****In our 6 July issue, Grazia published an article looking at how more people are making money through a avariety of income streams. One of the stories included in the piece featured a lady who breeds her pets. We have taken all the feedback and comments for this article on board and we apologise to those of you who found this offensive. In response to some of the comments we have received, we'd also like to make it clear that Grazia in no way promotes or condones irresponsible breeding or unfair treatment to any animal. We want to thank everyone who took the time and trouble to write to us.
We published several of your letters in this week's issue and below are more of your letters...
1.Millenial Hustles page 56 July 6th issue
I was rather shocked by this article on page 57 (6th July Issue). I honestly do not think cat breeding is 'easy money' and in my opinion, it gave a very unrealistic rosy view of cat breeding. I have been breeding since 2008 under my 'Haute Catoure' Prefix. Firstly there is no mention of vets bills if things go wrong. For example, my singleton cost me well over £1000, and that isn't even taking into account my time, even at the minimum wage. Stud fees, blood test prior to stud visit, travel to stud, vet call out (2 kittens were stillborn with one live over a period of 18 hours) plus the sheer stress of the 2 allnighters waiting for my girl to give birth. My litter on 26th December went well - again an 'old nighter' on Xmas day, but one kitten didn't gain weight so for me it was 24/7 hand feeding. Sadly he died on New Years Day. Also the cost of the extra food for the mother when she is pregnant is substantial. Yes, a litter of 6 healthy kittens, all going for full price could make a profit but potential breeders have to be aware things can and do go wrong, and one has to be aware that a ceasar is very expensive, but occasionally necessary for the survival of the queen. I have had several very experienced breeder friends who have had experience of this.
I would advise anyone interesting in breeding to join a Cat Club, start out with a show neuter and talk to other breeders about the highs and lows of breeding - it really is hard work. I would also advise getting a registered breeding queen from an experienced breeder who would hopefully act as a mentor. Please please please do not promote cat breeding as a way to make 'easy' money.
Also, Ella Jane Brookbanks said she didn't get round to having her cat neutered. Breeder would usually have a contract for a pet kitten that states neutering is to be done prior to 6 months to stop unplanned, and unregistered breeding. This worries me because the breeder of her girl, could have a potential case against Ella, if Ella has signed a contract. I would never want to put any reader who loves cats and has the time and money to pursue what is a very expensive, rewarding and at times utterly heartbreaking hobby, but please do your research on the breed first and please be realistic about the financial and emotional investment involved in producing healthy well socialised healthy kittens.
*Helena Fishlock-Lomax, I breed Norwegian Forest Cats. *
2.Dog and Cat Breeding
I am appalled and disgusted that you have lowered the tone of your magazine by printing an article that basically agrees with" puppy farming. " Although It never mentions the words "puppy farming" or "back yard breeder" this is what it is advocating people do, to earn a "bit of cash" Please Please I would implore you for all those "Pets" sentenced to a life of breeding litter after litter do something positive to help them, either by retracting this article in the form of an apology or better still a article about the horrors of "puppy farming" . Thank you Christine
3.Grazia article 'Millennial Hustlers'
As a veterinary professional I was very disappointed to read your article in this week's Grazia magazine encouraging your readers to earn extra income from breeding their pets.
It may be that the lady featured is a responsible breeder but unfortunately the piece will only encourage those who might not be.
As a vet I see the consequences of poorly bred animals every day and it can be heartbreaking. The lack of care over the initial mating, poor nutrition, insanitary conditions and general ignorance (which often isn't malicious) means the pups are frequently suffering from worms, diarrhoea and, sometimes, infectious diseases which can make them extremely sick and in some cases can be fatal. Breeding dogs and cats can be very rewarding but it requires huge care and expense to ensure the animals are healthy and fit for a family home. This is aside from the issue of rampant pet over-population within the UK and the huge pressures the rescue centres are under.
