By Lisa Lange People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Los Angeles
While many of us were celebrating the passage of the new mandatory spay/neuter law in Los Angeles — a measure that will drastically reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats in animal shelters — beagle breeders were cheering for Uno, the pedigree named “Best in Show” at the Westminster Dog Show. They’re hoping people will be tempted to run out and buy a beagle while those of us who want to stop euthanasia are hoping people won’t.
In case anyone wonders why, pedigree animals are susceptible to medical problems that arise from inbreeding — yet millions of healthy, friendly non-pedigree dogs are euthanized in shelters every year simply because there aren’t enough good homes for all of them. It’s a disservice to them to make any more. If you have your heart set on a beagle, check your local animal shelter — about 25 percent of dogs who enter shelters are purebred — or with a beagle rescue group.
Please also be sure that your dogs and cats are sterilized.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 15, 2008. Read the original PDF.