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Permalink Reply by LaRissa L. Head on December 14, 2010 at 3:58pm

There is a piece on this genetic breeding farm from the nova special called Dogs decoded. If you have Netflix it is up for instant streaming and is a fun hour long show to watch.

Where I am intrigued by the science behind aggression genetics and coat type, I am also instinctively against any breeding done in wire mesh cages. Owning a rabbit and seeing what the bottom of those cages do to their hocks, I can't imagine what it would do to the padding of a kit.

Also If you watch the show I just suggested you see that they also breed to aggressive parents together to see how the fear/aggression ratios compound in the kits. Watching the pure fear in those animals that live there lives in tiny wire cages makes me a bit sick.

I am no expert though and these are just my pure gut reactions. I am in love the foxes, and even carry the nickname fox and have a tattoo of one as well.

 

I hope I don't sound like I am judging you in any way. that is in no way the point of my post. I am judging the care of the  breeding program... but not you at all. So I am sorry if you at all think this is directed at you.

You are right, they are beautiful and fascinating creatures.

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on December 15, 2010 at 1:11pm

No, I don't think there's any way anybody could get away with this nowadays in this country, not even with mice.  No research lab could do anything nearly as invasive as tail-docking or ear-cropping without compelling reasons.  Some of the Belyaev methods are callous.  I wouldn't want to see a fur-farm, either.  

If I've got it right, the Belyaev foxes had to be raised in isolation from humans so that their observed initial reactions to humans would be innate, and not learned.  Seems creepy, although foxes may not be such social pack-animals as dogs.

I happen to have a perfect red fox pelt  -- roadkill -- a lot of the worst things we do to animals, we do with our stupid cars.

You make a good point.  We have a transgenic mouse colony.  To face those little guys in cages, I have to think of people in wheelchairs.

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