Instead of one of our regular posts........tonight we wanted to bring a few things to your attention that may affect the way you view the toys that you buy for your dogs and the way the Pedigree dog is judged at dog shows.
First there is a blog about a toy that has been recalled by the company that offered it for sale. ( 8-22-08 as an update on this post, please visit Chai's blog. His owner has been contacted by another person whose dog had the same thing happen to it in 2005. They were assured by the company that the toy design would be changed to include a hole at the other end of the ball. It never was. Please email this company to register your outrage )
This toy caused a Lab mix dog named Chai to loose his tongue. I want to warn you that the photos are graphic and may upset anyone with a weak stomach. We all love our pets and no one wants to see someone that they love end up like Chai..
Do you have this toy in your home ??????
Four Paws Pimple Ball with Bell
If you do, please take it away from your dog and return it to the store where it was purchased.
It appears that all balls that look like this do not pose the same danger...there are some by other manufacturers that have a hole at the other end to prevent a vacuum from occurring if the tongue is inserted in the ball. This one does not.....
Click on the link and read about what happened to a Lab mix who was playing with this ball and how it changed his life.
Chai's Story
The owner of Chai waged a campaign to have these balls recalled by the company distributing them. The company refused initially, but has recently decided to recall the balls. Thank dog for small favors.
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Pedigree Dogs Exposed
Pedigree dogs have been around since the 1800's. Dogs were bred for a particular reason....to herd, to rat, to retrieve etc.
Pedigree dogs are registered by the Kennel Clubs. Certain standards are set in writing for each breed and those standards are judged at Kennel Club dog shows. Something went terribly wrong at some point in time. Now there is so much inbreeding of dogs to achieve a standard,that breeders have changed over time, that the dogs of today do not resemble the same breed of yesterday. Fatal health problems are threatening to cause the extinction of the different breeds as we knew them in the past.
The BBC recently aired a program about the serious health problems that are plaguing our pets because of the breeders' concept of what that breed standard should be. Dogs with horrible deformities and health problems are winning "Best In Show" and "Best of Breed" and are then being bred multiple times...passing those health problems or deformities on to countless generations.
If you have the time to watch the program, it has been uploaded to YouTube in 6 installments. It takes an hour to watch, but it may change your mind on how dogs are judged in the show ring. Can anything be done to save the integrity of these breeds before it is too late? And can pressure from dog lovers force a change of policy at the Kennel Clubs?
See what you think:
Pedigree Dogs Exposed on You Tube part 1 of 6, once there you can click on the others.
Wow, this has been very hard to read about and even harder to watch. I am hoping that the Kennel Clubs will come to their senses before it is too late...or is it too late already?
This is Dewey Dewster's Gram reportin' on disturbin' information......
15 comments:
Ahhh.. that's scary. I hope everyone who has that toy keep them away from their dogs
~ Girl girl
G'day Dewey & Gram
Thanks for this excellent post. We had no idea about this dangerous toy. Thankfully we don't have this brand of ball or any ball like it for that matter. We're going to stick to reputable brands like Kong.
We haven't seen the BBC program as yet but will look out for it. We have had snippets of the program on our A Current Affair show though but we really need to watch the whole show.
Thanks again
Noah Willow Tess & Lucy
Hi Dewey,
Tell your Gram that she's wonderful! These are some very important issues and dogs n dog-owners need to discuss them; and take them very seriously.
Mercury and Cameo bought a very expensive toy for me (It looked like a tire - I'll see if I can get a picture for you) Now, this toy was made of hard plastic, and I tried to chew it up. These two don't leave me alone when they get me any new toy, so I was saved in the nick of time or I would've choked on one of the sharp plastic pieces! They took the toy away and I never saw it again.
About those dogs n dog breeders...your know my point of view - I think we should discourage in-breeding...after all when humans themselves avoid it, why should dogs be forced to in-breed!
I guess I too have strong views on this - just like your Gram! (Mercury's a big fan of your Gram:))
Licks n Wags,
Oorvi
Eric's Mom here.
