Breeding age and standards - Page 1

I work for a county zoning dept. which has numerous commercial breeding operations. Our staff is looking for input to set a standard for breeding in our county. I'm looking for input from breeders and your standards for minimum age and maximum age of breeding females and males. Also input as to sizes of kennels and occupancy. Note: most of the breeders in our county are breeding smaller toy breeds.  I can be emailed privately at rweiss@elkhartcounty.com or in open forum. Thanks in advance for your input.

a city close to where I live just adopted an new ordinance - if the animals are well cared for and healthy then there are no limits -

this is logical...........





 

I don't agree SitasMom (respectfully, not trying to argue with you)...  An animal can be in good health, treated well, and all that good stuff but still shouldnt be bred as soon as they come into their first heat cycle.  That being said, I think this is more of a ethical issue than a legal one.  I don't see it as the counties business to regulate the mating of animals.  Are they going around to the farmers and making sure the sheep and cattle arent bred before they are fully mature?  Time for Elkhart County to take a backseat to common sense IMO.  Here in America, people should be free to make their own decisions with their property.  As hard as it is to swallow for a lot of us, but animals are property... 

Before the peanut gallery starts in on me, I am COMPLETELY opposed to breeding animals without health clearances and a clear vision of the purpose of the breeding. 

Is MORE government really necessary?  I could think of a lot more IMPORTANT animal related issues you could string someone by the balls for.  What would you do anyway, fine them to cover your policing costs?  If an animal is sexually mature enough to reproduce, then it's because nature intended so.  If you NEED something to do with taxpayer money, mail an iformation packet to each of the breeders that educates the benefits or cautions against the risks of waiting/not waiting until full skeletal growth is formed or mental maturity attained, and put whatever slant on it that suits your political agenda.  And back your conclusions with more respectable sources than a public forum.

Uh, I'd be careful with what I say in this thread. Big brother....PeTA, the HSUS. You get it. There is plenty of internet info regarding the recommended way to keep and breed toy dogs, all dogs. AKC offers guideline, so do breed clubs.Why ask that here?

"Big Brother" needs to hear our opinions.  People who have no involvement in the breeding, training or showing of animals have no business micromanaging them.   As for PeTA and HSUS, they need to both be put down.  Only organizations who are genuinely concerned about balancing the lives of domestic animals with the livelihoods of humans are sane enough to take seriously. 

It is not in the best interests of government and the public people for government to regulate the breeding ages of animals.  How on earth could that be regulated?  How do government officials who are usually not true experts try to ascertain the age of an animal?  Just rely on the paperwork of the owner?  really?  

 American governments (fed/state/county/city) doesn't tell a 15 yr old girl or a 50 yr old woman if she is allowed or not allowed to get pregnant.  American governments do try to protect people from physical abuse and extreme neglect.   So should it be the same way for animals.  If the animal is provided for in adequate food, clean water and clean living space and is not being violently physically abused (beaten, burned, etc) then government has no further involvement with that animal (unless it's vicious and unrestrained) 
There are already so many federal and state laws to protect animals from abuse.  If Elkhart county is concerned about the breeders in it's county then it needs to enforce the laws already in place (but very rarely enforced) and not make more laws that will be just more un-enforceable. 

Look to the USDA regulations of their licensed dog breeding operations, adopt the same regulations for your entire county (but don't be making changes to it that will have consequences you never realized) and enforce them. 

Here in Ohio they're trying to make laws on dog ownership, including requiring that all dogs must be wearing tags at all time, even in their own house or kennel.  That is a death sentence for dogs.  So many dogs have been severely injured or killed because they wore collars and tags.  law makers have not been able to understand that just the smallest, seemingly inconsequential law can have incredibly horrible outcomes. 

Tell the County zoning department to try not to shoot itself in the foot and shoot it's constituents in the heart.  If the animals are adequately provided for then that is all the board needs to know. 
I could go on and on...   next to real dog abuse, and scammers/thieves/killers, nothing aggravates me more than worthless government regulation. 

 EuroShepherd.

What's the county going to do in the case of an accidental breeding of a too young or too old dog, male or female?

I don't want to see a larger breed female pregnant before 18 months, but if there is an accidental pregnancy before then, the best option is often for her to have the puppies. If it's a smaller breed dog, they do mature earlier and 2 year OFAs may not be necessary in all of the smaller breeds.

He stated "commercial breeding operations" and toy breeds.  I am sure they are not doing OFA's and i am guessing it is for puppy mill operations.  Hopefully someone can give him some answers.  The government is involved with them whether one agrees or not. 

Here's some helpful links. Not sure this is exactly what your looking for. You probably already know the first link. Hope this helps. Take Care    Pete
http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusinst15_21_1_1.htm
http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/laws-that-protect-dogs.aspx
http://www.pijac.org/_documents/tn_breeder_reg.pdf