Blackman, Diane. June 6, 1997. "Dog Play: Making a Difference: Being a Responsible Dog Breeder." Dog Play. 10 June 2008. http://dogplay.com/Breeding/ethics.html
This site is not only a guide to being an ethical dog breeder, it has a large selection of links to other websites that talk about the same issue: dog breeding and the ethical issues that come with it. There are also lots of health-related links (inherited diseases, health risks for the dogs being bred, genetics) as well as books and videos on the topic of dog breeding. There isn't much information about the author, but she does give a good explanation of each of the websites. Often, the sites she links to are articles from trade magazines or well-written articles with citations.
"The Dog Breeders Registry." Dog Hobbyist. 11 June 2008. http://www.doghobbyist.com/breederregistry/
This is an extensive database on all of the different breeders in many different countries. You can search by state, country, and dog breed. This is a good resource for someone who'd like to have an interview with someone who breeds dogs or even someone looking to talk to a specific breed dog breeder.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Specialized print reference books
Pond, Wilson. Encyclopedia of Animal Science. 1st ed. 2005.
This enormous book is a great source of information - it's not specific to dog breeding, but the information in this book applies to many animals. It has information on topics ranging from animal breeding information to animal care to advances in the technology used to breed and take care of animals. This reference book would be a good resource for students in veterinary medicine or animal husbandry, but also worth a read for people looking for information on dog breeding simply because it has such a large section devoted to animal breeding technology.
Savant-Harris, Myra. Canine Reproduction And Whelping: A Dog Breeder's Guide.
The author, Myra Savant-Harris, was a registered nurse with years of experience before becoming a dog breeder. This book is a good source for dog breeders: it goes into detail on how to select the dogs for breeding right up to delivering the puppies themselves. This is an informative guide on literally breeding dogs.
This enormous book is a great source of information - it's not specific to dog breeding, but the information in this book applies to many animals. It has information on topics ranging from animal breeding information to animal care to advances in the technology used to breed and take care of animals. This reference book would be a good resource for students in veterinary medicine or animal husbandry, but also worth a read for people looking for information on dog breeding simply because it has such a large section devoted to animal breeding technology.
Savant-Harris, Myra. Canine Reproduction And Whelping: A Dog Breeder's Guide.
The author, Myra Savant-Harris, was a registered nurse with years of experience before becoming a dog breeder. This book is a good source for dog breeders: it goes into detail on how to select the dogs for breeding right up to delivering the puppies themselves. This is an informative guide on literally breeding dogs.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
International Sites
WSPA International. 2008. 10 June 2008. http://www.wspa-international.org/
The WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) has been around for 25 years, fighting for wildlife, domestic animal, and disaster relief issues around the world. This website is a bit more general than my issue of dog breeding, but the WSPA fights puppy mills and other unhumane living conditions for dogs as well as other animals. While the information found here is less focused on dog breeding issues, it is a good site for getting issues in perspective, seeing how the same issue is being handled in different countries, and learning about other animal issues to compare with dog breeding.
Animal Rescue - Animal Welfare, Save The Whales, Save Animals - IFAW.org. 2008. 10 June 2008. http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=179124
The International Fund for Animal Welfare is huge -- this website has a blog, a news feed, press releases, experts, and you can even get involved in their campaigns. Again, this website deals with animal issues on a global scale, so it's doesn't focus specifically on dog breeding. However, they do run campaigns that fight for better animal protection laws and the like.
The WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) has been around for 25 years, fighting for wildlife, domestic animal, and disaster relief issues around the world. This website is a bit more general than my issue of dog breeding, but the WSPA fights puppy mills and other unhumane living conditions for dogs as well as other animals. While the information found here is less focused on dog breeding issues, it is a good site for getting issues in perspective, seeing how the same issue is being handled in different countries, and learning about other animal issues to compare with dog breeding.
Animal Rescue - Animal Welfare, Save The Whales, Save Animals - IFAW.org. 2008. 10 June 2008. http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=179124
The International Fund for Animal Welfare is huge -- this website has a blog, a news feed, press releases, experts, and you can even get involved in their campaigns. Again, this website deals with animal issues on a global scale, so it's doesn't focus specifically on dog breeding. However, they do run campaigns that fight for better animal protection laws and the like.
