Gwen:
I am sorry about the problems you and Lulu have to face have to face as a
result of her inbreeding(or line-breeding, as they call it.  I think that
term is supposed to lighten the impact of what they are doing).  This is a
subject that has always disturbed me.  I never have, and probable never
will, understand why animal breeders think that this practice is alright.
Inbreeding causes deformaties and psychological problems in humans, wouldn't
it follow that it's going to happen in animals?
 
I think it can also be seen that more and more full bred dogs have physical
deformaties and I've seen a great many dogs recently(all full bred) that
seemed to be mentally disturbed or even retarded.  And what's worse, people
will breed these dogs and pass the problems on to another generation!!  Why
can't we learn something?  I was just thinking the other day that in an
ideal world, we would all have to buy our dogs from breeders and there would
be no mixed breeds unless someone asked for a specifically mixed dog because
there would be no "free puppies" in the paper or unwanted dogs in shelters.
But it certainly would not be ideal if this is how the breeders bred!
(Sorry, had to go off on a tangent).
 
Anyway, I know that in the world of dogs, linebreeding does not just occur
with the big guys, but is also practiced by many small kennels and possibly
even some hobby breeders.  Do any private breeders line breed their ferrets?
And I wonder if this is ever done with exotics, like hedgehogs, iguanas, and
snakes?  I sure hope not.  A nuerotic red-tailed boa sure wouldn't be a
pleasant pet to have around!
 
I could be wrong (I often am) but I think that animals know instinctively
not to breed with a relative.  I don't believe you will find an animal in
the wild which mates with another related animal( except perhaps those oddly
disturbed animals who will mount anything that moves....or not).  It is
cruel for humans to force them into such an unnatural circumstance.
 
                --Barbara Thomas and Sweet Lil Seymour
 
***********************************************************************
|              your name here                                         |
|              [log in to unmask]                                       |
***********************************************************************
[Posted in FML issue 1469]