Utah's Perfect Pointers

Hank, German Wirehaired Pointer

This is a Rescue near and dear to my heart. 
Marylin from Utah's Perfect Pointers is the lovely lady who saved our Gus from the shelter, had him vetted, neutered and arranged a flight for him to Vancouver. Marylin works with Dogwood and Cross our Paws in Vancouver, if there is a dog on her Petfinder list that you would like to learn more about don't be shy to contact her for more info! 
Marylin started bringing dogs to Vancouver when she was contacted by a rescue group in Vancouver that wanted to take some of the German Shorthaired Pointers (GSP) that were in Utah shelters. Having lived here, she knew the group’s reputation so she was happy to help get Utah dogs to good homes.  After that she started doing rescue on her own as Utah’s Perfect Pointers. 


Marylin was recently featured in a 3 part article on http://www.examiner.com - The first part was the story of Morgan, I had read Morgans story before, I cried and cried as I read it.
Here it is: 

In loving memory of Morgan

I was a 5-year old boy who was part of a breeder/hoarder raid along with 72 other GSP's, some vizslas and weimaraners. People from all over the country stepped up to help us, but we couldn't go anywhere until the court case was settled (and you know how long that can take), so we were in limbo for over a year. My past took its toll on me. I had severe kennel stress and I was completely unsocialized to the outside world. I hitched a ride with a pilot who brought me to Denver where I caught a ride to Salt Lake. I met my rescue woman who thought I was just beautiful and I won her heart with my gentle nature. She recognized my old soul and my deep longing for love. I was very submissive with other dogs and because of my past life I didn't like to be alone - in a kennel or in the yard. It frightened me when there weren't other dogs around. Except for little dogs - I really didn't like them. Even though my rescue woman spent time with me, it wasn't enough. Being alone was torture. I was so unhappy. My last weekend was the best three days of my entire life. My rescue woman drove 5 dogs and me to rescue in Canada. I rode shotgun and she petted me and stroked my throat when I stretched out my neck for her. I even got to sleep with her in the hotel on our way back - my very first time in a bed. It also gave her a chance to realize that she couldn't make me well, even with the support of vets and the daycare/boarding facilities in town. She held me while I died and went home and cried like she'd never done for any other animal. She really loved me.

Stories like these are why puppy mills and hoarders make me so mad. Dogs are social creatures, they are not meant to be in a cage 24 hours a day without human contact. Pointers want to be apart of the family, they want to sit in the living room with you and watch TV (as long as they've had their exercise)! 


Meet Hank!
Available at Utah's Perfect Pointers

Hank

                                                 


Hank is a very sweet male German Wirehaired Pointer, he's about 1.5 years old and looking for love. 
Hank likes to be with his people. He has separation anxiety - his rescue woman is working with him on that. (Gus had TERRIBLE separation anxiety when we got him, consistency, routine, a trip to the homeopath, bach rescue remedy and some time has done wonders). Hank is great off leash and wonderful in the house - he just lays on his bed and likes to hear what his people are talking about (He knows it's about him!).

Beautiful boy!

Contact Marylin at Utah's Perfect Pointers to learn more about Hank or any of the other dogs (and cats) she has available!

Flat faced breeds ( brachycephalic)...

English bulldogs, Frenchies, Pugs, Boxers, Bostons... Oh my!

I was feeling a little hesitant about writing this blog. I love these breeds - is there anything cuter then a little frenchie face? I've recently been feeling more and more like breeding these dogs is cruel and unfair. Especially the way they are bred now.


French and English bulldogs suffer from hip dysplasia, difficulty breathing, collapsed tracheas, extreme sensitivity to heat, hypothyroidism, dry eye,  skin infections and fungus. Other health problems that English Bulldogs are prone to include an underdeveloped trachea, Von Willebrand's disease, valve defects of the heart, Spina Bifida, cleft palate, elbow dysplasia, cataracts, and corneal ulcers. Then add to these problems a deformed intestinal system (a by-product of achondroplasia or dwarfism) which makes the dog constantly fart. 
Hmmmm that seems like a lot of genetic problems for one breed. 
They also can't really breed normally, usually they are either artificially inseminated (video - warning graphic) or a breeding table, otherwise known as a mating cradle or rape rack,  is used. After all of this over 90% require a C-Section . 

This all seems very unnatural to me. It also seems like us humans have really screwed things to have these dogs look a certain way. It seems for a large part of society, dogs have become fashion accessories. I wonder if the reason we still have these breeds around, despite the problems they have breeding and birthing, and why they've been allowed to get so extreme in the first place -is surgical intervention? If it wasn't possible people would have to breed physically capable dogs. As it happens, it is possible. Puppy buyers are perfectly willing to pay what it costs to make these dogs and I guess as long as there's a market there will be breeders to supply it.

Recently I was at the beach with Gus and my friend and her boxer. After about 30 seconds off leash, her dog laid down and didn't get back up. We ran over to him and he was totally unresponsive. His body was floppy and he was barely breathing. We managed to pick him up and started running to the car, at this point he had stopped breathing. A few feet from the car he took a couple of shallow breaths. He eventually started to wake up and after a few minutes was alert but lethargic. We were in Tofino at the time and found out that the closest veterinarian was 2 hours away! (business opportunity in Tofino for a Vet)!! 
He has a history of fainting - but he had never stopped breathing before. He has Boxer cardiomyopathy a genetic disorder common in boxers. 

Gus and bubba

Boxers are also prone to other serious heath problems including; breathing problems, digestive problems, pancreatitis (they're dog has this as well), brain tumors, deafness and blood clotting issues. Boxers have the highest rate of heart disease out of all pet animals! Now I loveeeee boxers, they are so friendly, loving and they are great companions but what have we done to these dogs???


All flat faced dogs overheat easily - so be careful out in the sun and when they are running around!

I would say most of these issues are due to show breed standards. Selective breeding has occurred in dogs for thousands of years, mostly without a problem. However in the last 100 years and particularly the last 50, the emergence of Kennel clubs as well as clubs devoted to specific breeds has led to a culture of in-breeding that has wreaked devastation in the pure-bred canine community. Dogs are bred to look a certain way instead of for function.
Add puppymills to that and you have an even bigger problem - more on that another time.