For-profit Businesses
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 2008. 10 June 2008. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/awa.shtml
The RSPCA is an organization based in the UK that is non-partisan, run completely on donations. This is a resource for the average person to learn about animal abuse and how to take care of their pets. They also produce animal care books (amongst other things like posters and photos). Their website features educational resources for teachers, as well. If your main concern is pet care or animal abuse concerns, this is a good source.
Dogs Trust. 2008. 10 June 2008. http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/
Dogs Trust is another UK-based organization that runs on -- . The website has a wealth of information about animal care. There are fact sheets, surveys, and pages of information about dog legislation and laws (in the UK, of course). This organization would be good for finding a contact to interview about dog issues in the UK. The page, in general, is a good source of information for most general dog issues.
The RSPCA is an organization based in the UK that is non-partisan, run completely on donations. This is a resource for the average person to learn about animal abuse and how to take care of their pets. They also produce animal care books (amongst other things like posters and photos). Their website features educational resources for teachers, as well. If your main concern is pet care or animal abuse concerns, this is a good source.
Dogs Trust. 2008. 10 June 2008. http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/
Dogs Trust is another UK-based organization that runs on -- . The website has a wealth of information about animal care. There are fact sheets, surveys, and pages of information about dog legislation and laws (in the UK, of course). This organization would be good for finding a contact to interview about dog issues in the UK. The page, in general, is a good source of information for most general dog issues.
Multimedia resources
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. 4 April 2008. "Charlize Theron's Puppy Mill Investigation." 10 June 2008. http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=charlize-theron-pupply-mill&Player=wm
This official video from PETA (which premiered on Dateline) takes a look at puppy mills. It shows just how horrible the conditions can be at these breeding mills, with dogs that have diseases that go untreated and are confined to tiny cages for the entirety of their lives. While this may not be typical of every dog breeding facility, it is a good example of the average one. This video is good for seeing, with your own eyes, just how terrible puppy mills can be. This video needs to be seen by anyone that is a pet owner or cares about pets.
The Humane Society of the United States. 2008. "Puppies for Sale - Humane Society." 11 June 2008. http://video.hsus.org/index.jsp?auto_band=x&rf=sv&fr_story=7fbe8343b5835ba3bc24b755d24741f7d8879437
This video from the HSUS goes even more in depth than the previously listed video on the poor conditions dogs are forced to live in, and the community of dog breeders that produce and sell these abused and often diseased dogs. There is footage from several puppy mills, pet stores, puppy mill industry workers, puppy auctions, and expert commentary. It's a very informative video, and covers all of the different aspects of the puppy mill industry.
United Kennel Club. 2008. "United Kennel Club: Breed Information." 11 June 2008. http://www.ukcdogs.com/WebSite.nsf/WebPages/LrnBreedInfo
This page is a good resource for looking at different breeds of dogs. Each dog breed has its own page and history, each with several pictures of what the typical dog within that breed looks like. This page is especially useful for people who are unfamiliar with the different types of dogs, or want to refer to this page when reading another document that refers to a specific breed of dogs.
This official video from PETA (which premiered on Dateline) takes a look at puppy mills. It shows just how horrible the conditions can be at these breeding mills, with dogs that have diseases that go untreated and are confined to tiny cages for the entirety of their lives. While this may not be typical of every dog breeding facility, it is a good example of the average one. This video is good for seeing, with your own eyes, just how terrible puppy mills can be. This video needs to be seen by anyone that is a pet owner or cares about pets.
The Humane Society of the United States. 2008. "Puppies for Sale - Humane Society." 11 June 2008. http://video.hsus.org/index.jsp?auto_band=x&rf=sv&fr_story=7fbe8343b5835ba3bc24b755d24741f7d8879437
This video from the HSUS goes even more in depth than the previously listed video on the poor conditions dogs are forced to live in, and the community of dog breeders that produce and sell these abused and often diseased dogs. There is footage from several puppy mills, pet stores, puppy mill industry workers, puppy auctions, and expert commentary. It's a very informative video, and covers all of the different aspects of the puppy mill industry.
