There is no guarantee to ensure that a dog or cat is, in fact, a purebred or even legitimately bred. Money received by pet pedigree clubs or associations may actually come from “puppy mill” operations that turn around and sell bogus pedigreed pets to pet stores and pet brokers who then turn around and sell the pets with questionable bloodlines to unsuspecting customers.
Former pedigree inspectors who once worked in the pedigree industry claim that too many pedigree certifications may be untrue and worthless. A pet pedigree does not verify bloodlines. The pedigree club or association simply takes applications, fees and sends out registration papers, basically relying on “the word” of the breeder. It may be more like an honor system that the information mailed in to the pedigree association from the breeder is even true.
Too many pets today have improper pedigree papers and unproven lineage and the unsuspecting owners of the pets would never know it. Those in charge of the pedigree registries (the stud book) may even know that some registrations are highly questionable yet may approve the pedigree anyway…all for a fee. Basically, no one may be thoroughly studying the stud book.
Pedigree clubs and associations will never run out of what they sell and it costs them little or nothing. It is a piece of official-looking paper. They do not even have to be concerned about possible deplorable, inhumane breeding conditions by breeders at puppy mill operations.
Up to 90% of all breeders may possibly fail pedigree record keeping requirements. Few, if any, breeders ever get disciplined, sanctioned or suspended. Some in the pedigree issuing business have even been accused of helping careless, unscrupulous breeders re-create records just so the breeder can comply with the pedigree association’s standards and practices. Why? If the pedigree people cancel registrations or discipline breeders they have to refund the breeders’ fees. Also, then pet owners would become aware of this and possibly lose confidence in the whole process and institution of registering pedigrees.
Pedigree industry employees are discouraged from talking to news reporters without permission from pedigree industry management. Meanwhile, breeders may be getting away with selling pets without legitimate pedigree papers or required health certificates even though you, the consumer, may end up paying the full pedigree price for your pet. The only safeguard for consumers is to know exactly who you are buying a pedigreed pet from or consider possibly avoiding buying from pet stores, pet store chains and large breeders.
SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCE: MIAMI HERALD NEWSPAPER JANUARY 1ST 1996