And on the last day, there was nothing but us dogs.

I don't remember this dude's name but he was quiet and huge and powerful looking but also seemed very interested in having a friendly chat and his face was eloquent and incredibly handsome. 

So we've just come back from the Yamhill County Animal Control Shelter.  The main thing that is shooting through my head right now is a plea for all humans to cease breeding and selling dogs.  Please.  Find a new calling.  There are way too many dogs with no homes.  I already knew this but just as people are  always saying  it really makes a difference to see it for yourself.  Now, this is a whole new territory in which I might easily find myself in hot water because some of you people that  I have already grown to love out there may be dog breeders.

I should say that my mom has always been a  very breed specific kind of lady.  She loves purebreeds of all animals and has, in her life, bought several purebred cats and several purebred dogs.  I have never been in agreement with her on this issue.  I know that there are many careful and caring animal breeders out there and going to the pound didn't make me think suddenly that animal breeding is evil.  I already kind of quietly thought so. 

Quick distraction: here's what we brought to the shelter to donate.  They were very happy about the natural gentle dog shampoo. 

This is Sully.  I love him.  It was at first sight.  He was very friendly but afraid of my camera which I put away when I saw him retreat.

I know there's just going to be one of you who's going to feel that I have just attacked your very dear way of life.  Can I explain?  (Of course I can.)  As anyone who comes here often already knows, I see no difference in value between the human animals and all the other animals on this planet.  I don't think humans are superior beings.  I think we're still in rough draft mode.  When it comes to human breeding there is a lot of evidence to show that the more that different genes mix, the stronger people are.  The smaller the gene pool, the bigger their chins and more feeble their minds.

There is also something dreadfully offensive about the idea of people breeding themselves in specific ways in order to create a "super race" of really dumb people.  A kind of standardized version of human that has predictable hair color, skin color, and traits.   If you will recall, this was Hitler's dream. 


Most people will agree that Hitler's plan to encourage the Aryan race to take over the world and to prevent interbreeding (or breeding at all) of other people is evil.  Although many people throughout the world actually encourage their own to stick to breeding with people who are recognizably like their own.  Racism is a powerful "ism" that is spread through all races and across all borders.

Here's what I think:  I think nature performs best when her life-forms adapt and share strength.

I once worked with a fabulous Russian woman named Galina who I loved very much and we got to talking about interacial  children and she voiced my own feelings so well "The strongest most beautiful people I have ever met have been the result of interracial couples."  I couldn't agree more.

The real reason I want people to stop breeding dogs, aside from the weirdly racial and almost god-like way humans like to control the breeding of specific animals and then judge them on their sameness, is because there are so many millions of mixed breed animals out there who need homes.  There are purebred animals that have been abused and abandoned that need homes too.  But we need to stop purposely bringing more dogs and cats into the world that no one can take care of.  Breeders need to stop breeding.  Animal owners need to get their animals neutered and spayed.

Why do I condone forcing animals to be neutered and spayed the way Hitler condoned the sterilizing of Jews?  I wouldn't if there was a balanced population of dogs and cats out there and if there was enough room for them to reestablish themselves as wild animals then nature would balance out their numbers naturally.  Domesticated animals have the misfortune of depending on humans to care for them as they've been out of the wild for so long it's difficult to convert to feral activity.  As long as we keep domesticated animals it is our responsibility to make decisions concerning their ability to have litters of babies.  As long as we keep them in our homes and dependent on us for their health, it is our responsibility to provide care for them and never let them have babies that won't have anywhere to live.

Of course people will always buy purebreds if they're available.  I say stop breeding any animals until all the animals in shelter already have loving homes to live in.