This year for the first time we had some puppies for sale mainly because the vet said if we did not want to spay our little 4 year old dog then we should let her have a litter of puppies now for her long term health. She had seven puppies eight weeks ago (AKC) and after running newspaper ads in several papers all around, we have sold one. Very few calls.

Saturday we were at the vets office and told her about the poor response. She said that other people are having few sales also. I ask why and she did not know. She is a DGI, too busy to pay any attention to it, I suspect.

I think people are reluctant to take on the responsibility of a pet because of Y2K. Have any of you heard of this situation ?

-- MinnPinSquadLeader (Down@SouthDogs1.com), December 19, 1999

Answers

We will be the proud parents of a Golden Retriever puppy tomorrow. I know I know with all the possible stress coming this is probably not a great time to take on this kind of responsibility but we feel we need a little joy right now. Yes, we have prepped for the puppy too. The people we are getting the puppy from have l0 and only sold three.They are AKC. Good Luck.

-- puppylover (lifeisgoodhere@webtv.net), December 19, 1999.

Wait a second, you are the parents of a DOG ???

-- tom (flstplt@yahoo.com), December 19, 1999.

I love puppies, but we have a cat. He has been prepping, since he is a smart cat.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), December 19, 1999.

BTW, I in the market for a fawn colored PUG. Sure hard to find.

-- Tommy Rogers (Been there@Just a Thought.com), December 19, 1999.

Millinieum Golden Retriever Puppies: We have two pregnant Golden retriever females expecting puppies plus/minus about Xmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Last Spring we had two litters of pups 3 days apart -----14 puppies. It is a good diversion from all this Y2K stress. And if the power goes out they will help keep up warm in the house. Hence if it not too cold we will only need one dog on top of each bed. If it gets below 0 degrees Feh. then two dogs per bed. At Minus 20-30 degrees Feh. we will need 3 dogs per bed. When we put our large Norweigen male, the two pregnant bitches and the new six month old female along with our Red Australian Heeler in one room the temperature goes up right now-- no need for propane, kersoene or electric heaters.. Hence the saying a "One dog or a two dog or a Three Dog Night".! This could also be changed to read a "One bitch or a two bitch night". Also if there is a shortage of food and you are of Korean extraction\ .........................Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Puppies anyone????????????

-- Charles Park (chaspark@ccinet.ab.ca), December 19, 1999.

I am a dog person. A black lab and an Alaskan Malamute (both house dogs). My black lab is 16 years old and is really having a hard time going up and down stairs. We have also been having a really hard time with the idea of putting her down, and I think mostly because we don't want to get a puppy to replace her until we know what is going to happen. I know I am being selfish and all that, and I have never had a dog in all my life get so old (I have had them shot, run over, lost, get in a trappers trap and on and on, but never old age.) I don't know why I am even telling you all this, but it is a strange year and I can't wait to find out what happens.....We have done all we can finacially handle and I pray to God it will be enough. But another dog at this time is just too much to handle and it has been 25 years since I haven't had 2 dogs in the house. Jo

-- Jo (tj4261@geneseo.net), December 19, 1999.

Jo...I understand exactly what you are going through. In the past 20 years, I have lost several treasured pets to old age or acute illness. It breaks your heart as well as your wallet.

My 3 cats are all "getting up there" age-wise. Even though my finances are shot to ribbons, I have prepped for them too. After all, to pet lovers, your dog, cat, bird, horse (whatever) is a member of the family too!

My advice...allow your 16 year old dog to live out his time in the comfort and security of his family home. Putting him down should not become an option unless a serious illness should strike.

Good Luck.

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), December 19, 1999.

It's the holiday season. Many people are too busy to deal with animals - they're a nuisance this time of year.

We love animals - have many pets (including dogs.) But my wife works at a vet clinic and this time of year is when waves of people put down old Ben because he's become inconvenient. Time to decorate the tree, put up lights outside, and take kitty off for a big sleep. This is at a very reputable vet clinic with multiple vets - it's not something they like doing, but it's just one of the hard facts of the veterinary business.

I don't believe this posting has *anything* to do with Y2K. It's a sad, annual trend for people in the business. I know there's millions of people who wouldn't consider doing this, but there are many for whom the stress of the holidays is diminished without worring about aging (but in good health) Fido.

I can't understand why you didn't do the overpopulated-pet world a heap of good and spay your dog. My $0.02 - had to say this, based on experience. In a normal year, you could probably be more sucessful getting takers in January-February after the holiday season rolls down. (We got both of our dogs in January - two years apart.) *BUT* all bets are off with the coming Jan/Feb - anything more than a BITR and you'll have quite a large houseful for a long time...best of luck (seriously.) Stock up on puppy & dog food.

-- Ford Prefect (bring@your.towel), December 19, 1999.

An after thought - are the puppies of a breed that are worthy as watchdogs (35# or more as adults, protective, etc?) Depending on how Y2K pans out, there might be an increased demand for dogs that can protect a home - who knows? Still stock up on food - they might be easier to sell with a bag of food...

-- Ford Prefect (bring@your.towel), December 19, 1999.

Well I was going to buy a British Bulldog but this has gone on the back-burner until y2k plays out...

I doubt if y2k is the reason for lack of sales... the herd are fast asleep...

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 19, 1999.

