The problem is - **numbers**.

For the show breeders of large breeds which can have large litters, one or two litters a year can sound fine. For the toy breeders, which may be lucky to have two or three pups in a litter, one or two litters a year may not get that pup that can be moved forward into the next generation - it is not unusual for a toy breeder to have to place an entire litter (of one or two) and breed again, looking for that elusive next generation of show/breeding stock. This is why toy breeders will often have two litters on the ground at the same time - and they may do this two times a year. That's four litters - and may total as few as 10 pups.

We must ALL grasp the fact that it is numbers that will be the ultimate defeater if everyone doesn't wake up. Once a number is in print - statute, law - **it can be changed**. The lengthy battle at the moment is trying to *establish a number*, that is what is causing the pain and what is proving difficult. With good reason - ONCE THE NUMBER/S ARE ESTABLISHED THEY CAN - AND WILL - BE CHANGED. That is the primary concern for everyone - avoiding the establishment of a number.

Look at the fact that numbers are already being established as to how many pets can live in a household in so many towns? Today it's four, maybe two dogs and two cats, or any combination of the two - but a total of four. These numbers are being pulled out of thin air and have no bearing on how well an individual can care for however many numbers they may have. This was just the first and easiest number for the ARists to nail down. You can have four pets - but nine kids are alright?

And you actually can think that welfare and quality of life is the reasoning behind such measures?

The puppymill thing has long gone past being the issue, it's just the best public weapon in the Arist's arsenal because the 'reputation' attached to the word puppymill is something that no thinking person agrees with. When people hear the word puppymill they stop thinking because the thinking has already been done for them - 'puppymill' means small cages, wire floors, deplorable conditions, an animal lifetime of misery. So the Arists use that word to stop their opposition - and it's working quite well for them.

Now here's the 'hook'. The Arists have done their best to combine the word 'puppymill' and the word 'breeder' - the two are now often equated in the public mind - add to that our tendency to use the term 'hobby breeder' to describe ourselves - as a measure of self defense - and we're sinking our own ship.

I don't know about the rest of you, but to me a hobby is what one does in one's spare time, this is what hobby means to me. And a hobby is something we do because we enjoy doing it, spending our time on a hobby. Sounds ok, doesn't it? But where in there did you see anything about the seriousness that a breeder brings to this 'hobby breeding'? Where does hobby say anything about genetic health? About breeding for the best structure and temperament? About trying your best to better the breed? About having a professional goal?

Collecting stamps is a hobby, building model trains is a hobby - and we do not make a living with our hobbies - that's why they're called hobbies - ergo our hobbies are not as serious as our workday *professions*. It is true that the majority of breeders do not make a living raising dogs, but that doesn't make them any less serious about their goals. Hobby or profession?

It's the numbers folks - combined with the terminology - that is knee jerking the public mind. The Arists 'get it'. Until *we* do, we're a lost cause. Think about this for a moment. Establishing a number for pet breeders is the easiest beginning for the ARist - pets are a luxury (that's arguable, but nevermind) as opposed to say livestock that provide some form of social sustenance (meat, milk, wool, etc).

If the ARists can cut the numbers of pets produced - using the 'puppymill' theory (the control of the care and well being of animals) how long will it be before they're using the same reasoning to cut the numbers of livestock animals produced?

Oh wait, they're already making inroads into that aspect, aren't they?

Mind set folks - and conditioning.

One. Step. At. A. Time.