The
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has always been one of my favorites! I have
enjoyed the show for many years and had the pleasure of attending when I lived
in the area. It was soooo much fun! It is so cool seeing and learning about
all kinds of dogs! I truly love them! Where else are you going to learn that
one of the officers of the Titanic had a Newfoundland and the dog
survived!
Over the
past few year, controversy has started between PETA and the Westminster Kennel
Club. PETA feels that some dog shows deter people from adopting shelter animals
and buy from a reputable breeder. This year Westminster changed sponsors. They
felt Pedigree commercials were too focused on adoption. The Pedigree
commercials are real tear jerkers. Some of those dogs have "eyes" like one of
mine and it gets me every time. They are very powerful. I am not too pleased
about the sponsorship change.
I understand both sides of the debate. However I feel
that PETA should be focusing its efforts to close puppy mills and target pet
owners who do not spay and neuter their dogs. If all dogs, who were not going
to be used for breeding purposes, were spayed or neutered, the shelters would
not nearly be so full. There will always, unfortunately, be dogs who are
mistreated, unwanted, their owner no longer unable to care for them, etc.
Both of
my dogs were adopted - one from someone whose lifestyle did not have time for a
puppy and the other was about to go a shelter or rescue because no one wanted
him (very high energy puppy). How many other millions of dogs out there are
like this?
I lucked out with my dogs. They can be a handful and
bursting with energy and fun and playfulness with a bit of mischief. I would
not trade either of them for anything!
I guess as with most things, it comes down to common
sense.
Annie
