The best breeders I know do 5 things:
1. Deworm and get Veterinarian Administered Vaccines for their puppies
2. Health Test all of their dogs both genetically and through programs like PennHip or OFA and have standards from these organizations they expect their breeding stock to meet (Good -> Excellent for OFAs generally)
3. Do tons of early neurological stimulation for their puppies and are working with their puppies daily from the time they are born
4. Include anti-breeding contracts on their produced dogs that are "Pet" quality, and have very strict breeding contracts for their dogs of greater than pet quality (usually enforced via co-ownership) BUT may not specify Spay/Neuter in their contracts. I'm staunchly against early spay neuter as someone who works in rehabilitation and general practice because I see the long term effects of early spay neuter on the daily. They also tend to leave spay neuter in their contracts to the best judgement of the dog's primary DVM.
In the practice where I'm employed, we don't sterilize earlier than 6 months unless there are extenuating circumstances. We were also one of the first clinics in the area to adopt Balance.it fresh food feeding programs and recipes, the first to refuse convenience euthanasia (we still do B.Es), and the first to refuse the declawing of cats.
We've also limited our crop and dock procedures. We've done 10 medically necessary docks in the decade I've worked here all of which were due to injury, mutilation, or disease processes. With 3 ear amputations due to tumors or significant injury. We also refer our cosmetic crops to another doctor for clients who would otherwise get backyard crop jobs.
Your breeder should not be pushing against core vaccines and monthly preventatives. They also absolutely should not be pushing against BOAS surgeries, especially on pet dogs (and a lot of the breeders I know who push against BOAS are the ones whose dogs got them anyway.)
why do breeders push against vaccines and spay/neuter? ive never understood this
The cynical answer, that i think is the truth deep under the anti-vax rhetoric, is that it's a way to save money and excuse the fact that they are selling puppies that have never been vaccinated or dewormed, despite being 8 to 12 weeks old. Exams and age appropriate shots and dewormers eat into their profit margin. Maligning these and building distrust of veterinary staff helps hide their shitty breeding practices, and gives them a somewhat captive consumer population for the homeopathic bullshit and supplements many of them also sell. And quite a few will say that if you get them these vaccines or dewormers that it will make them *more* prone to getting the disease or conditions like epilepsy. This tells me that that have parvo on their property and shitty genetic lines.
Some breeders may truly believe all their bullshit, but the person they learned the bullshit from? Knows it was bullshit and just wanted more money and control.
*EDIT* missed the s/n part, but that goes back in to building distrust of vets to keep control over their customers along with not understanding the studies.
And it's also a great way to excuse shitty hips or elbows if you can blame early spay/neuter.
hi, I saw your primal chic beauty post and want to recommend a deodorant that goes with all the values you speak to and is actually better for your skin and environment and so insanely simple: potassium alum salt!!! I buy mine from Holland and Barret and it is just a rock that I use after the shower and makes my sweat odourless (good thing is that I still sweat so it means it doesn’t block my sweat glands/not antiperspirant)! No harsh chemicals, pure natural source and dare I say economically very friendly. Wanted to contribute to you just like you’re generous with us with your knowledge/advice!
Hi Nonnie! I love this! And for people who sweat lightly potassium alum salt is a wonderful alternative, I enjoyed crystal and Thai 100% Crystal however, with my job I wear very light blue scrubs (Ciel blue, the same color as the residents in Greys Anatomy) day in and day out and I sweat heavily, so for those like me looking to avoid visible sweat marks, I reccommend switching to a non-aersolized solid antiperspirant stick from aersolized products like dry sprays. My Dove 72-hour stick is cruelty free, alcohol free, and PETA approved, and it is gentler but similarly effective to the clinical strength sprays I used to use without the propelants and air pollutants.
For our comfort and our ability to stick with a more sustainable option, we sometimes have to take smaller steps, like eliminating aersols. Let's use sunscreen as an example: I could switch to an unscented zinc mineral sunscreen rather than my current titanium oxide fragranced sunscreen, but I'd be less likely to bother wearing sunscreen if I didn't like the feel of the sunscreen product I use, so I switched to the lotion formula from the aersolized one, and when I switched to Sun Bums aersolized formula it was because they lacked certain chemicals that cause damage to reefs that my Neutrogena spray had.
If we dive straight into the most ecologically gentle option and most minimalist skincare, we may become discouraged because of negative results we have and then decide to go back to our least ecologically friendly option, vs if we balance sustainability with personal comfort, we're more likely to stick with those more eco-friendly options and gradually continue our journey to even more sustainable options.
(This light blue, and trust me, it shows ALL the moisture)
Sabrina Carpenter at the Brit Awards ❦.*࿐ 。 ₊ ·
There's also dietary changes, supplements & vitamins, and psychotherapy options for treating PMDD. I'd recommend going to a female D.O. + OBGYN who generally will present you with a more well-rounded and wholistic (not holistic) treatment plan. My original PMDD team consisted of a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a dietician, an endocrinologist, and a D.O. gynecologist.
We figured out hormonal birth controls aren't an option for me due to both lifestyle factors and the exacerbation of my PMDD symptoms. We also restricted/eliminated soy from my diet as my intolerance of it went beyond bloating, and it also influenced my mood and psyche due to hormone levels being thrown off when I'd eat soy products as part of my inflammatory response to it. We added in psychotherapy with a focus on DBT and regulation skills to help me better adapt to psychological stressors. For about 3 years, while I was gaining those skills, I was on antidepressants.
My current treatment plan addresses both my seasonal affective disorder, birth control needs, and my PMDD through vitamin D & magnesium supplementation, a paragard IUD (non-hormonal copper IUD), dietary changes to a more whole foods high protien diet, and exercise. I haven't had a true PMDD episode in almost 4 years with this plan. Treating the underlying psychological disorder, getting my hormones balanced, and controlling the inflammatory response has done incredible things for me.