The programme was on BBC on Tuesday this week. Eric was going to blog about in hope that it might be shown on a channel over your side of the pond. Well done, you got there first.
The programme was upsetting, shocking and worrying. Eric was whimpering and crying at one point when he heard those poor dogs in distress. Me too. But it is worth watching,the BBC are not a channel who raise issues without extensive research or cause for concern.
On the BBC web site there is an IPlayer where you can see the last 7 days programmes. You may be able to use that to watch rather than Youtube? Not sure but worth a quick check as much quicker if you can.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/. Put Pedigree Dogs into the search box to take you to the programme.
There is a reply from the Kennel Club here http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/1995/23/5/3
There are also several articles on the BBC website debating this issue after the programme both from vets and the Kennel Club. If you visit the web site www.bbc.co.uk you will be able to read them.
Let's hope the guilty parties come to their senses now it's been highlighted and it's not too late.
Eric and his Mom
This is disturbing. I think breeders take it too far. I will get my mom to let me watch it. I don't think I have one of those balls at my house, thank goodness!
--JB
Hi, Dewey...
Thanks for the info...My Mom says she will make sure me & Rosco don't ever have any of those toys...
She is gonna watch the Pedigree Dogs videos, too..
Abby xxxooo
we read the company that makes that ball is recalling them finally and giving financial compensation to Chai's family. I am glad they are doing the right thing.
I read Chai's story. It is very sad. Glad that company is recalling those toys.
We don't know too much about pedigree but we are going to watch those videos!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
This stuff is vewy hawd to watch , but vewy impowtant..thank you fow bwinging it to ouw attention..I hope it helps change things!
btw, Dewey, If you and Asta Mawie wewe hewe you would havea ahooge fanclub..hoomans seem to nutso fow wiwes, and thewe awe not so many awound hewe
smoochie kisses
ASTA
Toby would get the attention too of couwse!
Hi Dewey. We read Chai's story and it is truly heartbreaking. I don't understand why pet toys aren't tested for safety and toxicity before they're shipped to store. Thanks for helping to spread the word. Our parents have to inspect every toy they buy. Even if this ball has been recalled, we now know that any ball with one hole is a danger.
About the breeders. There are people out there who are not responsible breeders and are turning out generations of sick and deformed dogs. That is so cruel. Buying a purebred dog takes lots of research. Unfortunatley, lots of people don't check out the breeder before they purchase their pet. If we all did thorough checks, the irresponsible breeders would eventually be weeded out and disappear. A good breeder will gladly let you check him/her out and will be happy to know that you are a responsible pet owner.
The good news is there are very many good breeders who respect the laws of nature and whose first consideration is adding dogs in excellent form and health to the lineage. But this should be a lesson to anyone who is thinking of buying a purebred: do your homework.
Thanks for an excellent post, Dewey.
xox
Chef
Man...as a fellow ball lover, you did a hooge service to all by postin' this info!!
As for the breeders...that's horrible!
Thanks for posting this! Excellent work!
Wiry barks...Scruffy
Poor Chai, what a tragedy! We hope those balls are taken off the market and disposed of where nobody else gets hurt again.
Yes, those breeders and handlers need to be more responsible in what they are promoting in the show rings. It's the dogs who are suffering.
William Tell
Once again excellenet repoerting..We new about the ball and we had heard about the film from PL2's wire fox email group...She is afraid she will get too upset seeing it....Love A+A
Hi Dewey,
Thanks for those announcements! My mom is going to try to watch the videos this week.
Love Clover xo
I hate that stupid vaccuum and and am so glad I don't have that stupid ball, I don't want my tongue sucked up! I'm so sad to hear that a dog had to be hurt in order for the company to figure out some simple science.
Thanks so much for posting this for us all to see...it definitely opened my eyes, and made me so glad that I'm not a show dog. I like living la Beasley loca!
Slurp!
Mr. T-Bone Beasley
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