could YOU kill a newborn animal?? (Rodent and Small Pet Breeding in General)

Member Name: dawnfrancis

Product:	Rodent and Small Pet Breeding in General
Date:	25/09/01 (152 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: none

Disadvantages: cruel, inhumane, immoral

Many people naturally think of going to a breeder when they wish to acquire a new animal. This is not an unreasonable decision. Breeders are often far more knowledgeable about their animals than pet shops, and by and large, keep them in better conditions.

Some breeders are great, putting the welfare of their animals at the forefront. But some practice a morally reprehensible act known as culling. Since this op is in the category for small pets I shall use breeders of rats as an example. But please be aware that breeders of all types of animals engage in this practice.

Culling involves the deliberate killing of any 'unsuitable' baby animals. The reason?? Because the breeder is trying to perfect a new line and the animals concerned are not the right colour/shape/size etc. The babies are therefore seen as mistakes, byproducts of an experiment in genetic engineering. The breeder has no space or inclination to keep such rejects and in the case of animals such as rodents, which have large litters, it can be difficult to find owners for all the less-than-perfect babies.

By now you may be feeling shocked, you may even feel that I am exaggerating a little, or that I am some kind of animal rights fanatic. none of these statements are true. I am an ordinary animal lover who is appalled that life can be so casually created and then discarded on the whim of someone striving to create a super-animal.

To illustrate my argument I have chosen a society for British rat keepers known as the Fancy Rat Society. I have kept pet rats for over 9 years and was once a member of the NFRS until I left in disgust and horror. Articles are regularly published in the member's magazine which openly promote the use of culling. In the most recent issue, an article dealing with breeding speaks of the need to 'cull aggressively' in order to create a new line of rats.

In my horror I contacted the society who were very patroni
zing, told me that they were doing nothing illegal, that they had no official policy regarding culling,and that members of the society are free to write about what they wish. Yet as I see it, any animal organization should put animal welfare as its main priority. Protection of our companion animals, be they pets or breeding stock, is our responsibility. Yet the NFRS freely allows some breeder members to publicly advocate the killing of 'sub-standard' stock. Rather than investigating the practices of such members, it publishes their views.

I have been in discussion with the RSPCA on this matter who shared my horror but did confirm that the practice is not illegal. The Chief Veteninary Officer confirmed that as long as the animals do not suffer (i.e. are killed instantly) the breeders can get away with it.

The NFRS tries to defend itself by saying that some of the youngsters culled might turn out to be unhealthy because of bad genes. This is a red herring. Believe me when I say the guilty breeders care far more about coat colour than health problems. In any case, if there are so many health risks to baby animals because of a breeding project, the project should not go ahead.

IT IS MORALLY WRONG TO CAUSE AN ANIMAL TO FALL PREGNANT, GIVE BIRTH, AND THEN DESTROY THE BABIES BECAUSE THEY MESS UP ONE'S BREEDING PROGRAMME.

THIS PRACTICE IS LITTLE MORE THAN VIVISECTION IN DISGUISE.

And it's not just rats. A few years ago, when 101 Dalmatians was first being filmed, newspapers picked up on the story that many puppies are killed by their breeders - for not having the 'right' spots.

******WHAT YOU CAN DO*********************

I am committed to getting this practice banned in Britain. If you feel as strongly as I do, please consider following these steps:

1. Lobby organizations known to promote culling. Be aware that they will probably deny that they have any culling '
policy' but simply allow members to do as they wish. Don't be deterred. Express your disapproval. Tell them you are reporting them to the RSPCA. Ask them exactly HOW they kill their rejects.

The NFRS has a website at http://www.nfrs.org. Those wishing to take up the issue of rat culling in particular might want to contact the Society.

2. If you're getting a new pet of any sort, consider supporting a rescue organization rather than giving breeders your money. If you do go to a breeder, make sure you question them closely to see if they practice culling.

3. Write to local and national newspapers with any evidence of culling that you've uncovered.

4. Write to the RSPCA expressing your views on this matter and ask what we can do to outlaw this practice. The RSPCA gave me strong encouragement to use letter-writing as a means of campaigning. If enough letters go to the right people, maybe they will sit up and do something.

As a morally accountable human being you cannot throw an animal away because you don't like the way it looks. Please support me in spreading awareness of this issue.

Thank you for reading.

Summary: