Rare Breed Lockdown
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By Amy Fernandez
Almost a year into our “Covid Vacation” it’s no secret that man’s best friend has been one of the few entities to benefit from the experience. Especially in these trying times, there’s no better company than a faithful dog. That has translated into unprecedented demand across the board. Shelters were emptied months ago and breeders suddenly faced long waiting lists for puppies. However, one sector of the canine cohort has not profited from this surge and it is the sector that needs it most, the rare breeds.
A January 3 article in the Telegraph highlighted this paradoxical situation, which in Britain is officially known as the Vulnerable Breeds initiative. As the article rather awkwardly phrased it, “Although the lockdowns saw a huge demand for puppies of popular dogs, it has been a logistical nightmare for owners of vulnerable species”, remarking on the record breaking demand for Frenchies and Labs. Current Kennel Club numbers reflect a general upturn in registrations for most trendy breeds, which are obviously easier to breed due to their availability to start with.
“But for those trying to keep rare and dying breeds going, the pandemic has had the reverse effect.” The story detailed several issues that have become familiar to most of us regardless of the breed we are attempting to propagate. Draconian travel restrictions, complicated protocols for vet visits, and the many risks built into personal contact required to arrange and manage breedings. “The most up-to-date figures of puppy registrations from the Kennel Club show that the numbers for some are incredibly low.”And they were pretty damn low to start with.
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