In addition to hobby breeders there is also a massive problem with puppy farms, both in the UK and abroad. Did you know illegal importation of puppies has recently over-taken that of drugs?! These dogs are travelled hundreds of miles across Europe, having been taken from their mother far too young and are bred in the most appalling environments. A magazine such as yours could have a huge impact if you chose to highlight this issue, as the dogs produced are predominantly the smaller, more 'fashionable' breeds that are likely to appeal to your readership.
I do hope you will publish a retraction of the 'entrepreneur' article, explaining why encouraging people to breed their pets for cash is a bad idea and if you do decide to cover the issues surrounding puppy farming and over-breeding, I would be more than willing to help or could put you in touch with the people campaigning on these issues.
Kind Regards,
Cat Henstridge BVSc MRCVS
4.
Dear Grazia,
I am writing to you as Chair of Trustees for Hope Rescue in respect of your irresponsible article about Ella Jane Brookbanks and how she earns extra cash by breeding her family pets.
We recently posted on our Facebook Page about the sad loss of Little Tom Hardy - a 6 week old puppy who ended up in the pound so poorly that he had to be euthanised – to highlight how irresponsible breeding is not just a problem carried out by large, wholesale and commercial puppy farmers in rural areas. It is also an urban problem with many people irresponsibly breeding their family pets to make a quick buck. We were shocked this morning to read your article promoting the breeding of family pets to earn extra cash. Our mouths fell open as the breeder explained how the income she made from her “cash cow” meant the difference between buying IKEA flat pack or Habitat furniture.
It is not the breeding per se that we are up in arms about, but the breeder’s motives and the article’s casual promotion of breeding as a good way to generate extra cash. As a Rescue we need to make it clear we are not anti-breeding but anti-irresponsible breeding. We understand as rescuers we do need to consider the bigger picture. It is no good saying everyone must get a rescue dog. When we get an easy rehomer in we will have 5 or 10 applications in for that dog. Those we turn down will still want a dog and will source it elsewhere. Rescue only accounts for a small proportion of the total supply of dogs each year. Rescues alone cannot meet the demand for dogs in the UK. Whilst a lot of work needs to be done to change consumer behaviour through education - many people buying dogs should not have a dog and it is those dogs who usually end up in rescue - this is a long term strategy. The short to medium term strategy needs to concentrate in cutting those with low welfare standards such as puppy farmers out of the market through improved legislation and enforcement. We need to ensure that those who are breeding are knowledgeable, experienced and are breeding to the highest welfare standards. Promoting to the general public that breeding your family pet to earn extra income is a good idea is just downright irresponsible by Grazia.
We would be very grateful if you could consider writing a counter article, and would like to invite you to spend the day on the frontline with us. We are not a large, national rescue but a small, independent rescue manned mainly by volunteers and every day is a struggle. We take all the strays from three Local Authority pounds who would otherwise be destroyed and dealt with a total of 758 dogs in 2014/15 at a cost of in excess £180k – every penny of which has to be fundraised. I cannot describe just how angry your article made us, and all our hard working volunteers and supporters, feel. Please do the right thing and write a counter article from a welfare perspective.
I look forward to hearing from you
Vanessa Waddon, Co-founder and Chair of Trustees
5.
I write further to your article "Millennial Hustlers" in the July 6th edition and was horrified that breeding "pure-bred" pets was encouraged as a side-earner.
With countless sancturies rescuing hundreds & thousands cats & dogs a year and euthanasing the unwanted, it is totally irresponsible to put money over the life and a soul of a dependant animal.
There are too many unscrupulous puppy farms popping up all the internet offering pets for sale. The "parents" do not often see daylight and are cooped up inside a kennel being bred continuously with no care for their welfare. Some farms even go the extra length to set up a façade with happy parents/puppies etc whilst behind the scenes they have other animals living in poor conditions, imprisoned to breed only.
There should be more awareness regarding how many beautiful animals are treated with little or no respect. If people were to rescue animals as opposed to buying a new pet, there may be a glimmer of hope that we could stamp this awful trade out.