United Kennel Club. 2008. "United Kennel Club: Breed Information." 11 June 2008. http://www.ukcdogs.com/WebSite.nsf/WebPages/LrnBreedInfo
This page is a good resource for looking at different breeds of dogs. Each dog breed has its own page and history, each with several pictures of what the typical dog within that breed looks like. This page is especially useful for people who are unfamiliar with the different types of dogs, or want to refer to this page when reading another document that refers to a specific breed of dogs.
Government Agencies
United States Department of Agriculture. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. 10 June 2008. USDA - APHIS. 10 June 2008. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/
This site contains regulations and other laws (like the Animal Welfare Act), statistical databases, and articles about hot topics in the world of animals as well as articles that explain and summarize the government documents contained within the site. One can also apply for different types of permits on this page; it might be useful to see the requirements that people need to meet to have a Veterinary Services permit. All in all, this is a huge resource and is useful for any animal related topic - not just dog breeding.
United States Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Animal Care and Use. May 15 2008. Office of Animal Care and Use. 10 June 2008. http://oacu.od.nih.gov/index.htm
While the source above is more focused on agriculture and livestock animals, OACU is concerned with administering and managing animal welfare programs. The site links to training courses (a federal requirement) for people working within the NIH that deal with animals, disaster and emergency planning information, links to other groups concerned with animal welfare, and many other valuable resources.
This site contains regulations and other laws (like the Animal Welfare Act), statistical databases, and articles about hot topics in the world of animals as well as articles that explain and summarize the government documents contained within the site. One can also apply for different types of permits on this page; it might be useful to see the requirements that people need to meet to have a Veterinary Services permit. All in all, this is a huge resource and is useful for any animal related topic - not just dog breeding.
United States Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Animal Care and Use. May 15 2008. Office of Animal Care and Use. 10 June 2008. http://oacu.od.nih.gov/index.htm
While the source above is more focused on agriculture and livestock animals, OACU is concerned with administering and managing animal welfare programs. The site links to training courses (a federal requirement) for people working within the NIH that deal with animals, disaster and emergency planning information, links to other groups concerned with animal welfare, and many other valuable resources.
Government Documents
United States. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Vers 27 June 2007. 10 June 2008. Animal Welfare Regulations. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/awr.shtml
This is, as the title states, a list of regulations for the treatment of animals. It has regulations on things ranging from recordkeeping requirements to the care of animals in transit. This source is very good for finding out about how animals should be taken care of under the law. The page is well-organized, so it's easy to figure out what part you should go to to find information relevant to your topic. This source goes hand in hand with the database of violations listed in the Statistical Sources section of this blog.
--. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Vers 28 June 2007. 10 June 2008. Animal Welfare Act. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/awa.shtml
The Animal Welfare Act is a very important piece of legislation. Like the source above, it has regulations on the handling of animals, but this document differs in that it gives even more regulations. The important ones being regulations on the purchase of animals by research facilities and government facilities and the certification process for handling, treating, and transporting of animals. Some of this information is a little difficult to read, as it contains lots of numbers and legalese.
This is, as the title states, a list of regulations for the treatment of animals. It has regulations on things ranging from recordkeeping requirements to the care of animals in transit. This source is very good for finding out about how animals should be taken care of under the law. The page is well-organized, so it's easy to figure out what part you should go to to find information relevant to your topic. This source goes hand in hand with the database of violations listed in the Statistical Sources section of this blog.
--. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Vers 28 June 2007. 10 June 2008. Animal Welfare Act. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/awa.shtml
The Animal Welfare Act is a very important piece of legislation. Like the source above, it has regulations on the handling of animals, but this document differs in that it gives even more regulations. The important ones being regulations on the purchase of animals by research facilities and government facilities and the certification process for handling, treating, and transporting of animals. Some of this information is a little difficult to read, as it contains lots of numbers and legalese.
Statistical Sources
“Mortality of purebred and mixed-breed dogs in Denmark.” Science Direct. 21 Feb. 2003. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TBK-4808M5M-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=6e94082f5dcbe752a881366f3af1df51
This article, available for purchase online, would be a very good resource for someone looking to make connections between purebred and mixed breed dogs with mortality rates, possibly proving the theory that purebred dogs have a shorter life span than those dogs with hybrid vigor. The article seems to cover everything thoroughly: it documents the age at death, cause of death, life span, breed, and has a full analysis of each. This could be difficult to read for someone without knowledge in the area.
