As everyone knows, I am not the computer geek, or whiz. But once in a while something is brought to my attention, and I have to comment. I am able to type. I just read comments from 4 Bulldog forums. These auctions have been going on for as many years as I can remember. There are just more bulldogs than ever before, and from many different bloodlines. It used to be only dogs from that area, and from their own bloodlines. Now with shipping semen and the interest in our breed, these individuals see the opportunity to make $. You are right, they are seen as livestock, and when no longer profitable, go off to market. There were few if any puppies available this way, years ago.

Part of this started when AKC began "Limited Registrations". It was thought to be a good idea, and to help with puppy mills, etc. Instead it backfired and these animals became the foundation stock for new registries. (People who supply pups to pet shops, etc.) Stock we wouldn't or shouldn't breed now becomes foundation breeding stock. I know of one lady locally, that only sells her pups with the condition that they be spayed or neutered. This isn't the answer, either. She goes out of her way to improve the breed, and breeds to top dogs, and yet has these restrictions, after keeping one pup for herself.

There is no cure. I worked in the pet industry, Florida Tropical Fish Association. One day I found bulldog pups in a pet store, and found they were CH. sired, and CH. dam. By the way, they were very nice pups, and very expensive. I had someone contact the breeder, an AKC judge, as well as a BCA member. The dogs had been sold through a broker, and I thought possibly no one was aware of their fate. When contacted, the answer was "I'm not the Bulldog police".

We just have to be more careful with everything we have to do with our breed.

Sam Steding
President, Division VIII BCA