| Breeders should be considered a business and should be held accountable for
the standards of product they offer to the public. In my opinion, this means:
Kittens with known birth or genetic defects should not be sold or
placed in a home until the kitten is old enough to neuter and the
breeder should have the kitten neutered BEFORE the kitten is placed.
If the new owner is willing to pay for the spay/neuter, fine, but
the BREEDER is the responsible party and should prevent the defective
animal from ever being bred. If you, as a breeder, are not prepared
to financially support this restriction, then don't breed kittens
until you are ready. You can work out payment plans with a vet
or something and perhaps find foster homes for the kittens until
they are old enough, but prepare for it.
A breeder should never place a cat or kitten with known defects
or illnesses or even KNOWN high probability of defects or
transmittable illness unless the prospective owner of the cat is
completely informed -- including any explanation necessary
to make SURE the person understands what the problem is and what
the long range prognosis for the cat may be in worst case and if
everyone gets lucky. For your own defense, I would suggest that
the information be offered in writing and signed by all parties
before the kitten/cat is turned over. The paperwork should be
kept on file for a long time.
A breeder should always be ready to take back a cat or kitten to
place in another home should the placement not work out. A clearly
written contract should state what, if any, refund the person
who returns the cat or kitten can expect in what time frame from
initial placement. If, for instance, you are willing to refund
the full purchase price if the kitten is returned within 30 days,
then put that fact in writing. As a business, you are also subject
to local and state laws governing the purchase "cool down" period
after a purchase is made...this is generally 3 to 30 days, I think.
It is your responsibility to know the laws and be prepared to abide
by them.
IMHO, a breeder should be held legally responsible for treatment
for any disease or condition for which there is a "reasonable"
probability that it was contracted while the cat or kitten was
still under the breeder's care. I include unwanted/dangerous
pregnancies, ear mites, parasites, and infections from bites
which are discovered withing 48 hours of the initial
placement of the cat or kitten. Life-threatening conditions for
which diagnostic tests are unavailable or unlikely to be administered
unless there are outward symptoms should be discovered within
30 days of placement of the kitten or cat if the breeder is to
be held responsible. After 30 days, it should be up to the breeder
whether he/she wishes to participate in the care/treatment of the
cat in this situation.
Any disease which can be proven to be a direct result of poor treatment
of the cat or kitten, or a direct result of inadequate nutrition
and/or care of the breeding parent animals should be the
responsibility of the breeder.
I know some of these suggested restrictions seem stringent, but I also
remember what my family was willing to do for our dogs when we bred Weimeraners
and these are the rules under which we operated. Our kennel was
respected, our pups were desirable, and we knew our dogs not only were
healthy, but they also did not contribute undesirable traits to the gene
pool for the breed. It can be done. You just have to breed fewer, better
animals.
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