ellz Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 I am a breeder..... My food receipts for a family of 7 and my dog food bills match My water bill has doubled My electricity bill has tripled It is I, a breeder, who when my fridge quit, saved the dog meds and let the food go bad. My feet find the way to the kennel before I have even grabbed a cup of coffee in the morning and the kennel is my last stop before bed. While my friends are on a cruise to the Bahamas and My family meets for Christmas while I am home delivering puppies I haven't had a real vacation in 7 years, but maybe soon. All plans are made around heat dates, whelp dates and vet dates. I shower and 10 minutes later my grand kids say I smell like a dog My clothes are all stained with fecal matter, urine, afterbirth or bleach I have to remember to clean my shoes before church Most of my friends breed dogs Who else can you call at 3 am for support? Who else has the experience I sometimes need, the med I sometimes need, or just an uplifting word I sometimes need? Who else would understand how it feels to have invested hours and hours and hours in a weak puppy to lose it? Or the joy in investing hours in one that lives? I have slept on the floor beside a litter until the crucial 2 weeks have passed. I have bottle fed a litter of 12 .. feeding every 2 hours and it taking 90 minutes to do for weeks at a time. I have learned to be proficient at micro chipping, vaccinations, fluids, bottle feeding and tube feeding. My vet knows me by first name The vet knows my children by name The vet now knows my grand children by name My vet knows it was I who added on the wing to the vet clinic I am a breeder It is to me that 63 days takes on new meaning still excited by every new life It is I who delivers all my pups, towels and heat lamps on ready - happiness and sadness sometimes intermingled - Even though it increases my work load, I look forward to the 10 day stage when eyes open, and puppies begin to emerge from the helplessness of newborns. Puppy breath, a first bark. and a heart of exploration. I am not uneducated, unemployable, illiterate or lazy as some Animal Rights folks would imply of breeders. I am a conscientious lover of animals and I have found my niche. I am a breeder. And although I feel no shame there is a part of me that feels the need to hide from powers that could come to invade my home and take my dogs .. maybe for .. finding a mild infraction, .. a leaf in the water dish .. a kennel not yet cleaned for the day yet .. a rash I am home treating? I tell my children and grand children to hush, do not tell others we are dog breeders, and I wonder when did breeding puppies go into the same secret place as criminal activity? I am a breeder and I am not cruel, dumb, uncaring or criminal. I am not raking in money while sitting on my butt. Every penny I make I earn through blood, sweat and tears. My greatest joy is a healthy puppy and a wonderful home. The cards of thanks and the pictures of my puppy with its new family is the fringe benefits of my efforts. I am an animal lover, nurse, midwife, heavy laborer, customer service representative, and marketer. AND I am a breeder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockerlover Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 great post Ellz ,nevr a truer word spoken . could add but wont ,thanx for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Baggins Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Thats great ellz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellbyville Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 This is fantastic! So very true, could relate to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissMonaro Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Loved it !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Love it Ellz :-) sent it to breeder friends. very poignant. fifi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 Guys, I didn't write it. Sorry it didn't have an author when it was sent to me but I thought it so relevant I couldn't resist putting it on here. I started looking for somebody to acknowledge but have the throat from hell again so went to bed instead. More anti-b's for me. Lovely timing as usual. Funny how in General there are a couple of responses demonstrating why somebody would feel the need to write it in the first place! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisart Dobes Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Ellz - I responded in general - didn't see it here. I was stunned with the response of some in that forum but felt it best left alone. If they cannot understand that it was simply meant as a beautiful reminder of how much blood, sweat, tears and love goes into rearing litters not a whinge "woe is me" - then they shouldn't own dogs at all. Very sad attitude and best left alone as I said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShesaLikeableBiBear Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Thanks for sharing, Ellz. It really is fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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