registered with the American Kennel Club and that the owner must have witnessed the breeding. When you buy one of these puppies, you're given registration forms, which you fill out and return to the AKC with a processing fee.
The AKC periodically spot-checks breeders for violations, says AKC spokeswoman Robin Hoik. If inspectors witness inhumane or cruel treatment, they report it to local authorities. And breeders who are convicted are suspended from AKC privileges. They also can be suspended if they refuse to let inspectors perform the check.
But even AKC registration doesn't mean that a puppy is a good example of its breed, says Dr. Mark Finkler, a veterinarian at Roanoke Animal Hospital. Each breed has different standards, and if you don't know what to look for you may end up with a dog that has the "wrong" ears or tail. This isn't a big deal for families who just want a pet, but someone who intends to breed the puppy could be out a fair amount of money.
You also should know that a Virginia state law makes it illegal for breeders to sell puppies or kittens that are under 7 weeks old unless they're sold with their mothers. Studies have shown, Fitzgerald says, that animals separated too early from their mothers never fully adjust and often turn out to be biters or fighters.
If a breeder guarantees the health of a puppy or kitten, he also should provide documentation from a vet. If he can't, go elsewhere. Either way, state law gives you 10 days to have your new puppy or kitten checked out by the vet of your choice, says Dr. Robert Whiting, chief of veterinary services for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. If your vet finds a problem with the animal's health, you have the right to take the pet back to the seller.
That provision, Whiting says, is one of the most important aspects of Virginia's animal laws. "Buyers should recognize that there is, under the law, the right to bring the animal back," he says.
If you run across a breeder who doesn't want to play by the rules, or if you think someone is raising animals in unsanitary conditions, call the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at (804) 786-2373. It will investigate.
by CNB