Aaargghhhh! I mostly lurk here but this thread really has struck a chord. You folks who look at pets as "disposable" and not a part of your family aggravate me to no end. When you accept a companion animal into your life, you make a LIFETIME COMMITTMENT to care for the animal (including veternary care, grooming, feeding, etc). To those of you who want to BREED these critters for whatever reason, you do nothing to save those pets who are put down daily, for lack of interest. Do any of you know how many cats and dogs are destroyed annually by shelters that are unable/unwilling to care for them? They number in the millions if I am to believe what I read. What a waste to continue the breeding of animals that are already being destroyed daily. Kudos to those folks who work at animal shelters, private and govt, who take care of those animals that have been neglected, abused and left to roam. I feel lucky to have gotten called by the local animal shelter some years ago, to come and get a dog who had been left to roam in the desert with coyotes (the shelter was going to put her down). She looks to be a purebred St Bernard, but was abandoned because she had a massive hernia. She has been a very loyal friend, and I thank God He brought her to us. Folks that breed for $$ will have to find a new business come y2k. Here's hoping that all of us will treasure and value God's gift of the critters we go through life with.

-- Big D (ddac@yahoo.com), December 20, 1999.

A couple of months ago there was a posting about dog packs. Even if you don't own a gun for shooting people, you should have gotten one for shooting dogs.

How many people two months from now won't have the heart to kill their dogs and will be out of food for them? Then they let their dog go. Then what does the dog do?

I have a Vietnamese friend who says he never lacks for protein.

People who treat animals as human, "part of the family" disgust me.

I have a dog. Got him from the local pound. I like him, but the first time a vet says $200.00 to fix, I will say "a bullet is cheaper" and go down to the pound a get a new dog.

-- Chowhound (wok the dog@eat.good), December 20, 1999.

Thank you for all your responses.These are minature pinchers and will weigh about 20 pounds when grown.

We raised doberman pinchers a long time ago and have had several great pyranees dogs running with our goats for the last twenty years.

MinPins are very alert, intelligent and do not eat that much. My husband says he will train them for the Team Masters (ADDAA) if y2k is a bump and will use them as alert dogs if bad times get here.

Dogs are like people, there are all kinds. Thank you again.

-- MinnPinSquadLeader (Down@SouthDogs1.com), December 20, 1999.

Jo

A 16 year old Lab?!?! You should be commended! We have a Golden that's almost 11 (Clapton) and a year old Doberman (Huey). I can now honestly say that Dobie's are a trip!!! Endless energy........

Deano - who just wants to be the type of person my dogs think I am...

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), December 20, 1999.

Got a couple german shorthair pointer puppies for Christmas for my daughters two weeks ago and I spend at least two hours less each day worrying about Y2K what with dealing with puppy poop.

Everybody deserves at least ONE big polly move, so close to the rollover.............

[There are a lot of polly moves I have to smack myself to resist lately..........]

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), December 20, 1999.

Get this: my parents are getting their Min. Schnauzer puppy on December 29, when he will be 9 weeks old. Sheesh. They have two other adult Schnauzers.

We have a 6 lb Chihuahua named Buddy. Have stocked about 50 lbs of dry dog food, should last 500 years w/how little the guy eats. Also have two fat pig cats that eat about 5 lbs a day (kidding).

Hey, Tommy, my dream someday is to own a fawn colored Pug I love those dogs. I want to get one from one of the pug rescue groups. Have you researched on the net?

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), December 20, 1999.

I do not think i would like to live without my faithful companions/family.

My biggest 'dog' is a 9 month old - 7/8 North American Timber Wolf / 1/8 Chow mix, and at 110 lbs he is only about three-quarters full grown. His name is Lobo (Spanish for wolf - what else :-).

Within less than a second, Lobo knows whether you are friend or foe ... If he 'feels' good about ya, he'll roll onto his back and whimper till you rub his belly. If not, I highly suggest you make yourself real scarce real quick. He'll stands VERY still, slightly hunched back; his ears will pull back, and them fangs appear ... all without a sound outta him. BTW: I Highly suggest at that point you walk very slowly back the way you came and keep going. One final suggestion, do not run. I have clocked Lobo at 35 mph ... Fair warning!

Have three rescued pups - a rez mutt, Scruffy (male); and two Australian Shepard mixes, Smokey (female) and Bandit (male) - abandoned in the middle of the night in the drive in front of the main house at about 4 weeks of age, they were malnourished and very ill, almost lost all 3. They are now a fat, lively, and healthy 6 months old, and still at that age where they love everyone!

Have two chihuahua/terrier mixes, Butterfinger (female) and Oreo (male) rescued from a dog pound (definitely was not a humane society shelter type of place, if you know what I mean)... they about 8 1/2 to 9 years of age ... but still going strong. Best watchdogs in the world ... ANY unidentified noise gets several minutes of the most vicious barking you ever heard ... make you think the house was full of wild pack dogs. Funny thing is - unless they know you ... soon as you walk in the door - they run and hide under anything they can ... still barking the whole time ... is funny to watch.

Cats - Casey (2 yo male); and 3 females - Penolope (6 mo), Pandora (6 mo), and Pita (short for Pain in the A** :-)(2 mo)

Cats are all rescues as well. The females were all abandoned here on my property, the much older male was a previous tenant of this place who just left the cat when he moved out when I bought the place.

I have 4 horses in the stable, a stallion - Thunder, and 3 mares (Wind, Lightning, and Stormy) - have 6 more wild horses arriving from the mountains next week (tribe is thinning the herd to prevent winter starvation and the horses are an honored present from one of the Elders)- and thanks to one of my mares, Stormy, another expected foal will arrive at end of Jan / beginning of Feb.

Now you have met the rest of my family here at the hidey hole!

-- hiding in plain (sight@edge. of no-where), December 21, 1999.