"2006 NCI Violation Summary." USDA - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Animal Welfare. 28 Feb. 2008. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/violations/2006violations.pdf
This is a PDF database that shows the number of animal violations that have occurred in any institution that deals with animals that is registered with APHIS, which is basically all legitimate facilities. This includes veterinary clinics, animal shelters, pet stores, etc. It lists the category the violation was in, how many violations occurred across the U.S., how many animals the violation affects, and refers to the section and paragraph of the regulation from which the violation came. There is a link to the the regulation list in the Government Documents section of this blog.
This article, available for purchase online, would be a very good resource for someone looking to make connections between purebred and mixed breed dogs with mortality rates, possibly proving the theory that purebred dogs have a shorter life span than those dogs with hybrid vigor. The article seems to cover everything thoroughly: it documents the age at death, cause of death, life span, breed, and has a full analysis of each. This could be difficult to read for someone without knowledge in the area.
"2006 NCI Violation Summary." USDA - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Animal Welfare. 28 Feb. 2008. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/violations/2006violations.pdf
This is a PDF database that shows the number of animal violations that have occurred in any institution that deals with animals that is registered with APHIS, which is basically all legitimate facilities. This includes veterinary clinics, animal shelters, pet stores, etc. It lists the category the violation was in, how many violations occurred across the U.S., how many animals the violation affects, and refers to the section and paragraph of the regulation from which the violation came. There is a link to the the regulation list in the Government Documents section of this blog.
Non-profit Associations
The Humane Society of the United States. 10 June 2008. http://www.hsus.org/
Obviously, the Humane Society is a huge source of information about any animal-related issues, especially puppy mills and dog and cat shelters. The HSUS website is, essentially, a huge animal news website. It's also a great source for finding experts; simply email a public relations person on their contact list and they will get you in touch with experts in your topic area: they like publicity.
Penn Veterinary Medicine. “University of Pennsylvania: School of Veterinary Medicine - Department of Clinical Studies, Philadelphia.” 1 Dec. 2004. http://w3.vet.upenn.edu/research/centers/penngen/services/metaboliclab/
This site links to several other pages explaining how Penn Veterinary Medicine’s Metabolic Genetic Screening Laboratory does research on dogs for diseases. It explains some of the diseases they are researching (and if you have a dog, you can send in a urine sample with a fee and find out if your dog has the specific disease) and what dogs are known to be affected by a certain disease. There are some phone numbers on the site which could possibly lead to more information or a contact with someone who has knowledge in the dog genetics/diseases area.
Obviously, the Humane Society is a huge source of information about any animal-related issues, especially puppy mills and dog and cat shelters. The HSUS website is, essentially, a huge animal news website. It's also a great source for finding experts; simply email a public relations person on their contact list and they will get you in touch with experts in your topic area: they like publicity.
Penn Veterinary Medicine. “University of Pennsylvania: School of Veterinary Medicine - Department of Clinical Studies, Philadelphia.” 1 Dec. 2004. http://w3.vet.upenn.edu/research/centers/penngen/services/metaboliclab/
This site links to several other pages explaining how Penn Veterinary Medicine’s Metabolic Genetic Screening Laboratory does research on dogs for diseases. It explains some of the diseases they are researching (and if you have a dog, you can send in a urine sample with a fee and find out if your dog has the specific disease) and what dogs are known to be affected by a certain disease. There are some phone numbers on the site which could possibly lead to more information or a contact with someone who has knowledge in the dog genetics/diseases area.
Online Blogs
Burns, Patrick. “Rosettes to Ruin: Making & Breaking Dogs in the Show Ring.” TerrierMan.com Working Terriers. 6 Nov. 2007. http://www.terrierman.com/rosettestoruin.htm
The author of this blog, Patrick Burns, says little about himself, but generally cites is sources when making claims. He has also written a book, American Working Terriers. This blog has many interesting articles related to dogs, but the article I specifically linked to has a lot of interesting research discussing how breeders that have breed animals specifically for dog shows have turned dogs from healthy workers into unhealthy fashion models. It cites its sources and has many pictures showing the evolution of a certain pedigree’s skull over time. This contains good information for arguing against breeding for dog shows.
