Ethical breeders do retire their breeding dogs out of decent respect for their service - unlike some puppy mills.
They do it with a neuter contract and to very selected homes to be companions and pets.
Just had my little guy neutered. He's 7 months old.
I just sent a message to the office of the Mayor of Independence.
Reminded him that negative publicity regarding his citizens' treatment of a family displaced by Katrina would not reflect well on his city.
I painted with a rather broad brush so that he/she would see how this could come back to bite him/her.
This was, unfortunately, not such a decent and ethical scenario.
The Ibizans were taken from a horrible person who allowed them to breed at will and die without medical care by the local SPCA.
Rather than selflessly and humanely offer the dogs to other IH owners when things "got out of hand", the breeder just let it all go to hell, instead.
One of the dogs who died in her house is the brother of 2 of my dog's father.
He was a young, beautiful champion with a great future ahead of him.
The Ibizan Hound rescue group found out about it and personally worked to re-home the dogs once they were able to get them out of the shelter.
A couple of FReepers acted as foster parents to some of the dogs while permanent homes were found.....:)