Page 54 - ShowSight - May 2020

TO BREED OR NOT
TO BREED?
BY DAN SAYERS
The year 2020 will define an entire generation. The COVID-19 pan- demic and its impact on communities around the world has caused governments, businesses, schools, houses of worship and social organizations—including dog clubs—to redefine priorities and
reimagine goals. The cancellation of innumerable public events has thrust a “new normal” upon us where everyone is encouraged to practice social distanc- ing. Some states have even issued stay-at-home orders. Show cancellations and travel restrictions have harmed many within the dog community, including the superintendents, AKC field reps, and professional handlers who’ve always kept the sport of dogs in America running smoothly. Equally distressed are the pure- bred dog breeders without whom the sport could not exist. Will these dedicated men and women find reason enough to breed show dogs when there are no dog shows? Does a market for pet puppies exist right now? Will there be an increase or decrease in demand once the epidemic is over? The uncertainty of it all has many preservation breeders wondering if this is the right time to breed—or not to breed?
In mid-January, I had a bitch come in season somewhat unexpectedly. This particular girl’s cycles are usually nine months apart, but this time she’d decided to surprise me two months ahead of schedule. Although I’d had a couple of potential sires in mind at the time, I hadn’t yet reached out to their breeder or individual owners. Consequently, a mad scramble of phone calls and text messages ensued with a lot of distractions imposed on many. Progesterone tests needed to be performed and work schedules needed to be considered. Travel arrangements also needed to be made around the show calendar. With the clock ticking and so many factors to be considered, I ultimately decided that it wasn’t exactly the best time to go forward with the breeding. Little did I know just how serendipitous that decision would turn out to be.
As we all know by now, the coronavirus was already making its way through the U.S. in February. Shortly before my litter would have been due, the gover- nor of New Jersey declared a state of emergency. All schools were closed and a curfew was imposed on all non-essential businesses. Initially, a mandate to work from home seemed like a lost opportunity. For a moment, I imagined how nice it would have been to be home with my girl and her litter without having to leave the house for any length of time. But as the human death toll from the outbreak grew, the challenges of having to raise a litter of puppies during a pan- demic became clear. Vet visits would have required me to stay in my car as the pups were taken inside for their dewclaw removal and vaccinations. Regrettably, socialization would have been limited to these clinical excursions. Videos would have replaced actual visitors, and puppy placements would have been reliant
52 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2020
COVID-19 RAISES A SHAKESPEAREAN QUESTION