Pacelle, Wayne. Wayne Pacelle: A Humane Nation. 10 June 2008. http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/
Wayne Pacelle has been the CEO and president of the Humane Society of the United States since 2004. He graduated from Yale in 1987 and has been active in supporting animal rights through legislation and a number of organizations since 1990. This is his blog, and it's where he shares his thoughts about important issues involving dog and other animal rights issues. He is a very good writer and is very insightful. In his articles he links to many other posts, making this blog a good resource for news articles in the animal rights area as well as for finding out about the latest issues regarding animals in our country.
The author of this blog, Patrick Burns, says little about himself, but generally cites is sources when making claims. He has also written a book, American Working Terriers. This blog has many interesting articles related to dogs, but the article I specifically linked to has a lot of interesting research discussing how breeders that have breed animals specifically for dog shows have turned dogs from healthy workers into unhealthy fashion models. It cites its sources and has many pictures showing the evolution of a certain pedigree’s skull over time. This contains good information for arguing against breeding for dog shows.
Pacelle, Wayne. Wayne Pacelle: A Humane Nation. 10 June 2008. http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/
Wayne Pacelle has been the CEO and president of the Humane Society of the United States since 2004. He graduated from Yale in 1987 and has been active in supporting animal rights through legislation and a number of organizations since 1990. This is his blog, and it's where he shares his thoughts about important issues involving dog and other animal rights issues. He is a very good writer and is very insightful. In his articles he links to many other posts, making this blog a good resource for news articles in the animal rights area as well as for finding out about the latest issues regarding animals in our country.
Recent Books
American Kennel Club. The Complete Dog Book: 20th Edition. New York: Ballantine Books, 2006.
This book is an excellent resource for information on the different types of dog breeds. One can find out how a specific breed behaves, what its coat texture is like, and much more – many descriptions of the breeds take up more than five pages. Surprisingly, it does mention some of the strange personalities these purebred dogs have. One disadvantage to this book (and other encyclopedias of dog breeds) is that it only discusses pedigree dogs.
Goodman, Alan H., Deborah Heath, and M. Susan Lindee. Genetic Nature/Culture: Anthropology and Science beyond the Two-Culture Divide. Berkley: University of California Press, 2003.
This book is a compilation of essays in areas ranging from genetic modification, genetic diseases, and ethics in the field of genetic work. It has many thought provoking essays on well educated people in the field, and critically analyzes some of the practices being used today. The main theme of the book is culture versus science. There are three articles in this book that focus on animal genetics: Kinship, Genes, and Cloning: Life after Dolly by Sarah Franklin, For the Love of a Good Dog: Webs of Action in the World of Dog Genetics by Donna Haraway and 98% Chimpanzee and 35% Daffodil: The Human Genome in Evolutionary and Cultural Context by Jonathan Marks. It’s a good book for some of the more abstract issues in the area of genetic work.
Bourdon, Richard M. Understanding Animal Breeding. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1999.
Written by Richard Bourdon, who is experienced in animal breeding (not just dogs), this book is a good resource for somebody with no prior knowledge in the area. It talks about probabilities of the animal inheriting a trait from its predecessors, consistency in breeding, and genes in general. It’s well organized and easy to understand with charts and tables. This book could possibly be used for a beginner’s course in animal genetics.
This book is an excellent resource for information on the different types of dog breeds. One can find out how a specific breed behaves, what its coat texture is like, and much more – many descriptions of the breeds take up more than five pages. Surprisingly, it does mention some of the strange personalities these purebred dogs have. One disadvantage to this book (and other encyclopedias of dog breeds) is that it only discusses pedigree dogs.
Goodman, Alan H., Deborah Heath, and M. Susan Lindee. Genetic Nature/Culture: Anthropology and Science beyond the Two-Culture Divide. Berkley: University of California Press, 2003.
