Anna These are the most adorable little puppies. Thank you for sharing the photos.

I was friends with a dog breeder a few years ago and it was apparent that when you feed and care for the expectant mothers and then the new litters properly, including vets costs etc, there is no way you could make any money out of it. If you were to break even you would be fortunate, so I cannot see why anyone would consider it would be done for a profit. Except maybe those "puppy farmers" who do not take any care of the mother or the pups and then dispose of the flea and worm ridden offspring through pet shops or markets.

I have always been amazed by people who do not have any empathy with animals. It is by our treatment of animals and the defenceless among us that our civilization will be remembered. I believe that we as the more intelligent species (debatable) are here as caretakers for all other creatures. So far a lot of us are doing a very poor job of it.

The contamination of all types of pet food is frightening. Next step is human foodstuffs, if not already tainted. Back to natural foods and home cooked meals is the only way to be sure.

When in motion, this breed always carries the tail erect so it is easy to tell if one is not feeling well. They are much better now as are the mothers.

I can really tell a difference changing foods. Looks like the old grocery store brands, Pedigree and Purina, may well be the best bet after all that effort to find something better. :evil: Maybe they are such huge companies they don't import or something, not sure but all are doing well now. Finally.

Note the cocky little tail carriage and these are just babies. In adults, it can be also a sign of aggression when fully erect with legs stiff!

They are terriers and partly comprised of the very old breeds like the Carin and Scottie. Wiry coats and all.

We domesticated the wolf and for doing so, we owe these companions we have created from nature the best care and treatment we can provide. They did not ask to be tamed and made into our companions and they are not toys but living beings. They would not exist in this form had we not made them to be so. They would still be wolves, fending for themselves and it is we humans who intervened in this process and for that we owe them.

(albums/a360/AnnaBlueSkies/Dogs%20of%20Mine/HPIM1833.jpg)

Note the funny little tails straight up! It is a thick, shorter tail and can be used to pull them out of a rabbit warren or other in the ground activity if necessary. Not recommended, however. Emergency kind of thing only but it is more thick and short like a carrot for that purpose.
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I had a terrible nightmare last night. I was collecting a slew of twigs and small limbs that were scattered across the lawn of a house in which I once lived. The lawn could not be mown until they were collected. I was planning to lease this home. The landlord was tending the yard, and wanted the tree debris placed on the shovel of a bulldozer, to burn. He said that I may as well put all of my Betty Crocker points (those thingys on food boxes) on the pile too. I asked him why I should that. He said that since there would be no more wheat grown, there would be no more flour manufactured, and the points would be worthless. I said that they must still have some merchandise left for which I could redeem my saved points (keep in mind that I have never used these in real life~ dreams are weird). Anyhow, when he said that about no more flour, I felt such a sense of doom, and the sky even darkened.

Wilbur-Ellis Voluntarily Recalls Rice Protein Concentrate
To: FDA-RECALLS-L@LIST.NIH.GOV
Recall -- Firm Press Release

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company. This listserv covers mainly Class I (life-threatening) recalls. A complete listing of recalls can be found in the FDA Enforcement Report at: opacom/Enforce.html

Wilbur-Ellis Voluntarily Recalls Rice Protein Concentrate
Contact:
Ann Barlow
415-438-9826; 925-200-6539
Deborah Brown
212-931-6113
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- San Francisco, CA -- April 18, 2007 -- Wilbur-Ellis Company is voluntarily recalling all lots of the rice protein concentrate the San Francisco company’s Feed Division has shipped to pet-food manufacturers because of a risk that rice protein concentrate may have been contaminated by melamine, an industrial chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers that can lead to illness or fatalities in animals if consumed.

Wilbur-Ellis noted that it obtained rice protein from a single source in China and shipped to a total of five U.S. pet-food manufacturers located in Utah, N.Y., Kansas and two in Missouri.

Last Sunday, April 15, Wilbur-Ellis notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that a single bag in a recent shipment of rice protein concentrate from its Chinese supplier, Binzhou Futian Biology Technology Co. Ltd., had tested positive for melamine. Unlike the other white-colored bags in that shipment, the bag in question was pink and had the word “melamine” stenciled upon it. Wilbur-Ellis separated that bag and quarantined the entire shipment for further testing and since that time, no further deliveries of rice protein concentrate have been made. Samples from the white bags tested negative for melamine. However, subsequent and potentially more sensitive tests by the FDA came back positive for melamine, leading Wilbur-Ellis to voluntarily issue the recall.

Wilbur-Ellis began importing rice protein concentrate from Binzhou Futian Biology Technology in July 2006. A total of 14 containers holding 336 metric tons of rice protein concentrate were sent from Futian to Wilbur-Ellis. Wilbur-Ellis has distributed 155 metric tons to date.

On Monday (April 16), a pet food distributor issued a voluntary recall of its pet food, believing the source of contamination to be rice protein concentrate supplied by Wilbur-Ellis. As an additional precaution, Wilbur-Ellis is urging all pet food manufacturers using rice protein concentrate supplied through Wilbur-Ellis to recall any pet food that may be on supermarket shelves.

Consumers with questions about the pet food they use should visit the FDA Web site at www.fda.gov.

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FDA's Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts Page: opacom/7alerts.html

___________________________________________________

Recall -- Firm Press Release
FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

Royal Canin USA Announces the Voluntary Nationwide Recall of its Dry Pet Food Products Containing Rice Protein Concentrate
Contact:Erik Mueller
636-926-1089

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- St Charles, Missouri -- April 19, 2007 -- Royal Canin USA is announcing today that the company has determined there is a melamine derivative in the rice protein concentrate in some of its dry pet food products.

Although Royal Canin USA has no confirmed cases of illness in pets, we have decided to voluntarily remove all of our dry pet food products containing rice protein concentrate. We are taking this proactive stance to avoid any confusion for our customers about which Royal Canin USA products are safe and which products may be affected.

"We are as passionate about the health and happiness of our customers' pets as we are of our own, so we are committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure this never happens again," said Olivier Amice, President and CEO of Royal Canin USA.

As a precaution, Royal Canin USA is voluntarily recalling the following dry pet food products:

ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET™ (available only in veterinary clinics)
Dry Dog Food

Canine Early Cardiac EC 22™
Canine Skin Support SS21™
Dry Cat Food

Feline Hypoallergenic HP23™
ROYAL CANIN SENSIBLE CHOICE® (available in pet specialty stores nationwide)

Dry Dog Food

Chicken Meal & Rice Formula Senior
Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Puppy
Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Adult
Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Senior
Rice & Catfish Meal Formula Adult
Based on today's announcement, pet owners should immediately stop feeding their pets the Royal Canin USA dry pet food products listed above. Pet owners should consult with a veterinarian if they are concerned about the health of their pet. No other Royal Canin diets are affected by this recall and CONTINUE TO BE safe for pets to eat.