The post When Breeding Becomes Cruel: The Problem with Designer Cats by Dr. Karyn Kanowski BVSc MRCVS (Veterinarian) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles. I saw something recently that made my blood boil. It was the emergence of a new ‘designer’ cat breed called the ‘Bully’ or ‘Dwelf’ Cat. Named for their elf-like features and genetic dwarfism, these pitiful creatures have the hairless mutation of the Sphynx, the limb deformity of the Munchkin Cat, and the turned up ears of the American Curl. I can’t fathom any reason why someone would deliberately set out to create such an unhealthy mix, apart from ignorance, cruelty, or greed. Cruelty can take many different forms, and it’s not always as obvious as directly inflicting pain and suffering on an individual animal. Knowingly creating a cat that comes from two breeds with the most extreme feline appearances is irresponsible. And continuing to do so after being made aware of the health problems these cats will endure is cruel. Most cat lovers out there will wholeheartedly agree with me on this, but there are obviously those who aren’t aware of the health problems and suffering these cats have in store. Many people trust breeders, sometimes more than they trust vets, and do not believe they would knowingly breed an unhealthy animal, and in some cases, that is true. However, much like the mentality behind animal poachers, if someone will buy them, someone will sell them. Breeding and Mutation Cyril Picture a cat. A simple (yet awesome) tabby cat like Cyril. If allowed to breed without any human intervention, most feline populations would eventually look a lot like him. His features represent the dominant genes, so it is a statistical certainty that over time, these genes will dominate. Any variation from standard genetics is caused by a mutation, whether it be a lack of fur, extra toes, or an unusual coat color. When we don’t intervene, those mutations tend to get diluted back into the population, rarely, if ever, to be seen again. What happens with selective breeding is that we see those variations, and mate those individuals with others that have the same or similar mutations, producing a population of cats with a high incidence of that trait. Unfortunately, when humans first started doing this, they didn’t necessarily realize that those physical features may be linked to other genetic abnormalities or defects, like heart disease, kidney problems, or bone deformities. People didn’t know that pairing white fur with blue eyes often resulted in deafness, or that the mutation that gives the Scottish Fold their trademark ears also causes a cartilage defect that can be painful and debilitating. But we do now. Yet, we have worrying breed mixes like the Scottish Fold x Munchkin, and now, the Dwelf. And there is no doubt in my mind that the people who are breeding these cats are hoping like hell that people stay in the dark about their health. Image credit: Pet Foto, Pexels The Trouble With Dwelves Although generally a fairly robust cat, the genes that give the Sphynx cat their hairless appearance have also given them a predisposition to skin problems, heart disease, hereditary myopathy (a neuromuscular disorder), and poor thermoregulation. The short stature of the Munchkin Cat is the result of a genetic mutation that stops the bones from growing normally. This mutation is so severe that embryos that inherit two copies of the munchkin gene will die in the womb. I appreciate that not everyone is going to have a firm grasp of genetics, but how can anyone think that combining two breeds with such obvious genetic mutations could possibly be a good idea? I have seen the claims from Dwelf and Bully Cat breeders that their kittens are happy and healthy. They might be happy, but they are by definition, not healthy. A cat that is born with three legs or missing its eyes might be ‘happy’, but does that mean we should start deliberately breeding three-legged or no-eyed cats? Of course not. But if people will pay money for something, people will provide it. Be An Advocate for Cats This is where I ask for your help, because I am just one voice, desperate to show people the cruelty inherent in creating ‘designer’ breeds like the Dwelf, with no thought or appreciation for the consequences of their actions. Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your followers – these cats are being deliberately bred to have genetic defects, but if no one will buy them, the breeders will stop exploiting them. This article is a part of Dr. Karyn's series with her five hilarious cats. Read her previous article: Things I’ve Been Wrong About (And I’m Not Too Proud to Admit) The post When Breeding Becomes Cruel: The Problem with Designer Cats by Dr. Karyn Kanowski BVSc MRCVS (Veterinarian) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Episode 2 of The Retro Resurgence Podcast rolls on. Ken and Chad briefly discuss the the movie “Back to School” starring Rodney Dangerfield before jumping into the show’s main topic… Mt Rushmore of 80s/90s Football CONTINUE READING... The post The Retro Resurgence Podcast – Episode 2 | Mt Rushmore of 80s/90s Football Movies appeared first on The Retro Network.