This book is a compilation of essays in areas ranging from genetic modification, genetic diseases, and ethics in the field of genetic work. It has many thought provoking essays on well educated people in the field, and critically analyzes some of the practices being used today. The main theme of the book is culture versus science. There are three articles in this book that focus on animal genetics: Kinship, Genes, and Cloning: Life after Dolly by Sarah Franklin, For the Love of a Good Dog: Webs of Action in the World of Dog Genetics by Donna Haraway and 98% Chimpanzee and 35% Daffodil: The Human Genome in Evolutionary and Cultural Context by Jonathan Marks. It’s a good book for some of the more abstract issues in the area of genetic work.
Bourdon, Richard M. Understanding Animal Breeding. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1999.
Written by Richard Bourdon, who is experienced in animal breeding (not just dogs), this book is a good resource for somebody with no prior knowledge in the area. It talks about probabilities of the animal inheriting a trait from its predecessors, consistency in breeding, and genes in general. It’s well organized and easy to understand with charts and tables. This book could possibly be used for a beginner’s course in animal genetics.
Experts
Tammy Hann-Harlan, Region Coordinator, Noah’s Wish, Athens, OH 45701, (740)-753-1529
Tammy Hann-Harlan has been working with animals in times of disaster since 2000, and has worked with Noah’s Wish (an animal disaster-rescue group) since 2004. She has experience with saving animals from situations such as fires, tornados, floods, and hurricanes, as well as rescuing animals from local puppy mills. She is a good person to talk to regarding the rescue of animals during disasters and for straight-forward opinions on animals coming from a person with a lot of one on one companion animal experience.
Stephanie Shain, Outreach Director, The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L St. NW, Washington D.C. 20037, (202)-452-1100
Stephanie Shain has been with the Humane Society of the United States starting in 2000, and before that she has worked with groups that fight animal testing and cruelty. She works with the HSUS to promote responsible pet ownership and to end puppy mills and greyhound racing. She is also the director of the program called Pets for Life, the goal of which is to nurture animal-human relationships and to end euthanasia of pets.
Dawn Lauer, Outreach Assistant, The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, (301)-258-3075
Dawn Lauer is the Humane Society of the United States’ spokesperson and outreach assistant for Companion Animals. She writes articles for HSUS and is one of their main public relations contacts, and is eager to talk to people on subjects within the Companion Animals area.
Wayne Pacelle, CEO and President, The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
Wayne Pacelle has been the HSUS CEO since 2004. Since he’s been the CEO, he’s implemented a number of changes to get companies, universities, our government, and American citizens to support/promote cage-free eggs, end horse and seal slaughter, and many other animal rights issues throughout the U.S. He graduated from Yale in 1987 and has been active in supporting animal rights through legislation and a number of organizations since 1990. This man is exceedingly difficult to get ahold of because of his near-celebrity status, but if you do manage to get him on the phone he would make an excellent source not only because of his credentials but because of his education.
Elaine Ostrander, Chief & Senior Investigator, Cancer Genetics Branch of the National Human Genome Research Institute, Building 50, Room 5351, 50 South Dr, MSC 8000, Bethesda, MD 20892-8000
Elaine Ostrander has a Ph.D. from Oregon Health Sciences University, and is an expert on dog genetics. Her work at the NHGRI focuses on mapping the genes that cause cancer in both humans and dogs. You'd definitely want to put some research into your questions before you attempt an interview with her; she is well educated and focuses on research: she's not someone who commonly deals with the public and interviews. I think Elaine would be a very good resource for specific information on the genes that cause diseases in dogs, and any correlations that may exist between those genes and either pedigree dogs or mutts.
Tammy Hann-Harlan has been working with animals in times of disaster since 2000, and has worked with Noah’s Wish (an animal disaster-rescue group) since 2004. She has experience with saving animals from situations such as fires, tornados, floods, and hurricanes, as well as rescuing animals from local puppy mills. She is a good person to talk to regarding the rescue of animals during disasters and for straight-forward opinions on animals coming from a person with a lot of one on one companion animal experience.
