NF RR

                      The article "Cross-Breed to Avoid Inbreeding" by James Serpell is about  talks about how selective breeding in show dogs can lead interbreeding which may result in deformities. It explains that in order to be considered “pure bred” a dog must have two pure bred parents. In order to keep the breed line pure, many show dog owners use selective breeding. The problem with this is that there are so few dogs that are pure bred, that many dogs are accidentally interbred. This means that two dogs of close relation are bred, creating mutation, which can lead to deformities  in the offspring. Another problem with the AKC standards for breeds is that they lead people to look for dogs with deformed faces just so that they can fit the breeding standards. 

                     One example of deformities these dogs could suffer from is "defects ranging from anatomical problems, like hip dysplasia, that cause chronic suffering, to impaired immune function and loss of resistance to fatal diseases like cancer"(Serpell 1). I don't think its worth having these pure bred dogs when they are at risk of this much. An example of how the AKC absurd standards  is, "As written, this description seems to require breeders to select for the shortest and most deformed face and muzzle possible, and for show judges to award their highest accolades to the dogs that best exemplify this trend"(Serpell 1). This just shows how people are being pushed to have dogs that are at high health risks because of their appearance. I think that its not really that important to have a “pure bred” dog if it is going to be detrimental to its health. I think that in the case a good answer to the problem might be cloning. This would create identical dogs to the standards, but not risk the mutations of interbreeding. I think the breed standards are gross, and people should make sure their dog is healthy rather then look a certain way. 

                  All in all, I think that people need to find another answer for pure bred dogs besides selective breeding.

Works Cited

Serpell, James. "Cross Breeding to Avoid Interbreeding." New York Times. N.p., 12 Feb. 2013. Web. 6 Mar. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/02/12/the-ethics-of-raising-purebred-dogs/cross-breed-to-avoid-inbreeding>.