(^218) A Wiccan Bible
store fixtures, and let’s not forget the rent, they simply cannot afford to pay breeders
top dollar. As a result, remaining in business requires breeders to do one of two things.
- ‘For profit’ breeders—If their primary intent is profit, they cut corners to
lower their selling price. In so doing, they overpopulate living areas, de-
crease the genetic distance between mother and father (inbreeding), al-
low children to leave their parents too early, and decrease the amount of
human attention each critter receives. The result, like almost any attempt
at economizing a product, is a product that is inferior to other methods of
production. - ‘For love’ breeders—If their primary intent is focused more on their love
for the animal they raise, they will refuse to cut corners to decrease the
selling price. In so doing, they allow critters to have appropriate living
areas, increase the genetic distance between mother and father (prevent-
ing inbreeding), insure that children are fully weaned before sale, and
increase the amount of human attention each critter receives. The result,
like most cottage industry, is that a superior product is produced and with
it a higher price, although that price remains comparable because when
one deals with a breeder they eliminate the many expenses involved in
operating a pet store.
But there is still a source of critters that is superior to even the breeder or rescue
service. Rescue the critters yourself, allowing destiny, karma, Wyrd, or whatever you
want to call it to bring them into your life. Although they do not possess human con-
sciousness, critters are in no way stupid. The absolute best dog I have ever had still lives
with me this day. He is mostly blind, partly deaf, and a little lame, but he is the most
loving and joyful animal I have ever had the fortune of encountering. Why? Because I
rescued him from a miserable state and after a year of loving care, he came to realize
his life is all the better for it.
Puppy (named after a roommate by the same name) and I first met during the
night of a cold rainstorm. I was driving back from machinating at a festival an hour
south when I found him in the middle of the road. At first I thought he was dead be-
cause honking solicited no response. I parked my truck blocking the road and put on
the hazards to warn off other traffic. Upon approaching him, I discovered that he was
indeed alive but trembling in fear as would be any blind, deaf, and partly lame human
should he find himself in the middle of traffic. I took him to the vet, figuring I would get
him fixed up and then give him over to an adoption agency. The vet told me that there
was almost no chance of restoring his eyesight, nothing to do about his hearing, and
that his hips would soon need an operation. She also told me that if I gave this animal to
the human society for adoption, they would certainly put him down because he was un-
adoptable. Well, someone missed out because although he is not too good at playing
catch, fetch, or anything that involves eyesight, he is a killer at playing tug of war with
socks. Sure, it’s usually the socks that I haven’t donated to that cause, but that’s just his
way of telling me to pick up after myself.t WB Chap 12.p65 218 7/11/2003, 5:55 PM