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<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial>Nancy,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial>I have to weigh in on this subject as well.
Everyone else has talked about the expense, the heartbreak and the time that
goes in to breeding and raising a litter.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial>Yes having the stud basset will save you much
of that but there is still the moral commitment you and the females
owner need to make to these future puppies. Are they willing to keep
all the puppies until they make the journey to the rainbow bridge? Are
you? Are both of you in the financial position to handle all the problem
that can occur with not only the bitch but the puppies? What if the
puppies need surgery to correct a defect, what if one gets stepped on by mom and
needs a broken leg fixed? Are you both willing to give up your time
to help bottle feed puppies every 2 hours 24/7 if dawg forbid the bitch can't
produce the milk or you lose her? Just because your boy will be the stud
doesn't mean that you are relieved of the moral, emotional, financial or time
commitment.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial>The biggest reason I can think of right now
to not breed is the economy. Unless you have guaranteed homes for all
these pups I would strongly suggest you reconsider offer your boy for stud
service. People are losing their homes every single day. Many are
having to make the difficult choice to feed their families or feed their
furkidz. Guess who ends up on the losing end. Puppies are not
selling and unfortunately they are given up to rescue or placed in
shelters every single day. The shelters and rescues don't have the
room, the funding and unfortunately many of these wonderful bassets lose
their life. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial>I suggest you go to Golden Gate Basset Rescues
website (<A href="http://www.ggbassetrescue.org">www.ggbassetrescue.org</A> )
and take a look at the 61 bassets we rescued on Dec. 18th. Though many
reasons were given why the breeder was surrendering them, the biggest one
is they were not selling because of the economy. She could not sell
the puppies and yes she was more than irresponsible for continuing to
breed. (I won't get on my soapbox as I will let you read the
story.) </FONT><FONT size=3 face=Arial> Had it not been for
some extremely wonderful and giving people (that I am forever grateful to) this
rescue would have never happened. This is just one story. Believe me
when I say the rescues are more than overwhelmed and having to turn away
bassets because there is just no more room or funds. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial>One last thing you also should know. Many
times the stud will have out of control hormones (similar to a teenage boy)
after the first mating. It will take at least a month for those hormones
to calm down. Every time there is a female in the area that he "smells" in
season, that hormone surge is going to take over and he will only be able to
think with his other "head". He is going to do everything he can to
get to that female, putting him at risk of being hit by a car or the owner of
the female physically hurting him. Are you going to be able to tolerate
the incessant whining and mental change that your boy is going to go through
during these times? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial>All of this is things you need to consider. I
realize that you are probably feeling like the members here are telling you what
to do and that can cause anger. I won't tell you not to breed your
boy. Please just consider all sides and take the time just to
consider what everyone is saying with an open mind. The one
thing that all the members of the Drool have in common is that we love our
bassets and only want the best for them. None of us want to see our
beloved breed dumped, abandoned, put in to shelters, abused or God
forbid euthanized. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial>Just my thoughts,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial>Karen and The Dog House Gang</FONT></DIV>
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