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The Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA) strongly supports and actively promotes a wide range of programs to educate the public about responsible breeding practices and responsibilities of dog ownership. We also support reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners that take their responsibilities seriously. GRCA opposes breeding permits, bans, and mandatory spay/neuter of dogs.
GRCA opposes mandatory spay/neuter legislation because: 1) there is no evidence to suggest that it is effective in achieving its stated goal; 2) it causes well-documented health and developmental problems in some pets, especially when performed before sexual maturity; 3) it pushes responsible breeders out of the licensing system; 4) it reduces the availability of well-bred healthy, home bred and raised puppies; 5) it encourages the importation of puppies and dogs from less acceptable sources, including foreign countries; and 6) because laws that force owners to perform surgery on their pets without a rational basis for doing so may be unconstitutional.
GRCA recognizes that more must be done to educate the public about responsible dog ownership and responsible breeding practices. GRCA is providing this education through their web site (www.grca.org), as well as through their public education programs. GRCA also assists other breed clubs in furthering their public education programs and information by sharing the material they have produced.
February 2010
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