The issue of congenital problems in popular breeds of dogs and cats is now much more public than a decade ago, yet brachycephalic breeds of dogs, hairless cats, and munchkin cats continue to grow in popularity. The purpose of
Picking a Pedigree
is to raise public awareness of what constitutes a healthy pet, to inform what the medical implications of inherited features are, and describe the human-influenced breeding practices that have created manufactured problems for the sake of appearance and arbitrary breed standards.
is a book that all responsible prospective pet owners should read before making a decision on acquiring a new puppy or kitten.