- 23 Sep 2005
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I randomly came across the this issues recently while researching other things about Japan's history and culture. Apparently inbreeding in Japanese dogs is very bad (to a point where it boarders on animal cruelty IMHO) because the Japanese have a penchant for "unique" dogs of pure breeds, like blue Chihuahua's and half-white dachshund's. To make these unusual traits come about, people seriously inbreed the dogs in the hope improving the chances of these recessive traits coming about, because there is big business/money in Japan for such dogs;
Japan, Home of the Cute and Inbred Dog (Published 2006)
IMHO, the situation is pretty appalling considering the cruelty involved of producing these dogs and that;
"The government concedes that oversight is poor, and passed a law in June to revoke the licenses of breeders who use dogs with genetic defects for breeding. But the Environment Ministry, which has jurisdiction over pets, says it has just four officials to monitor all of 25,000 pet shops, kennels and breeders in Japan."
"Japan is about 30 or 40 years behind in dealing with genetic defects," said Takemi Nagamura, president of the Japan Kennel Club."
Japan needs to do a lot more about these issues with fashion animals, animal inbreeding and animal cruelty and abandonment. People in Japan are always looking for the next fad, but its a shame that in the case of these dogs they have to suffer for it just because the Japanese want cosmetically unique or perfect animals. Dogs shouldn't be treated as fad or fashion items, they're living animals which need a lot of commitment and responsibility from the owner if they are to have a good life- what happens to these Japanese dogs when they grow old and are no longer cute and fluffy? Are they simply abandoned and/or put to sleep?
Japan, Home of the Cute and Inbred Dog (Published 2006)
IMHO, the situation is pretty appalling considering the cruelty involved of producing these dogs and that;
"The government concedes that oversight is poor, and passed a law in June to revoke the licenses of breeders who use dogs with genetic defects for breeding. But the Environment Ministry, which has jurisdiction over pets, says it has just four officials to monitor all of 25,000 pet shops, kennels and breeders in Japan."
"Japan is about 30 or 40 years behind in dealing with genetic defects," said Takemi Nagamura, president of the Japan Kennel Club."
Japan needs to do a lot more about these issues with fashion animals, animal inbreeding and animal cruelty and abandonment. People in Japan are always looking for the next fad, but its a shame that in the case of these dogs they have to suffer for it just because the Japanese want cosmetically unique or perfect animals. Dogs shouldn't be treated as fad or fashion items, they're living animals which need a lot of commitment and responsibility from the owner if they are to have a good life- what happens to these Japanese dogs when they grow old and are no longer cute and fluffy? Are they simply abandoned and/or put to sleep?
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