Contents: Dr. Welle's Wisdom Puppy Mills and Auctions Featured Online Shops Product Profiles Adopter Profile Webside Chat Keep Sending Us Pictures! Allie's Story In Memory of... Dr. Welle's Wisdom: What shots are needed for my dog? Is exercise important for my dog? How much is too much?
Puppy Mills and Auctions Almost everyone involved with dogs in the Midwest is familiar with "puppy mills." Whenever a puppy mill bust is reported on the news, we all become temporarily more concerned, then go back to our normal lives. There can't be that many of them, right? Missouri is the puppy mill capital of the world, with over 1,000 commercial facilities licensed by the Missouri Dept. of Agriculture (MODA). We can only guess at the number of unlicensed mills, and some estimates put the number at 500. The mills have money, and therefore a powerful lobby in Missouri for "agriculture friendly legislation." Evidently puppies are a cash crop. Many changes are occurring in the commercial dog industry, both good and bad. The Missouri State Auditor publicly condemned the industry last year after discovering some fraudulent activity; MODA inspectors are being replaced. Laughably, the millers even held their own dog show, issuing champion titles to nearly every dog that was, quite literally, dragged across the floor. About four of the over one hundred dogs did not win a "championship" award, in an effort to make it look legitimate. Evidently their puppies won't sell for the slightly inflated prices the others will. Lately more people have become aware of dog auctions. They are fully legal, and have been held for over 50 years. Weekly consignment auctions, often held in southwest Missouri, give millers the chance to pass off their non-producers onto other millers to try their luck. Since rescue has become more of a presence at auctions over the years (albeit not a welcome one!), most of these "worthless" dogs are fortunately sold (or given) to rescue; it sure beats a bullet to the head. These dogs are not old. The females are often 4-7 years old, the males can be any age. To a puppy miller, they are livestock, and if a dog is not worth feeding, it is culled. These auctions cater mainly to the licensed puppy mills, and less to the unlicensed "back yard breeders." It is the latter group that is becoming more worrisome, particularly with German Shepherds. Some of these are well-meaning individuals who are simply ignorant about raising dogs, while most are solely out to make a buck. These are the "breeders" who advertise in local newspaper classifieds, some even accepting Visa! Dogs are often bred in barns, or chained to dog houses with minimal human contact or health care. The conditions are similar to puppy mills, sometimes much worse. Surprisingly, the Amish have begun to participate in this new "crop," as it is just a new type of farming. These backyard breeders often convince the uneducated consumer that this practice is moral, while they are making quite a profit! If people would realize that their local shelter or rescue has many purebreds, these unscrupulous breeders would go out of business! Most of these dogs are AKC registered. Does that make them purebred? Of course not. The AKC is a registry, not the doggie police, and they use the honor system. Recently they implemented DNA testing, which can be worked around as well. If the people submitting the records are dishonest, the AKC can do nothing. An AKC maltese can weigh 15 pounds and have curly hair, while an AKC cairn terrier can have floppy ears, a curled tail, and an under bite. There is a line of golden retrievers (AKC registered, of course) that have curly hair like poodles! These are the types of breeding stock that produce the puppies for pet stores, particularly the large chains. People see the AKC papers and think they are getting a purebred dog, only to be disappointed later. The public has fallen under the illusion that AKC papers mean quality, and when they realize it is merely a registry, paying $800 for a puppy with hip dysplasia can be hard to swallow. A new trend has begun in auctions: the selling of "imported dogs." Last February, over 100 dogs were imported from Canada (yes, they have mills too) to a Missouri auction. These dogs fetched top dollar, as they were "proven producers." Twelve Bernese Mountain Dogs sold for $47,000. A single Yorkie sold for $3,500, and she was missing a lot of teeth. A month later came an auction full of Irish imports, complete with wine tasting. (Was the wine served in Dixie cups?) Auctions bring out the true greed of the commercial dog industry. A blind and deaf female dachshund sold for $125. She was in heat. An Italian Greyhound with three legs sold for $235, since he was an aggressive breeder. Dogs are held up by their scruff, ears, or hind legs. A dog is judged for its breeding potential, and teeth, eyes, and functional limbs are considered optional. As long as the dogs will still come into heat, they are valuable. Perhaps most disturbing is the emotional state these dogs are in. Many are terrified of humans. They have never seen carpeting or even grass, and walk like they are on a strange planet. Some hide in corners or under furniture and tremble. Physically, we can put them back together, by treating the ear infections, skin conditions, and urinary tract infections. Many of their remaining teeth must be extracted. Their paws are often swollen if they have been living on wires. These will heal over time. It's the broken spirit that makes rescue worthwhile. Having a dog that trembles in fear that learns to eat out of your hand is the neatest thing. Watching them play with a toy for the first time (without being scared of the squeak!) makes you realize how bad life must have been. Witnessing the sheer ecstasy as they root and snuggle in their first blanket is priceless. Yet, the most rewarding thing is to pick up these sick, scared babies and tell them "no one will ever hurt you again." That is what puppy-mill rescue is about. — Karen, Bark Rescue