Talking to your primary care doctor or gynecologist about PMDD is an important step, and if you feel your needs are being ignored or aren't being addressed by your medical team, you can and should change providers. Your doctors also can't help you if you don't ask them to help and advocate for yourself. I've gone through a lot of good doctors and bad doctors and now have a fully female medical team whom I trust and who trust me.
Pre-menstrual depression is always depicted as like "He He! I had a box of icecream bars and cried while watching the Titanic!" But in reality, it's more like, "I'm standing the edge of an abyss. There is nothing good inside of me, I'm filled with rage and desperation."
It's crazy that being told how to deal with that is never a part of anyone's menstrual sex education.
There was a time when rough sex meant some hair pulling, mutual scratching (nails down backs or w.e.) and biting kisses, maybe a spank or two to a butt cheek and was more about the quality of the thrusts involved than it was the rest of the actions. Rough sex was desperate, hurried, rushed, and a bit animalistic, but it was more often than not a mutual level of roughness. The fact that BDSM has gone incredibly mainstream has taken what used to be, in my mind, an acceptable level of roughness to something considered "vanillas" by most people and instead introduced things that at the time I was discovering sex were considered hard core -> gore into the every day lexicon and sexual expectations of the porn addicted adult is incredibly concerning. Even those within the scene are growing increasingly alarmed at what is going on in the new scene where the "rights of passage" aren't being upheld. Where people are doing these incredibly hardcore scenes without any kind of education on the safety backups integrated into them, where they aren't checking in on their partners, where they're either unable or unwilling to read their partner's non-verbal cues. I was talking to an older professional leather butch a few months ago about this, about how there's been this shift away from safe & sane to an attitude that as long as it's consensual in the beginning it's fine for a growing number of faux-doms who got all of their education on BDSM from the kink castle's pornos and have never been a sub under someone else. These faux-doms can not manage to maintain arousal outside of a scene and that the focus has shifted from the subs' needs and desires to those of the dom/domme. Face hits were taboo, even in the scene for a long time, especially closed fist ones. Now we have doms openly bragging about punching subs in the face. BDSM has expanded so rapidly and warped so much darker than it was even 10-15 years ago in comparison to what it's become now.
whenever someone says kink is unethical they’re not talking about how you’re into feet or whatever, they’re talking about men who beat, choke, and pretend to rape their girlfriends during sex and play it off like it’s #progressive
Sustainable fashion: we’ve all heard the term, but what does it really mean? With all the talk about eco-friendly fabrics, ethical production, and greenwashing, it’s easy to get confused. The reality is that there are a lot of myths floating around that might make you think sustainable fashion is out of your reach. But let’s set the record straight and dive into the 5 biggest myths about eco-friendly clothing.
Myth 1: “Sustainable Fashion is Too Expensive”
One of the most common myths is that sustainable fashion will completely break the bank. Sure, a lot of fast fashion items are cheap, but let’s be real – they don’t last. You’ll find yourself replacing those bargain bin buys faster than you can say "sale." Sustainable fashion focuses on quality, meaning fewer pieces but ones that stand the test of time. Think of it as investing in timeless items that won’t fall apart after a season. Plus, fewer purchases = more money saved in the long run. Who knew being eco-conscious could actually save you cash?
Myth 2: “Sustainable Fashion Isn’t Stylish”
Oh, the classic misconception – eco-friendly clothing is boring. Wrong! Just because an item is sustainable doesn’t mean it’s plain or out-of-date. In fact, sustainable fashion often includes cutting-edge design, modern cuts, and stunning details. Think sleek silhouettes, organic fabrics that feel luxe and unique designs that turn heads. Brands like Merci Dupre Clothiers are proving that sustainable fashion is just as chic as it is eco-friendly. So, if you think you have to compromise on style to be green, think again!
Myth 3: “Sustainable Clothing Doesn’t Last as Long”People often assume that eco-friendly fabrics are weaker or less durable. But let’s break it down: sustainable clothing tends to use higher-quality materials like organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo, which are naturally durable and long-lasting. Many sustainable clothing brands also focus on craftsmanship and thoughtful design, making sure their pieces are made to withstand the test of time. Fast fashion might be trendy, but it’s built to fall apart. Sustainable clothing? It’s made to last, giving you more wear per piece.
Myth 4: “Sustainable Clothing Is Only About Fabric Choices”
Here’s a big one: sustainable fashion isn’t just about the materials it’s made from. It’s about the bigger picture. Sure, using organic or recycled fabrics is a great start, but there’s so much more to sustainability. Ethical labor practices, reducing waste, non-toxic dyes, and designing for durability all play a huge role in what makes clothing sustainable. So next time you think about eco-friendly fashion, remember: it’s the whole lifecycle, from production to disposal, that matters.
Myth 5: “Sustainable Fashion Is Hard to Find”
With the rise of eco-friendly clothing brands, it’s easier than ever to shop sustainably. The myth that sustainable clothing is a rare find simply isn’t true anymore. In fact, many online stores now offer a wide range of stylish, eco-friendly options that make it easy to shop sustainably from the comfort of your own home. From classic staples to statement pieces, sustainable clothing has entered the mainstream, and it’s here to stay.
So, there you have it – the truth about sustainable fashion. It’s stylish, affordable in the long run, durable, and much more accessible than you might have thought. And it’s not just about the clothes; it’s about the choices you make to contribute to a more ethical, eco-friendly world. Ready to embrace sustainability in your wardrobe? It’s easier than you think – and it might just be the most fashionable choice you make!
Promising myself to become the woman of my dreams.