"So-called 'purebreds' are the mainstay of the dog industry, and social critic Michael Brandow argues that these aren't markers of time-honored traditions but rather commercial inventions of the nineteenth century that were marketed as status symbols to a growing middle class. Combining social history and consumer studies with sharp commentary, this book reveals the sordid history of the dog industry and shows how our brand-name pets pay the price with devastatingly poor health. "--From publisher.