You've really touched on my sore spot, so sore that unitl now I've never even hinted at it, because I knew "the fur would fly" (thanks, spencer!)

I think any breeding of any dog or cat is a disgrace when MILLIONS are put to death every year across the country. Just today I got in the mail my newletter from the Dallas SPCA. They believe in telling the truth and passing along the facts, and I'm happy (or should I say sad) to share them - during the quarter of June, July, and August of this year, 3,263 animals were received. Of those, 2,273 were adopted. This means that 990 dogs and cats were killed. And this is only one shelter in a city with many shelters for a three-month period. A cat with a smashed-in face or no hair or a dog with spots that cost $200 (or more!) is just as loving and lovable as the homeless tabby shivering in a cage, or a dog who is has been dumped at the pound because he was so lonely he chewed the paper, with only three days to find a home or be killed. Breeding is a wonderful idea - once the shelters have closed down becuase they no longer have a reason to exist. Even so, I agree with you and Spencer that breeding for features that may be detrimental to the pet's health is selfish and foolish. I once worked with a woman who bred Maine Coons. I was sickened by some of the things I saw. She once had to bring a kitten to work with her every day so she could force a tube down his throat to feed him, because his mother wasn't nursing him. Of course, she wasn't fighting for his life and torturing him by shoving this tube down his throat for his sake, she was doing it because the cat represented at least $300 to her as a sale, even more if he ended up being stud-quality. HE WAS NOTHING TO HER BUT INVENTORY. Like you, Enthusi, I'm also very partial to cats, but also agree that the same sentiments apply to dogs. And the ear and tail cropping! Thankfully, alot of vets are educating their clients and this practice is starting to diminish, but not fast enough. I worked for a vet many years ago, but I can still hear every puppy who had its body parts chopped off with no anesthesia. And this is done for no reason that benefits the dog! And any vet will tell you that a mixed breed dog is hardier than any pedigree. Some say that breeding should continue "to preserve the individuality and the traits that are specific to a breed" to which I say I scoop that kind of garbage out of the cat box every day! So what? So siamese are more vocal - that doesn't mean they are the ONLY vocal cats. So German Shpeherds guard - so do many of the mongrels in the shelters. The only exception I can think of is dogs that truly have a peculiarity or talent that is beneficial to man as a whole - such as bloodhounds. And puppy mills are such a horror that many localities are passing legislation to try and put these dog factories virtually, if not actually, out of business. Anyway, I think it's interesting that you posted this, because I had just finished reading the post on "favorite breeds" and started to express my sentiments there - I ended up deleting it and posting something only mildly hinting that breed shouldn't be important because I was afraid I would come across as lecturing and holier-than-thou or something. But I think it is a very important issue, and I thank you for having the guts to bring it up. I hope many, many people visit this thread. Whew, now let me catch my breath!