Stephanie Shain, Outreach Director, The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L St. NW, Washington D.C. 20037, (202)-452-1100
Stephanie Shain has been with the Humane Society of the United States starting in 2000, and before that she has worked with groups that fight animal testing and cruelty. She works with the HSUS to promote responsible pet ownership and to end puppy mills and greyhound racing. She is also the director of the program called Pets for Life, the goal of which is to nurture animal-human relationships and to end euthanasia of pets.
Dawn Lauer, Outreach Assistant, The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, (301)-258-3075
Dawn Lauer is the Humane Society of the United States’ spokesperson and outreach assistant for Companion Animals. She writes articles for HSUS and is one of their main public relations contacts, and is eager to talk to people on subjects within the Companion Animals area.
Wayne Pacelle, CEO and President, The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
Wayne Pacelle has been the HSUS CEO since 2004. Since he’s been the CEO, he’s implemented a number of changes to get companies, universities, our government, and American citizens to support/promote cage-free eggs, end horse and seal slaughter, and many other animal rights issues throughout the U.S. He graduated from Yale in 1987 and has been active in supporting animal rights through legislation and a number of organizations since 1990. This man is exceedingly difficult to get ahold of because of his near-celebrity status, but if you do manage to get him on the phone he would make an excellent source not only because of his credentials but because of his education.
Elaine Ostrander, Chief & Senior Investigator, Cancer Genetics Branch of the National Human Genome Research Institute, Building 50, Room 5351, 50 South Dr, MSC 8000, Bethesda, MD 20892-8000
Elaine Ostrander has a Ph.D. from Oregon Health Sciences University, and is an expert on dog genetics. Her work at the NHGRI focuses on mapping the genes that cause cancer in both humans and dogs. You'd definitely want to put some research into your questions before you attempt an interview with her; she is well educated and focuses on research: she's not someone who commonly deals with the public and interviews. I think Elaine would be a very good resource for specific information on the genes that cause diseases in dogs, and any correlations that may exist between those genes and either pedigree dogs or mutts.
Trade magazines or scholarly articles
Van Arendonk, J. A. M. and A.-E. Liinamo. “Animal breeding and genomics: Perspectives for dog breeding.” Veterinary Journal 170 (2005): 3 – 5.
Authors Van Arendonk and Liinamo are from the Animal Breeding and Genetics group within the Department of Animal Sciences at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. In this article, they go into more depth on animal and dog breeding than an article for a magazine or newspaper reader – since this is from a journal, the article is targeted at an audience that has a decent medical/scientific knowledge of dogs and other animals. They summarize many different studies and papers done by scholars in the field of animal/dog breeding and genetics, such as one study showing (in Dalmatians) a link between the gene causing the “standard” amount of pigment and the gene causing deafness. This article is a great place to find information on specific studies that have been done in the animal genetics field, and will help the researcher come up with more things to search for when looking for information on this topic.
Gholizadeh, Mohsen1, Ghodrat Rahimi Mianji and Hadi Sayah Zadeh. "Potential Use of Molecular Markers in the Genetic Improvement of Livestock." Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 3(2008): 120 - 128.
This article from the Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances is an in-depth study on genetic markers and the ability to be able to predict an animal's performance based on those genetic markers. It looks into using genetic engineering for gene resistance and discusses the usefulness and feasibility of using this new technology in everyday life. The text is a bit dense and a bit difficult to read, but the research from it could be used to support (responsible) pedigree dog breeding.
Gonsalves, Susan. "Map of Dog Genome Has Breeders Excited." Science & Spirit 16 (2005): 21 - 21.
This short article talks about the dog genome map that the National Humane Genome Research Institute has created. It also talks about its usefulness for preventing eye diseases in dogs specifically. Because the canine genome map is complete, researchers can now work on finding markers that relate to specific characteristics, possibly enabling them to change a dog's temperament -- good news for dog breeders and possibly pedigree dogs.
Authors Van Arendonk and Liinamo are from the Animal Breeding and Genetics group within the Department of Animal Sciences at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. In this article, they go into more depth on animal and dog breeding than an article for a magazine or newspaper reader – since this is from a journal, the article is targeted at an audience that has a decent medical/scientific knowledge of dogs and other animals. They summarize many different studies and papers done by scholars in the field of animal/dog breeding and genetics, such as one study showing (in Dalmatians) a link between the gene causing the “standard” amount of pigment and the gene causing deafness. This article is a great place to find information on specific studies that have been done in the animal genetics field, and will help the researcher come up with more things to search for when looking for information on this topic.
