Responsible vs Underground Breeder

What is a responsible breeder?

I believe that a responsible breeder, as outlined by the HSUS, is very much like the very people who are fighting against SB 250 and other bills that incorporate the use of mandatory spay/neuter of pets.

In the state of California, a low volume hobbyist breeder may breed and sell puppies. There are no laws against that...yet (but I am sure that there are those who will be working on that). Depending upon the county or city, a breeder may be required to have a permit but most municipalities treat hobbyist breeders not as businesses.

In fact, most hobbyist breeders are not a business anymore than someone holding a garage sale is a business. Hobbyist breeders whelp and wean the puppies right in their homes. These puppies are not subjected to early lives in cages nor are the parents forever housed in crates. The parents are full fledge members of the family; a companion and much loved. Each parent is carefully screened for health clearances and before any breedings take place, pedigrees and genetics are carefully considered.

When the puppies are born, they are cared for in the home (not some backyard pit as characterized by supporters of mandatory spay/neuter laws) and lovingly weaned. Prospective new homes are carefully screened through applications and interviews. New homes are required to meet a certain criteria and agreements about breed appropriate spay/neuter, veterinary care, training, and the life long responsibility are reached.

Most cities do not require any type of permit to breed and sell a litter of puppies. Supporters of mandatory spay/neuter laws want others to believe that anyone who sells a litter of puppies is an underground breeder who is trying to skirt the law and not follow the rules. Hobbyist breeders have been demonized and their reputations have been tainted because they had the strength to speak out against those who would take away, not only their right to breed pets but the very pets they love!

Unless someone is in the business of breeding and selling dogs for profit or sells more than what the tax law considers a business, a hobbyist breeder is just that-- a hobby. The goal is to 1) preserve the integrity of the breed and 2) provide new families with healthy, life long companions.

Those who would want everyone to go to a shelter to get a dog do not appreciate the complexity of choice. We have a choice when choosing a pet. It is important that people be able to choose and if they decide to go to a shelter or rescue, that is wonderful. But if someone wants a purebred dog from a responsible breeder--would it be better to go to a low volume hobbyist breeder as described here or a substandard commercial breeder (aka puppy mill) or puppy broker or through the internet or imported from another country? If we take the hobbyist breeder out of the picture through continued pressure of legislation, what choice do we have?