Maltese Male
Updated: 12/29/02
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Cute as a button, when I saw him at a Bird Fair in February 2000, I was ready to take him home. It had been 20 years since I'd owned a dog, and I'd never heard of "puppy mills" or dog brokering. I thought about it overnight, and next day returned to buy him.
I always take my animals to the vet soon after I get them. To me Moon Pie was a cute little loving puppy who from the first moment I got him adored me. To the vet, he was a disaster. He had cittacosis, he had giardia, he had worms, he had an umbilical hernia, he had bad joints (luxating patellas), he was probably not a Maltese at all who knows, or else he was a poorly bred speciman. He was little and he was white and had long thick hair. Even today, I wonder if he is part bichon frise or toy poodle.
The lady selling him said she didn't breed him. She had about a dozen puppies, and her story was that she had all the puppies from her home town friends and she was trying to sell the pups for them. She said Moon could not be registered with AKC (American Kennel Club) but could be registered with the Continental Kennel Club. I did not know that this particular kennel club was used primarily by puppy mills and those whose breeding practices didn't meet the requirements of the AKC.
After I did a lot of reading, I discovered the gruesome big business of the puppy "love for sale" industry. The conditions in which the dogs are kept shocked and sickened me. I am not an extremist, but I am a believer in good care and a good life for all animals. Animal cruelty has no place in our country.
At two and 1/2, Moon Pie weighs 12 pounds. The standard for Maltese is 4-7 pounds. I say he is my little sack of sugar. He will always have health problems. His joints pop and snap, and one day he will be crippled because of this physical defect.. He has "weepy" eyes, but he loves for me to wash his face to keep the matter out of them. Quite often he gets an eye infection, but salve cures it in a hurry. Moon loves to stay inside close to me. His sister
Camille is the wild child, running circles around her housemate. Moon Pie does run after her, but with his joint problems he soon tires of the chase. He had his annual checkup 8/2002, and had no heartworm signs, etc. His teeth need cleaning, he'll need replacements for both knees pretty soon too. Healing from such surgery takes about 6 weeks, so it is not a simple thing.
Camille is the wild child, running circles around her housemate. Moon Pie does run after her, but with his joint problems he soon tires of the chase. He had his annual checkup 8/2002, and had no heartworm signs, etc. His teeth need cleaning, he'll need replacements for both knees pretty soon too. Healing from such surgery takes about 6 weeks, so it is not a simple thing.
Beause of my experience with Moon Pie, I support efforts to put puppy mills out of business. Responsible breeding of dogs, responsible pet ownership ---they are two sides of the same coin.
I implore every person looking for a pet not to buy a puppy from a pet store, which will only continue the business of animal abuse. "Back Yard Breeders" who get two dogs and put them together are not real breeders, so check out the people before you buy from them. Ask for them to give you a vet reference. You will over the life of a poorly bred animal spend a LOT of money at the vet. Do not buy a pet on impulse. Spay or neuter your pet to reduce the pet population which has to be euthanized every year. Thoughtless careless ownership is just as bad as irresponsible breeding. You will get no sympathy from me if you do not do the best you can for your pets all their lives. In my book, there is a special corner of hell reserved for owners who turn in their pets to Animal Control for euthanizing. If you cannot keep your pet, please contact a breed rescue. They will be ready to take your pet and find it a new home from their list of screened applicants. I highly recommend that.
