Eng week1

Running head: RESCUE AND SHELTER DOGS 1

Rescue and Shelter Dogs: Annotated Bibliography

Yolanda B. Student

ENG122: English Composition II

Professor I. M. Jackson

August 31, 2016

RESCUE AND SHELTER DOGS 2

Rescue and Shelter Dogs: Annotated Bibliography

Working thesis statement: Families should only be permitted to adopt dogs from shelters and

rescue organizations and pet stores should be outlawed.

Farrell, L. L., Schoenebeck, J. J., Wiener, P., Clements, D. N., & Summers, K. M. (2015). The

challenges of pedigree dog health: Approaches to combating inherited disease. Canine

Genetics And Epidemiology, doi:10.1186/s40575-015-0014-9

Summary of article: Since humans have selectively bred dogs for physical and

behavioral characteristics through inbreeding, pedigree dogs can be plagued by genetic

disease. This is particularly true for recessive genes that are not mitigated through genetic

diversity. The only way breeders can ethically create healthy litters is through ongoing

diagnostic screening of all dogs along with genetic testing regardless of arbitrarily chosen

aesthetics of the animal.

Assessment of article: The authors are affiliated with the Roslin Institute and the Royal

School of Veterinary studies in Edinburgh. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology is an open

access publisher of bio-medical research with rigorous peer-review before publication.

This is a scholarly source.

Reflection on article: Based on this evidence, I think I can claim that pet stores do not

take the steps necessary to ensure healthy pets. In addition to this evidence, I need to find

evidence of the actual requirements pet store have for their breeders. If I find evidence

that they do not require diagnostic screening and genetic testing of breeding animals, I

can claim that dogs from pet stores may be plagued by genetic disease.

RESCUE AND SHELTER DOGS 3

Ghirlanda, S., Acerbi, A., & Herzog, H. (2014). Dog movie stars and dog breed popularity: A

case study in media influence on choice. PLoS One, 9(9), 1-5.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0106565

Summary of article: The researchers used data from the American Kennel Club (AKC)

because it is the largest archive of dog registry information in the world. The researchers

sampled the dog breed registration numbers filed with the AKC between 1926 and 2005.

Using film archive databases, the researchers identified 87 movies featuring dogs

released in the United States between 1927 and 2004. The influence of canine movie

“stardom” on dog registration numbers was measured following statistical methods,

controlling for as many variables as possible. The researchers found that dog breeds used

in popular movies have a statistically significant impact on the popularity of the breed.

When a film starred a particular breed of dog, that breed became more popular within the

AKC registry. This influence was stronger in the earlier years of the data set, with less

influence in more recent years.

Assessment of article: Stefano Ghirlanda is a professor in the Department of Psychology

at Brooklyn College and is affiliated with the Centre for the Study of Cultural Evolution

(CSCE) at Stockholm University. Alberto Acerbi is also affiliated with the CSCE and is a

professor in the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of

Bristol. Harold Herzog is a professor in the Department of Psychology at Western

Carolina University. PLoS One is an online publisher of scientific studies across multiple

disciplines. All articles are fully refereed and peer reviewed. This is a scholarly source.

RESCUE AND SHELTER DOGS 4

Reflection on article: Based on this evidence, I can make a claim that desire for a pure-

bred dog may be based upon popular culture trends rather than more rational or logical

decision-making processes.

Indrebø, A. (2008). Animal welfare in modern dog breeding [Special Section]. Acta Veterinaria

Scandinavica, 50(56), 1-6. doi:10.1186/1751-0147-50-S1-S6

Summary of article: Indrebø argues that health should be a part of breed standards.

Previously, breed standards were focused on aesthetics and temperament with disregard

for health. Indrebø found that it will take “several generations to change the breed

through genetic selection in order to eradicate the unhealthy over-typed dogs” (pp. 1-2).

Indrebø recommends a screening program for all breeding dogs in the development of

any breeding program and touches upon the need for a National Disease Register. The

article contains a number of charts that illustrate the increasing instances of genetic

disease in pedigree dogs over time. The article ends with a list of ten recommendations

for every breeding program which includes only breeding very healthy dogs, percentages

for breeding stock, a limit on “matador breeding,” excluding female dogs who are unable

to give birth naturally, screening for polygenetic diseases, DNA testing, and natural

puppy-rearing with its birth mother.

Assessment of article: Astrid Indrebø is affiliated with the Norwegian Kennel Club and

the Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences at the Norwegian School of

Veterinary Science. This article is a portion of a presentation at the 21st Symposium of

the Nordic Committee for Veterinary Scientific Cooperation in Denmark. It is a report of

RESCUE AND SHELTER DOGS 5

medical research and was rigorously peer reviewed by Bio Med Central before

publication. It is a scholarly source.

Reflection on article: Based on this evidence, I can claim that genetic disease is on the

rise. I can also claim that a responsible breeder must carry out a large number of

recommendations to be a responsible breeder of pedigree animals. In addition to this

evidence, I need to find evidence of the actual requirements pet stores have for their

breeders. If I find evidence that they do not require breeders to adhere to

recommendations outlined in this article, I can claim that dogs from pet stores may be

bred unethically and without regard to the animal’s welfare.

Jeppsson, S. (2014). Purebred dogs and canine wellbeing. Journal of Agricultural and

Environmental Ethics, 27(3), 417-430. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10806-013-9470-y

Summary of article: Jeppsson studied the health and wellbeing of purebred dogs. She

found that some breeders consider health and wellbeing in their breeding practices.

However, those efforts are generally ineffective because, she says, “there are no

guarantees in breeding” (p. 419). She discusses the ethical duty of breeders to not create

dogs with sickly or torturous lives through selective breeding for qualities other than

health (such as appearance, coat type, size, etc.). Jeppsson posits that the only way to

produce dogs with more wellbeing is to introduce genetic diversity. Such action would

improve dog health and wellbeing but would hinder breed preservation and conformation.

She calls for the end of breeding any sickly or unhealthy dog breed while “loosening the

RESCUE AND SHELTER DOGS 6

genetic barriers between remaining breeds” (p. 430) to ensure physically and mentally

healthy dogs for the future.

Assessment of article: Sofia Jeppsson is affiliated with the Swedish University of

Agricultural Sciences. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics is a scholarly

journal and all publications are fully peer-reviewed. This is a scholarly source.

Reflection on article: Based on this evidence, I can claim that purebred dogs suffer

needlessly and genetic diversity, as exhibited in mutts from the pound, is preferable for a

healthy and stable pet.

Taylor, J. S. (2015). Anti-puppy mill legislation across the country is dogging pet stores. ABA

Journal. Retrieved from

http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/anti_puppy_mill_legislation_across_the_co

untry_is_dogging_pet_stores

Summary of article: This article looks into widespread legislation banning pet stores

from selling animals bred through commercial enterprises. Large cities and counties

throughout the country have passed laws banning the sale of animals produced in

breeding facilities. Some of the local laws allow for adoption of rescue animals in pet

stores and the sale of some animals from small-scale breeders.

Assessment of article: The American Bar Association produces the ABA Journal. It is a

credible source though it is not wholly scholarly because some articles are not peer-

reviewed. This article is news-worthy and is credible reporting on the current state of

puppy mill legislation.

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Reflection on article: This article shows the trend of many municipalities banning the

sale of puppy-mill animals due to the animal welfare concerns. From this evidence, I can

claim that several large cities and counties have already banned the sale of commercially

bread animals in pet stores.