Gholizadeh, Mohsen1, Ghodrat Rahimi Mianji and Hadi Sayah Zadeh. "Potential Use of Molecular Markers in the Genetic Improvement of Livestock." Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 3(2008): 120 - 128.
This article from the Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances is an in-depth study on genetic markers and the ability to be able to predict an animal's performance based on those genetic markers. It looks into using genetic engineering for gene resistance and discusses the usefulness and feasibility of using this new technology in everyday life. The text is a bit dense and a bit difficult to read, but the research from it could be used to support (responsible) pedigree dog breeding.
Gonsalves, Susan. "Map of Dog Genome Has Breeders Excited." Science & Spirit 16 (2005): 21 - 21.
This short article talks about the dog genome map that the National Humane Genome Research Institute has created. It also talks about its usefulness for preventing eye diseases in dogs specifically. Because the canine genome map is complete, researchers can now work on finding markers that relate to specific characteristics, possibly enabling them to change a dog's temperament -- good news for dog breeders and possibly pedigree dogs.
Newspaper or magazine articles
Gibson, Helen. “A Flawed Beauty: The focus on desirable, prize-winning looks has created purebred dogs in Britain with a slew of health problems.” Time Europe 13 Aug. 2001: 44 – 46
Gibson, writer for Time magazine (both main and London-based operations) for over 12 years, thoroughly covers the topic of purebred dogs and the health problems associated with the results of “making” these purebred dogs. She addresses issues such as the manner in which purebred show dogs are handled, kennel club standards for purebred dogs, disorders caused by recessive genes, and the lives that these dogs bred strictly for appearance live. This article is fantastic for getting a few statistics and a good overall introduction to the problems surrounding the so-called “pure” breeding of dogs.
Woestendiek, John. "Everybody loves a clone: A chip off the old Booger." Baltimore Sun 2 June 2008. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/everybody_loves_a_clone/
This article from the Baltimore Sun is about the first commercially cloned dog. While this article provides minimal statistical information about how much it costs to clone a dog and how many cloned dogs the Korea-based company can produce in a year, it makes for a good starting ground for talking about a less-common issue in the world of dog breeding. It could be used to talk about the ethics involved in cloning pets and similar topics.
http://www.ajc.com/tv/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/05/20/barking_0521.html
An article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution talks specifically about one man who has been rescuing dogs from euthanasia for many years, but faces 12 years of life in prison on noise violation charges and could have many of his dogs taken away from him. This article deals with many issues that are related to dog breeding: animal hoarders, barking and noise violations, and euthanasia. If the man ends up going to prison, it could cause protesting and even petitioning or new legislation.
Gibson, writer for Time magazine (both main and London-based operations) for over 12 years, thoroughly covers the topic of purebred dogs and the health problems associated with the results of “making” these purebred dogs. She addresses issues such as the manner in which purebred show dogs are handled, kennel club standards for purebred dogs, disorders caused by recessive genes, and the lives that these dogs bred strictly for appearance live. This article is fantastic for getting a few statistics and a good overall introduction to the problems surrounding the so-called “pure” breeding of dogs.
Woestendiek, John. "Everybody loves a clone: A chip off the old Booger." Baltimore Sun 2 June 2008. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/everybody_loves_a_clone/
This article from the Baltimore Sun is about the first commercially cloned dog. While this article provides minimal statistical information about how much it costs to clone a dog and how many cloned dogs the Korea-based company can produce in a year, it makes for a good starting ground for talking about a less-common issue in the world of dog breeding. It could be used to talk about the ethics involved in cloning pets and similar topics.
http://www.ajc.com/tv/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/05/20/barking_0521.html
An article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution talks specifically about one man who has been rescuing dogs from euthanasia for many years, but faces 12 years of life in prison on noise violation charges and could have many of his dogs taken away from him. This article deals with many issues that are related to dog breeding: animal hoarders, barking and noise violations, and euthanasia. If the man ends up going to prison, it could cause protesting and even petitioning or new legislation.
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