I make it a point not to post on deformed animals. This site isn't a freakshow. But, occassionally, I do like to put the spotlight on disturbing trends, such as my post on white tigers. Lorri sent these photos of a hairless palomino foal (with mom in the bottom one). This is a sad mutation, since it results in a truncated lifespan for the afflicted horse. It is, therefore, never intentionally bred into the animal.
I'm posting on this because I thought it dovetailed nicely with an article that one of my readers, Michael, sent me. It is a New York Time's article that reports on the Japanese obsession with cute and cuddly pets. The problem with this craze is that it is fed by rampant inbreeding and puppy mills, and it results in deformed, tortured, and sickly animals.
My point is this: every new breed of animal we create invariably involves some inbreeding. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is all too often abused. Let's stay away from these Hollywood fads and bear in mind that these are living critters. For every mini chihuahua Paris Hilton carts around, there is one of its littermates that was born missing its paws, nose, or eyes, or with a brain disorder. That's not so cute.
Thanks for the photos, Lorri, and thanks for the article, Michael.
Dec 30, 2006
Not So Cute
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13 comments:
An excellent post. People really need to be reminded of these things...
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you.
And again...Thank You.
I can't say it enough...
--TwoDragons
Not that the numbnuts who HAVE TO HAVE the tiniest Chihuahua in the world listen to you or come to this site (or could even comprehend what you're saying), but thanks RW, for the wise, sad words.
Just wanted to say that there are hairless horses that live to adulthood and do well, but they need special care and have problems normal, hairy horses don't have (like sunburning and fragile skin). There are higher numbers of hairless foals born in Quarter Horse and Akhal Teke breeds, probably due to the high level of inbreeding in these particular breeds.
Great info. I just don't understand how the Japanese can at the same time be obsessed with all things cute and still have an annual dolphin slaughter and whaling ships. Just don't get it.
Mini chihuahua? Is that smaller than a regular chihuahua? Why would anyone need such a thing?
Poor hairless horsey. I'd like to feed her carrots and apple slices.
Aww, poor horsey. The mama is beautiful, though. I hope the foal gets all the special care it needs.
that thing's knees look creepily like mine. and the sad thing is, i'm not kidding.
Do YOUR RESEARCH people before you make an uninformed judgment. NOBODY breeds for these type of horses they are basically just a freak of nature possible caused by a uterine infection that was treated during pregnancy. How many horses are there out there like this? Maybe one or two living ones like Harry the percheron and if it wasn't for his owners great commitment to his well being he would be dead long ago due to his condition. IT REALLY AMAZES ME HOW QUICK PEOPLE LOVE TO JUMP ON ANY BANDWAGON BEFORE BECOMING PROPERLY INFORMED. SURE HOPE YOU DO YOUR POLITICAL RESEARCH ALOT BETTER OR GOD HELP THIS COUNTRY...
Lisa, did you actually read the post? Never once did I say that these horses are bred like this. I used the deformity of the horse to segue into how certain dogs and cats are bred. Read thoroughly before you start throwing around accusations.
I DONT CARE WHAT THE HECK YOU SAY PEOPLE THIS IS NOT FUNNY, THIS SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN POSTED, THIS SHOULD BE DELETED, SURE YOU LIKE IT BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ANIMAL THAT HAS TO SUFFER CAUSE YOU DUMBBOOTYS POST THIS AND THEN EVERYONE THINGS THEY ARE NASTY AND SHOULD DIE WHAT IF U WANT HAIRLESS AND SKINLESS AND ALL AND GOT YOUR PICTURE TOOKEN AND PUT ON A WEBSITE THAT WOULDNT BE VERY FUNNY BUT WHO CARES ABOUT THE HORSE IT JUST GIVES ME LAUGHS AND MAKES ME THINK ITS STUPID! WE ARE ALL CREATURES OF MOUTHER NATURE REMEMBER THAT!
Wow, an all-caps rant, despite my disclaimer and PSA intentions.
That is strange. You are showing these pictures to make a point on how awful it is that we are trying to change animals, and you really DO say that people do not purposefully raise horses like this, and then silly people rant because we should not make animals like this and treat them badly.... I love how the righteous people never inform themselves on whats going on before they freak out.
Anyway, this is a sad trend that we are seeing in our society. AND the people who are wanting all those cute animals have no compunctions with inbreeding these animals to get one out of 5 freaks of nature that will live, so then if they don't care about that why would they care about whaling? and dredging the oceans around them?
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