Latest AR threat

HB 669 is one of the worst proposed laws yet against the ownership of animals, and would totally outlaw the breeding and transfer of ANY species deemed”exotic”. Ostensibly authored by representatives from Guam, whee they have a real problem with brown tree snakes, it would shut down the pet industry and much of falconry (NAFA …

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New Pups!

I have hinted here and there but today our new pups arrived and are looking good.(At about 4 AM– we had to carry the doghouse inside and move the first pup to the whelping box, with all the other dogs leaping up to get a look and Lashyn growling through the door, because she wanted …

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Dog News– Good

No links, but AB 1634, the California Mandatory Spay- Neuter Bill, has been roundly defeated, at least for now. Also just breaking: the AKC will allow basenji breeders to bring in new unregistered stock from its native regions–Northern Congo, Southern Benin, Southwestern Cameroon, and Central Congo, from 2009 to 2013. This is a GOOD precedent …

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Exposed

John Burchard, Sir Terence Clark, some coursing salukis, and a falcon were filmed in a chase by the BBC for the show “Pedigree Dogs Exposed”, showing healthy alternatives to most purebred dogs. Most of their footage (all but a half minute I’m told) ended up cut, but what is left is more than valuable. Patrick …

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More on Spaying

Dr John Burchard writes on mandatory spay neuter, resurrected in California. I had said: “Only Americans (and perhaps Canadians) have this neutering thing. I thinkEuropean members [ of our list– they did] will confirm that neutering of purebred dogs is much rarer there. He replied: “It is beginning to catch on there too … but …

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Convergent Pigeons

Reader Mike Spies, who has a place in Jamaica, noticed that wild White- crowned pigeons (Columba leucocephala) resident there resembled some white- capped Catalonian tumblers he had seen on the blog. Of course, “Cats” are only one of the myriad breeds of Darwin’s pets, domestic pigeons descended from the Rock dove (Columba livia.) But the …

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