A member of Congress from Alaska voted against a bill allowing parents to access the curriculum at their children’s school while accepting thousands from groups that support schools hiding gender identity from parents. Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola voted against the Parents Bill of Rights Act in March 2023, which would have required schools to allow parents to inspect curriculum and library books; to obtain parental consent before letting a child socially transition at school; and to inform parents of violent activity at school. Aimed at protecting the right of parents to guide their children’s education, the Parents Bill of Rights passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 24 on a 213-208 party-line vote. Peltola was one of the 208 Democrats who voted against parental transparency in education. Peltola has received more than $40,000 from far-left groups’ political arms that support schools socially transitioning kids and giving kids access to sexually explicit library books, like the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, and Human Rights Campaign. Since 2022, Peltola has accepted $20,000 from the PAC of the far-left National Education Association, which also opposed the Parents Bill of Rights. The NEA, America’s largest teachers’ union, recommended that teachers assign “Gender Queer” as summer reading even though the comic book style novel graphically depicts gay sex. Peltola has received $15,000 from the American Federation of Teachers’s AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education since 2022. AFT President Randi Weingarten said the Parents Bill of Rights “would require schools to divert their limited resources from teaching, censor education, ban books, and harm children who are just trying to be themselves and live their lives in peace.” The Alaska Democrat also has taken $6,000 from the Human Rights Campaign Fund. The Human Rights Campaign supports irreversible transgender medical interventions for children and peddles the lie that children are less likely to commit suicide if they transition. The Human Rights Campaign’s Welcoming Schools Program trains elementary school teachers on “creating LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive schools.” Last summer, Peltola took to X to urge followers to donate to Identity, which helps children get sterilizing hormone treatments and irreversible transgender surgeries. “Many people feel alienated from their bodies during puberty under the best of circumstances, and for children who are trans* and aware of their sex incongruence, being forced to undergo puberty and have their bodies change into the wrong sex is devastating,” Identity’s website says, promoting puberty blockers for children. A screenshot of Peltola’s June 2023 post soliciting donations to pro-trans Identity Inc. (Must Read Alaska) Peltola became the representative of Alaska’s singular congressional district after beating former Gov. Sarah Palin and small business owner Nick Begich in a ranked-choice voting election in 2022. She will face Begich again in November. The Alaska congressional race could determine whether Republicans or Democrats control Congress in 2025. Peltola’s race is a key toss-up election, according to the Center for Politics. Begich told The Daily Signal that his opponent, Peltola, is on board with the Biden-Harris administration’s plans to push gender ideology into the classroom, “forcing teachers to push concepts that are neither rooted in science nor basic logic.” “Parents trust the school system to educate and protect children while at school, not indoctrinate them in the latest leftwing political fads,” Begich said. “Congresswoman Peltola has been part and parcel with this agenda, voting against the Parents Bill of Rights and even encouraging Alaskans to donate to organizations that support so-called ‘gender transitions’ for children.” “Parents should have a right to access their children’s curriculum, receive full transparency from the school system, and continue to be the ones responsible for raising their children,” Begich added. Cindy Glassmaker, an Alaska mother of three girls,was disappointed in her congresswoman’s vote against the Parents Bill of Rights. “To me, being a parent means having a say in decisions that affect our children until they reach 18,” Glassmaker told The Daily Signal. “I believe our congresswoman should be advocating for greater parental involvement, fostering a partnership between parents and schools to prioritize the well-being of our students. “I am outraged that she accepted significant donations from anti-parent groups that support schools keeping gender identity issues hidden from parents,” Glassmaker continued. Peltola told Anchorage Daily News she voted against the Parents Bill of Rights to protect students’ “right to privacy.” The bill prohibits schools from hiding student gender identity from the parents. “The reason I did not vote for this particular bill, is because I feel like students should have some right to privacy,” Peltola said in 2023. “And I think they should have a right to feel safe at school.” Peltola did not respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment about her position on parental rights. Alaska mother and Anchorage Moms for Liberty Chair Gabby Ide told The Daily Signal she feels Peltola doesn’t stand up for her rights as a parent. “Mary Peltola isn’t looking out for Alaska’s families,” Ide said. “She voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023. She co-sponsored the Equality Act, which would allow males in female locker rooms and bathrooms. When she does vote, she appears totally out of touch with parents’ desire for accountability in education results and our fundamental right to direct the upbringing of our children.” The post Alaska Democrat Voted Against Parental Rights Bill While Taking Tens of Thousands from Anti-Parent Orgs appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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