SHAR PEI Rescue Inc

As stated previously, the statistic quoted (82%) re: entropion was taken from the records of MDBA who are of course an independent body with regards to the breed. I also stand by the fact that 8-9 out of 10 Shar Pei that come through SPR Inc require entropion surgery. We have the vet records to prove that. The purpose of the editorial was to try to educate the general public to ask pertinent questions of the breeder they are considering purchasing the pup from. From the incredible response we have had from the article, I suspect this is being achieved. SPR Inc has always been approached by the general public for advise as to who is a reputable breeder, and I am very happy to say we can recommend a number of responsible breeders Australia wide. Gablehouse is certainly one of the breeders we recommend. You have a great reputation Gablehouse and this article was certainly not directed at you, but at the reg breeders who continue to breed "poor" quality dogs and who don't stand by the pups they have bred for the lifetime of the animal. These pups/dogs continue to appear in rescue over and over again. In my opinion, these breeders are simply puppy farmers in registered breeder clothing. Good breeders who breed for betterment of the breed are well respected, you know yourself Gablehouse there are breeders you admire and there are also breeders who make you cringe. I believe that if the public know what to ask and expect of a breeder, we will see less dogs in rescue and the pounds because the shonky breeders will give up because they can't "move" their puppies along. Referring to the pei as a designeer breed is incorrect given we refer to a labradoodle (lab X poodle)etc as a designer breed. ETA: For the last 6 months, 1 -3 Shar pei that enter care with us have been bred by a registered breeder. They appear with both blue!!! and red papers.

These two pei are more Chinese style than a lot of pei we see through here. They were bred by a reg breeder interstate who sold them on limited register without desexing contracts. The purchaser had intended to breed them (they are brother and sister). However, these two have received little if any training and although very friendly, obviously haven't received a great amount of stimulation as they escaped the confines of their yard on more than one occasion. After numerous escapes and impounds, the owner decided to surrender them both to the pound. The pound then contacted us and we had them delivered straight to our vet for consult. As per the MDBA code of ethics for rescue, we contacted the breeder and told her they had been impounded, transferred to SPR Inc and had since been vet checked and would need entropion surgery. The breeder neither wanted them returned nor offered to contribute to the cost of desex/vacc/entropion. Meanwhile, the Herald Sun contacted us for the interview and we offered these two as examples given they wanted before, during and after pics. We didn't go out of our way to pick especially rolly dogs but offered the dogs who were the last to arrive into our care for the article. The statistic of 82% of Shar Pei need entropion was taken from the MDBA records, however, I would have to say that the numbers we see through SPR Inc, being 8-9 dogs in 10 are similar.

I was discussing this report with our vet last week. Makes sense when you consider that the original Chinese Shar Pei (the bone mouth) was a very hardy dog - it had to be, given it dated back to the Han Dynasty with little, or more likely no veterinary care for all these years. They were farm/herding dogs for peasant farmers who, even if they did have access to a vet (unlikely) couldn't afford one. FSF (Familial Shar Pei fever) has come about since the Americans imported these dogs and chose to breed them with more wrinkles for ascetic reasons (the meat mouth). More wrinkles also means more entropion surgeries as it is the heavy wrinkles on the forehead that weighs the eyelids down putting pressure on the eyelids (eye lashes) to curl around onto the eyeball. However, it has to be said that even though the Americans may have created these problems we are now seeing in the pei, without their intervention, the breed would now be extinct. Sadly, due to bad breeding practises, we now have the situation where 1 in 4 pei will suffer FSF, and of those 1 in 4, 50% will suffer amyloidosis (kidney failure). As a side issue, necessary entropion surgery has increased to 4-5 in 5 pei who pass through SHAR PEI Rescue Inc requiring same. 2 yrs ago, this figure was 3 in 5, as such we have witnessed an increase for the need of entropion in such a short space of time. Of the rescues we see in SHAR PEI Rescue Inc who do suffer a FSF attack, we apply the following protocol: These pei are fed the lowest protein food we can find. We do this to try to keep their blood from heating up which can result from high protein food. We also administer a pro- biotic to their food on a daily basis and finally, they are given Colgout meds daily. Colgout is a human medication given to patients suffering gout. Giving Colgout to the pei is said to protect the kidney and liver should they be attacked by amyloidosis. Personally I had never witnessed a FSF attack until the week of Christmas 2010. Since then, I have witnessed and have been notified of over 1 dozen current and past rescues who have suffered an attack. The ONLY thing I can think of that has changed in the past 3 months is an increase in humidity in Melbourne. Upon asking a US FSF specialist about this relationship, she stated that the fact we don't normally experience such humid weather this could well have triggered the stress "button" in the pei in turn bringing about a FSF attack. The Shar Pei world look forward to day when we do have a test for FSF available, and from there a breeding program to eradicate this from our beloved breed.

We have been feeding the rescue pei the export food for the last few weeks. Pei are tricky to feed for a few reasons. 1) If the protein level of the food is over 20% we find this can warm their blood and contribute to Shar Pei fever attacks, hence the lamb and rice is 19% - tick 2) Then there are many who come into care with horrible skin conditions. Beef can be a big contributor to this so again the export lamb and rice works well - tick 3) In the three weeks we have been using this, we have witnessed quality moist No 2's. Not dry and crumbly - tick 4) In the past few days, I have noticed the usually prickly horse coats are getting shinier and softer - tick From our experience at SHAR PEI Rescue Inc, this food is wonderful. We have always fed the pei quality food, but never seen a physical response like this before. We are delighted with Black Hawk!

Any idea how many seats to a table?

Seems there are a few Victorian Shar Pei Addicts wanting to attend. I think the count is currently up to about a dozen and rising so I'm guessing there will be a few "wrinklies" there!! AND.........as HENRY'S pet friendly 5 star B&B @ SHAR PEI Rescue Inc on the glorious Mornington Peninsular is due to open in April, 2011, we would like to offer 2 x separate rooms (one Chinese and one French) to those wanting overnight accommodation. The Chinese room will accommodate 2 adults (1 x queen size bed) and the French room 3 adults (1 x queen bed and 1 x double sofa bed) As we will not (officially) be open at that stage, minor renovation (finishing touches) will probably still be going on so please take this into account. No building works will be undertaken during your stay, but you may need to utilise the games room of the family home rather than the lounge room of the B&B to relax in. Not only will you have full use of the games room (which features an indoor/outdoor pool, full size billards table, 60 inch LCD TV, leather lounge (with Chaise) and bar), you will also have the private outdoor jacuzzi (off the b&B itself) which looks out onto rolling pastures at your disposal. We would like to offer this on a "highest donation" basis with all proceeds going to Steve for her to allocate to either MDBA or PACERS as per her discretion. Good luck punters......we Victorians know how to pei-ty, so be prepared!!! Note: the usual tariff for either room (once completed and operating) will be $300 per night for 2 people- $50 per extra person per night - Please PM me your offer and for which room and I will let you know who has been successful on 1/3/11