Product Profiles The Corner Dog Bed is not round! In
fact it is perfect for an apartment where space is limited. It fits
perfectly in a corner behind a recliner (where many dogs like to lay
anyway!). It is very cushy and durable and can be purchased at ePets at http://www.epets.com/epcornerbed.html The Halti works on the premise of a horse's halter. The idea is that where the head goes, the body will follow. Our volunteers have tested both the Halti and the Gentle Leader. Each has its advantages. The Halti fits the German Shepherd better due to the general slope of most German Shepherd muzzles. The Halti therefore avoids their eyes. However, an intelligent breed, like the German Shepherd is quick to learn how to remove the Halti under the supervision of an inexperienced Halti user. The Gentle Leader is much less likely to be removed due to its tightening clip, however, can be less comfortable for the dog when it pulls on its lips and can get very close to their eyes. The Halti can be purchased through Foster & Smith at http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=12&pCatId;=875 and at many small local pet stores. The Gentle Leader is more widely sold and can be found at most pet stores that sell collars and leads. The retractable Leash Saddle (designed to fit Flexi Leads) is the perfect way to carry those bulky, enormous, poo-bags necessary for long walks with a German Shepherd! Our volunteers often get stopped on the street and asked about our nifty bag that attaches to our Flexi leads. The Leash Saddle can be purchased from Critter Beach at http://www.critterbeach.com/general/general2.html If you are walking one large dog, we've found that the All Belt Flexi Lead (all ribbon, all the way) is the best way to enjoy the freedom of a Flexi without the accompanying robe burn is your pet does a quick 180 past you to visit your local fleeing rabbit. (Our volunteers have received robe burns before- nothing can set a normally calm dog into action like a fast moving rabbit or squirrel!) Note: NOT TO BE USED WITH A HEADCOLLAR. All Belt Flexi Leads are available at many local pet stores and online pet product retailers. If you are up to the challenge of walking two large dogs, the PetWalker Plus Two-Dog Leash available at Petsmart at http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_28491.shtml can be your answer. Another option is to buy a coupler that fits at the end of your leash and connects the collars of two dogs. That Tripler is not recommended for large breed dogs. This product is also available through PetSmart at http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_2.shtml Note: NOT TO BE USED WITH A HEADCOLLAR The Snapback, available from SitStay at http://sitstay.com/store/equip/eq2.shtml is excellent for helping you with a headstrong dog they may not necessarily need a head collar but still has a little pull in him. This is really just a bungi that you hook between your leash and your dog's collar. Note: NOT TO BE USED WITH A HEADCOLLAR The Rinse Ace Pet Shower Deluxe hooks onto your shower's downspout with a removable hose so that you only need to see it when you use it. It has a side button that allow you to turn off and on the water where you use it. Our volunteer testers have also found this button in such a location to easily allow a person to hold a finger over the water flow while depressing the button therefore allowing them to continually monitor the water temperature that is reaching their pet. This item can be purchased through PetCo at http://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?sku=0673804039 as well as at many other pet stores. The following is the story of how Payton found a home. Jessie and Dan (Payton's new mom and dad) originally applied to adopt a dog through the Central Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue. They ended up meeting Payton before an adoption match could be found through this rescue. Now Payton has a wonderful home and his mom and dad, even though they ended up not adopting through this rescue, are happy that there are rescues available to help this wonderful breed find loving homes. This is Payton (formerly known as "Shadow"). He is a beautiful, purebred, black German Shepherd. We (Jessie and Dan—Payton's new mom and dad) adopted him from the Muscatine, IA Humane Society. We found him through www.petfinder.com. He is three years old and was surrendered due to rental/financial problems. We agreed to adopt him and on the day we were supposed to pick him up. The shelter called to tell us he was heartworm positive. If we didn't want him, they would have to put him down. He is such a great dog—the thought never crossed our minds not to take him—so we made an appointment at our vet. The shelter happily waved the adoption fee, and Payton came home from the clinic today. He's