Dogs-Demise of the Mongrel.

Beautiful Border Collie

Strolling around Whitby, you would be forgiven for thinking that Crufts is nearby. Proud owners can be seen parading pedigree dogs around the resort at almost anytime. From huge Great Danes to tiny Chihuahua's, there are breeds galore on show. With dog friendly hospitality in many cafes and bars, plus strategically placed bowls of water, Whitby's effort towards canine friendliness is immense. It's mutual of course. In return for this doggy enterprise, owners provide a welcome addition to the resorts economy.

Standing on a street corner in Whitby would surely prove fruitful to those mysterious people who endlessly collect statistics-canine in this instance. Dogs are part of the family and owners plan their  days out around them. It’s here that data of pedigree breeds can be made. How times have changed. Pedigree ownership is commonplace nowadays. Not too long ago, the words commonplace and pedigree were rarely found in the same sentence.

Outnumbering any other breed by an estimated ratio of 100-1, the undisputed King of commonplace was the mighty Mongrel. Also known as a Heinz 57, this product of cross breeding came in all shapes and sizes. Such dogs were always freely available and money rarely, if ever, changed hands. Most were loved with a passion, but easy availability placed many into the hands of dreadful owners and ill treatment. 

Mongrels roamed  the streets of Britain, unattended, for centuries. Most knew their local area like the back of their paws and were not a problem. However, many mongrels were dumped and became homeless, especially bitches on heat. New laws were introduced and their activity was swiftly curtailed. Worse than the sad part of a movie, any found  wandering were rounded up and taken to the pound. Consequently, their demise began. Confined to living quarters, freebie-take your pick litters-ceased to be. While such action saw the demise of  Mongrels, thankfully, the neglect via dumping and bad ownership was considerably reduced. 

The pendulum has swung, most dog lovers now own a costly pedigree, with papers boasting it's blood line. However, it's extremely comforting to know that the dogged Mongrel  is always capable of a comeback. After all, like the pedigree, they are intelligent, loyal, loving and capable of mass destruction.   

Mighty Mongrel Ready for Action