Some breeders.

Wow. He is as cute as cute can be.

A Pekingese puppy born with a neurological birth defect. His back legs don't work like they should. Not worth much money to his breeder. Disposable. Her plan was to kill him, until one of our vet techs heard about his situation and offered to take him off of her hands.

Turns out he can get around. Not easily, mind you. But he does not appear to be in any pain. Just slower than your average Pekingese.

Not all breeders are evil. My wife used to breed Great Danes. There isn't a Great Dane on earth she doesn't love no matter their "issues." But other breeders want what is only perfection. Perfect coat. Perfect features. Perfect everything. And when someone comes along who is not perfect, like Mr. Pekingese, their solution is a simple one. Kill them. Keep the breed pure. Protect the breed at all costs.

That's where I part company with those breeders. I'd preferring tossing the breeder on the junk heap rather than their "imperfect" dogs.

Dogs don't know "imperfection." They are who they are. No self-esteem issues about missing legs or a "wrong" color coat. They are who they are.

It is we humans who set standards that define who a dog should be. We set the ideal and we devalue those dogs who don't meet the standard. Shame on us. And shame on any breeder who prefers death for dogs less perfect.

There is, of course, a human comparison with all this. Nazi Germany. The concentration camps. The search for the perfect race. I'll take my dogs as they are. Not how some arbitrary standard says they should be.

(c) Ron Aaron 2008