been wonderful! (Can you believe he waited in a shelter for five months?) He loves our 12-year-old German Shepherd mix, Jack, and our cat, Poe. Jack and Payton squeeze on one dog bed together and lay on the couch nose to nose. Thankfully, we have a large sectional, so the human members of the family get a corner! I (Jessie) can't imagine how many dogs like Payton are in shelters or rescues. I know that any family willing to invest a little time and money, and a lot of love will receive a loyal, loving family member for life. As an added bonus, he's already housebroken and past the puppy destructive/chewing phase. Jack (our German Shepherd mix) has cancer, and when the time is right, we will search the shelters and rescues for a dog in need. I hope people will read this and not buy a dog from a puppy-mill when there are so many wonderful dogs waiting for a forever home. — Jessi & Dan and their pets: Jack, Payton and Poe We fell in love with Allie the moment we laid eyes on her. Floppy ears, a beautifully masked face, and a gruff little bark. She was absolutely irresistible and since we purchased Allie from a police officer who appeared very knowledgeable about German Shepherds and eager to help Allie adjust to her new home, five hundred dollars for a puppy the breeder claimed normally sold for one thousand dollars seemed like a steal. Unfortunately, we were mistaken and our journey with Allie hardly turned out as expected. We quickly learned that bringing a German Shepherd into one's home requires a lot of dedication and patience. We read books on German Shepherds; however, we clearly had no idea what a dog like Allie needed and deserved. In the year Allie lived with us she grew into a large dog requiring a lot of stimulation and attention. She became excessively protective of us and failed to adapt to new people and/or situations. Allie also appeared to suffer from anxiety when left to play by herself for any length of time and had trouble focusing during training sessions. The well-behaved police dogs we often watched on the television shows "Cops" and "The Animal Planet" were a far cry from the German Shepherd that dwelled in our home. Desperate for help and realizing that Allie deserved more, we started researching German Shepherds on the internet, in additional books, and referenced two veterinarians. The veterinarians guessed Allie possessed a condition similar to ADD or supposed she suffered from an anxiety disorder. We attempted new training techniques with Allie, spayed and medicated her but nothing seemed to transform her into the dog we originally imagined for our family. We also tried contacting the breeder but since his number was unlisted we ended up sending a detailed letter explaining our concerns and asking for assistance. We gave him an email address, phone number, and street address. We even offered to pay for the long distance call but our plea for help was ignored and we were left to deal with Allie on our own. With both my husband and myself very busy, a new baby, and other animals to care for we did not have adequate time to properly stimulate and train Allie. We knew Allie deserved more and began screening families interested in adopting her. We quickly learned that most people were as uneducated about German Shepherds as we were and Allie's protective and puppy-like behavior intimidated many of the people who came to meet her. Fortunately, after many interviews and several changed minds, Allie has a new home that is much better suited to her needs. We still love Allie and accept complete responsibility for our mistakes with her, but also hope our mistakes serve as a cautionary warning to any future and potential German Shepherd owners. German Shepherds are beautiful dogs and can make wonderful additions to a family but one must educate themselves on the breed and work with and purchase the dog from a honest and caring breeder to give themselves and the dog the best possible opportunity for a long and happy relationship together. — a family in Illinois
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https://www.gsdhaven.org/index.html#alumni Webside Chat We have had several requests by other groups and individuals to link their organizational or personal web pages to us. If you would like to link to the us, please download the image below and use the following html code to link to the Central Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue <a href="https://www.gsdhaven.org"><img src="gsdlinkbanner1.gif" width="202" height="75" alt="German Shepherd Dog: The Intelligent Choice. Central Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue" border="0" vspace="10" hspace="10"></a>
Misty, Our Vice-President's very special puppy and honorary German Shepherd (schnauzer mix), recently passed away after two decades of unsurpassed loyalty. Misty was a one-man dog for our VP's entire adulthood. She saw him through the best and worst of times with unconditional love and acceptance, often kept him going with snuggles on cold nights. Misty will never be forgotten, and the clicking of her nails will be missed terribly. Twenty years is a wonderfully long time to keep your best friend. She is now dancing in green fields with our other beloved pets, until it is time for them to meet again.
— Elizabeth Riddle, Central Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue
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