GHS student’s English essay published online
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.