GHS student’s English essay published online

Monday, June 3, 2019
Jesse Lewis is an incoming senior at Greencastle High School whose family has a passion for purebred dogs.
Courtesy photo

Usually, a paper one has written for a high school English class does not go beyond the doorway of the classroom, much less onto a national platform.

However, one Greencastle student’s essay was recently published on an online magazine dedicated to the preservation of purebred dogs and the dog show profession.

Jesse Lewis had an English paper written during his junior year submitted to Showsight Magazine, created by dog show enthusiasts Joe McGinnis and Duane Doll as a magazine written “by dog people FOR dog people,” according to its website.

In the essay, titled “The Preservation of Dogs Breeds,” Lewis discusses why breeding to conform to a particular standard ensures healthy dogs, as well as why those standards written up by the American Kennel Club (AKC) are closely followed.

Lewis opines that “designer dogs” like the Goldendoodle are a “genetic disaster,” and claims that the preservation of purebred lines is essential to maintain a breed’s legacy, and to “enjoy the dogs as they were meant to be.”

He describes the functions of the hound, herding, sporting, non-sporting, working and toy groups in the essay, and advocates for the passion purpose of “preservation breeders,” those who focus on a breed’s pedigree and work to ensure a dog will be healthy.

Lewis also condemns “backyard breeders” and puppy mills, claiming that the Amish are “notorious for these types of breeding establishments,” citing a case where a man in New York killed nearly 100 dogs after they contracted brucellosis, a deadly infection.

“These types of breeders care nothing of the dogs that are having/making puppies, or of the puppies themselves,” Lewis writes. “They see nothing more than dollar signs. These puppies are taken from their mothers too quickly so the “cute factor” will help the impulse buyer purchase the puppy without any knowledge of its background.”

In an author’s note, Jesse’s mother Nicole noted that he and his siblings are third-generation dog enthusiasts, as his mother has been involved in the show ring since her childhood.

Nicole recounts that Jesse approached her on writing about the topic, stating “Mom this is my life, your life, yes I want to do this” after she asked him if he was certain he could write about dog breeding.

“I just told him it’s going to take a lot of work and effort,” Nicole wrote in the note. “I did tell him to choose breeds he really knew nothing about, that way he too would learn more about his chosen topic. I just didn’t want him writing what he knows.”

Lewis was happy to see that Jesse focused on the purpose of purebred dog breeding, and why the passion he and his family have for the practice endures.

“I am proud of all my boys and the love they share for all animals, but most importantly the passion for the purebred dog,” she concluded. “I am thrilled that Jesse chose this topic on his own and is willing to share it with the world.”

Those interested may read Lewis’ full essay at https://www.showsightmagazine.com/article/the-preservation-of-dogs-breeds/439.

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  • Fabulous Job Jesse!

    Mrs. D :-)

    -- Posted by lduggan69 on Tue, Jun 4, 2019, at 12:49 PM
  • *

    I read "the paper".

    Its a high school English paper, written at a high school level.

    Using the term "puppy mill" is inflammatory and one-sided, especially when concerning the Amish.

    The writer of the paper is a member of a breeder family with a particular stake in limiting the number of available dogs so as to increase the value of their dogs. Simple economics. The writer is also a "dog lover" who places a particularly high value on certain dogs. (But not all dogs.)

    The Amish treat dogs as livestock - same as cows, sheep, chickens, etc. They are animals. Perhaps more useful than others, and perhaps even more valuable than other animals. But still animals. For the Amish it is also about economics, just more honestly.

    Diseased livestock are dangerous, especially to non-diseased livestock. Culling is a vital process in animal husbandry of any species.

    And as for the rest of the "puppy mills" and others castigated by the writer: perhaps the writer should consider their own place in the grand scheme of the puppy mill market. Purebred dog breeders will routinely charge $800 or more (several thousand for some breeds) for a pup. Some will even require background checks, home inspections, and for you to sign a contract saying you will surrender the dog to them (with no refund) if you are unable to keep it. So you don't even own the dog, you only have renters rights to it. Under these circumstances, isn't it understandable that a family who just wants a family pet (even if of a particular breed) will go where they can get one that is affordable and theirs to do with as they wish? Again, simple economics.

    I fully support the idea of purebred livestock (of any species), but I also support the idea of honest conversation. This paper isn't it.

    Also left out of the conversation is the fact that many breeds recognized by the AKC were in fact hybrids originally, selectively bred for particular traits of multiple breeds.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Tue, Jun 4, 2019, at 12:53 PM
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