Will People Ever Learn?

 On a Long Coat GSD page a gentleman is complaining that the young adult he bought as a puppy has numerous health problems. The young dog has hip dysplasia, a problem with front right shoulder joint, a bad skin allergy and heart disorder which will shorten his life and tends to make him breathless. To be honest the dog looks badly bred, yes he resembles a GSD but I wouldn't have been shocked to discover it was a collie cross either! The moderators on the group are helpful and are giving him great advice, but he admits the dog was bought in haste without doing research. They saw an advert and went to buy a puppy. They thought being a KC register pup gave some guarantee of a healthy pup, how gullible? Sadly anyone can register a puppy with the KC .. it's up to the buyer to make sure they are buying from a responsible breeder and from health tested parents.
 You know I'm shocked that with all the availability of information at their fingertips through modern technology that people still go out and buy puppies from these back yard breeders. These people are breeding from neglected animals without doing any of the relevant breed specific health checks on their dogs. The people buying these puppies keep the need for these breeder to keep going, and they keep producing poor quality animals to face a life of pain and misery. There is no doubt it can go wrong for any of us, not even the best breeder can make a guarantee on a living creature, mother nature can and does play cruel tricks. But at least if you start by buying from a reputable breeder who's tries to do it right you've got a fair chance of sharing a long life with a health companion.
Recently a friend told me about a work mate of his who had just bought a GSD pup. He was over the moon, he'd got an absolute bargain, got the pup for £650. The parents are not health tested, but he wasn't bothered about that as he only wanted a pet .. and if he wanted the KC registration it was £200 more so he didn't bother with that either. WHAT? it cost less than £20 to register a pup. I hope he does not live to regret his decision to buy from parents who are not health tested .. I hope the puppy does not suffer from painful genetic conditions which could cost him thousands to treat ... but yeah more money in the pocket of an unscrupulous breeder ready for him to breed the next litter!
Photos are of my own dogs .. I wouldn't like to get in trouble by sharing photos which are not mine!