Good information to know if contemplating to chip or not to chip. One thing I noted - the one time you needed your chip the shelter didn't even scan for it. That is one thing people need to know - the chip will obviously help ID the pet if one scans for it, but in no way will it protect a loose animal from being killed by a car, disease or fights, or the fact that some people steal animals to sell to those that won't care if the animal has a chip or not as their intention is not to find the owners. The tumor issue adds to the bigger picture. Personally, I would not hestiate to chip an animal despite all of the possible negatives, because a lost dog (and more so for cats) are in a far worse off condition if not chipped or tatooed, in the event of loss. The statistics for lost dogs without IDs coming home is not great, and it's a worse outlook for cats. A good collar with a metal tag with name and number cannot be overlooked either. I think that increases the chances for return the most, as the average Joe, who does not have a chip scanner, can give you a call, long before an animal might make it to a shelter, that may or may not scan. My best advise - keep your dogs on a leash when walking or in a secure fenced area when loose in the yard, otherwise keep them inside. For cats - only one piece of advice: keep them inside all the time. CT

Hi Guys Hmmm politics, I'm not sure if I understand what the problem is here other than the fact that we (BSI members) elected Delegates, but the Delegates elected not to discuss such an important issue with it's members. I have had contact at various times over the last six months or so with each of our Delegates (Aus) but at no time did they elect to ask an opinion of a member, therefore I shall elect not to elect either of these Delegates again until such time as they realize that they were in office for the members, not for their own personal opinions, or self importance. I feel disappointed for all the hard work done by Derek & others over the years & now people seem to think it's all falling apart. Well no it doesn't have to, don't just complain offer suggestions to help fix the situation instead, for one the way I see it, the BSI is only taking control of Administration of the BCR, as it is we register our hybrids with the BSI now & that goes into the BCR, then the photo's get posted on FCBS, so what is going to change, you don't register hybrids with FCBS it is only a photo index for you to look at pictures to aid in ID's. If this is correct it means you register with the BSI, you send a pretty picture to FCBS for all to see, or any other photo index around the world for that matter, as any site can post your picture, but only the BSI can register your hybrid name, therefore not much is changing as FCBS was & still is only a photo index (I believe that's what's on it's Title page) not FCBS Bromeliad Registry. I do feel it is time in this day & age of computers that all BSI members should get a copy of the minutes in one form or another so that we know what is happening in our Society, as our Delegates don't seem terribly interested in keeping us informed here at home after the meetings. "Lets be Heard" Hmmm $25.00 bucks is not going to fix the problem of so many "Neo. Binalotatrash's it's only going to help keep the great load of Neo. Ulanfils out there instead of in land fill. (sorry those names are already taken) My hat goes off to Lisa for acknowledging in an earlier thread that her little white variegate (as nice as it is) is one of so many like that out there now, so it's not worth adding another one, there's a hybridiser setting a good example worth following, congrats Lisa for self policing, only the best will do. Back in the early 1900's the Plant World had Expo's where new plants/hybrids were presented & given Awards of Merit etc, so where did this system go, Derek suggested a Certificate of Merit system but nobody was overly excited about this, so it seems to have fallen away ?? Offer a constructive suggestion don't just complain. My suggestion to Derek & others recently has been to include in local Society Show Competition Schedules, is a section for Best New Hybrid Award (locally produced not imported) with a respectable reward/incentive offered, some of our Societies are pretty well cashed up, so how about the Societies stepping-up & remembering what they are here for, THE PLANTS. Another section that should be high on the agenda is "Best Species, Seed Grown", forget the hybrids we need to save Species, I thought that's what Societies were, partly, all about. I don't know that printing this thread in a news letter is the way to go as most Society members aren't members of the BSI, & it probably wouldn't interest most of them anyway as most are just sit on the fencers anyway. I feel it should be sent in it's entireity to all members of the Board with notice, it is our Society not just the elected Delegates & we are interested in what's going on. I know I will be asking our next intending Delegate a few questions before I cast a vote, "where do you stand on the above matters ??". NO I'm not offering to do this as a Board member has been involved in this discussion, he should step-up & do it, as an elected Delegate it is his position to act on members requests & show the Board we're not happy with the way things are going. Pinkbroms

Dear Violet Growers, I found this Violet in Vancouver, WA. It's pendant, purple with faded center & also solid white, 3/4" tall, with 2 reflexed upper petals, 2 straight forward petals, & 1 hanging down tongue. I have a picture in Violet Gallery. Alberto1444

"Registration" with a formal club means nothing if the dog is the product of forced in-breeding from malnourished, caged "breeders." I'd much rather have a mixed dog with good health, an active mind, and good genetics, that came from and properly cared for sires and dams of any breed, with no "papers" at all, than an in-breed creature prone to all sorts of genetic problems. Harry and Sam are "registered" with a German hunting organization; their breed is not recognized by the AKC or any other American organization. Harry and Sam have no inbreeding going back 10 generations. The "pedigree" is nothing more than a list of the parents and ancestors to show who is related to who, and that is very helping in determining if there is any in-breeding and all the problems it can cause. And don't let people feed you the "line breeding" bull puckey, either. Line breeding is in-breeding. In order for a Deutsch Drahthaar to be "registered," it has to born from "registered" DDs that have successfully passed four very involved and strick hunting tests. These are real world, real conditions hunting covering tracking, pointing, retrieving, blind retrieving and blood kills. They cover birds, small game, and large game. There are no planted/disabled/caged prey in enclosed fields; these are real hunts covering hundreds of acres of land, lakes, etc. Before breeding, the parents have to be certified free of hip dysplasia and a blood disorder. They have to produce certain scores in each of the field tests, and be between certain age ranges...I believe it's age 3-9. They have to be in top condition and perfect health. They can have only three litters in their lifetime and there must be two years between each litter. The pups, tattooed at birth to ascertain each puppy matches its papers, can only be sold to active, licensed hunters with the proper time and facilities to keep, train, and test these dogs. These are not kennel dogs. These are intelligent pets that hunt. We were interviewed and screened before we were considered for "adopting" Harry. We got Sam from the same breeder. The few DD breeders there are lose money on each liter; there is no breeding for profit. As I said, if I was getting a dog, it would be a wonderful pound puppy. DH wanted a versatile hunting dog, and was willing to meet the conditions and criteria for having, training, and working one. We have two, and they are the joys of our life. They are pampered pets first, and DDs second. I wish all breed organizations were as tough and dedicated with their breeders as the DD is.