|  It disheartens and
alarms me to find that a shadow has been cast over central Wisconsin by the
buying and selling of dogs as though they were a mere commodity one could use
as one pleases and then toss aside. They are being regarded as a source of
income and not the loving and dedicated friends they are and will become if
raised correctly and allowed to reach their potential.
We
all heard the public outcry elicited by the Michael Vick scandal. Is Vick's
reality so different? These dogs have no life. To produce/perform- becomes
their sole function.
 Dogs were among the
first creatures to seek out humans as a source of companionship. We do owe them
something. They are not here for us to cage, ignore, and breed until they are
not longer productive, and then discard.
My husband and I have been raising and "breeding" dogs since the 70's
-- I use the word "breeding" loosely -- a maximum of one litter per
year, if that. We take a loss on each litter, only doing it because animals are
a passion with us. I have been a member of the National Committee of Health
Concerns for Cairn Terriers and have closely followed genetic diseases, doing
whatever we can to eliminate such diseases from the gene pool. We provide
health guarantees with each of our pups and do not sell to anyone who does not
come here to see the "family" and visit with us.
 We
literally run an adoption agency. All of our dogs sold as pets are sold on a
spay/neuter contract, and no pup leaves here before he is 12 weeks old and is
properly socialized. There are already far too many unwanted dogs needing
loving, caring homes, which is another reason we breed so rarely.
You
might want to compare your puppy mill pet's status with our pets'. Shots,
worming, health checks are a must. A few additional things we do: We drive to
Green Bay to have all breeding stock and puppies' eyes checked by the
well-regarded canine ophthalmologist, Dr. Vainisi. We also have all stock
cleared of GCL-a fatal disease, and bile acids tests done at ten weeks since
some Cairns are known to have a liver shunt.
A
true breeder KNOWS HIS BREED and what to protect you and his animals against.
Your bills can be enormous and not the rosy picture painted by some
money-hungry breed ignorant wholesaler.
Save
yourself the grief that comes from these irresponsible people. Save yourself
the heartache that comes from losing one of these "pets."
BETTER YET, SAVE
OUR HEARTLAND FROM THIS STAIN NOW UPON US:
DON'T SUPPORT THESE AUCTIONS AND THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THEM.
 See
Kirkwall Cairns' PHOTO ALBUM for larger views, additional photos, and
captions
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