Why I Won’t Play Into the Rescue vs Breeder Debate
I’m not sure when the big divide began between rescues & breeders began, but if you’re part of the dog world it’s hard not to see it on a daily basis.
Why I Won’t Play Into the Rescue vs Breeder Debate
- It’s like comparing apples to oranges.
- Being judgmental is the worst way to make a point.
I believe good rescues & good breeders both hold a place in helping us make good decisions when it comes to choosing the right dog.
Rescuing Doesn’t Automatically Make You a Better Dog Owner
Of course rescuing animals is awesome, and it’s something I’ll always be involved with and promote on this site. But many times people who go through rescue talk about it as if it was the only option available — often to the point of making those who haven’t chosen that route feel uncomfortable and ashamed that their dog didn’t come from a rescue.
“What other option is there? Just look at all these homeless dogs.” I get it, and that’s why I’ve chosen to rescue — because it makes sense for me to do. I’m not looking for a certain breed and I’m not looking for a working dog — I’m looking for a companion. For others the choice is different.
Rescuing a dog doesn’t make me a better owner, nor does it give me the right to judge anyone who hasn’t rescued a pet.
Recently a popular dog site (rhymes with WifeWithPogs) took a rather bold stance against breeders stating that they all need to end, and a few years ago I might have been right on board with that sentiment. But I’ve learned a lot since this blog began, and I’ve learned not to immediately have a “that’s just wrong” reaction to the word breeder. Yes there are a lot of bad breeders out there, but there’s also a lot of breeders who do it out of love and dedication to a specific breed.
I’ve met so many wonderful people that have dogs from breeders, and they’re some of the most dedicated owners I know. They didn’t just pick a dog online because he was cute & have him shipped 500 miles — they did their research and found a reputable breeder.
Do you know what makes a big difference in a dogs life? The dedication of his owners.
There Are Good Breeders Out There
I’ve come to realize that there are good breeders out there, and even if they’re not the majority it doesn’t make it right to clump them together with the horrible people who operate puppy mills and the idiots trading their dogs on craigslist.
I’m not afraid to call those idiots out. You can check out my shortly lived series on the craigslist idiots here if you desire, but I must warn you my sarcastic tone didn’t go over well on such a horrible topic. And I’m not shy about calling out the fact that over 90% of the dogs in pet stores come from puppy mills.
But not all breeders are running puppy mills, yet somehow when we hear the term breeder that’s the first thing we think of.
I think part of the knee jerk reaction we have to the word breeder is that we don’t see the good ones often enough 0- we see the jerks that don’t health test their pups & just breed more pups every chance they get.
The good ones aren’t out there advertising, they’re not selling to pet stores, they’re not the ones on the news because their puppy mill got shut down, and they’re not the ones you see selling their puppies online.
They’re the ones that get word of mouth referrals, they’re the ones you meet at dog shows, and they’re the ones that are found after doing your research on a given breed. Are they a minority? Certainly, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Good breeders do the proper health screenings, love their breed, screen their adopters & aren’t out to make a quick buck. They’re committed to the dogs they’ve fallen in love with, and what’s the problem with that? We’ve all had favorite dogs, and for many of us a certain breed will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Not Everyone Is Just Like Me, And That’s OK
I am so grateful for all of the wonderful people I’ve met through blogging, and how it’s made me realize that not every dog owner is just like me. It’s part of the knowledge that’s come with meeting new people from different walks of life.
I’m not so quick to judge anymore, and I’m much more apt to look at how a dog is being cared for, rather than just focusing on how they came into this world.
I don’t participate in dog sports, I didn’t need a good herding dog for my sheep, and my dog isn’t out there competing for titles. She’s my companion, so rescue made perfect sense.
The Choice to Go With a Purebred Puppy Isn’t Wrong
Farmers who use Border Collies, dogs who compete in agility or the show ring, and anyone whose got a soft spot for a particular breed can and should have the option to find the dog they’re looking for.
The dedication and research you put in before choosing your next dog is what makes a difference, not just the place of acquisition.
Someone whose willing to be put on a year long waiting list for a Retriever pup is dedicated, and chances are someone with that level of dedication will make an awesome owner.
If you are looking for a specific type of dog you might have to wait. For example, I wanted a brown male show Newfoundland from a specific line. I wasn’t the only one who wanted this so I had to wait my turn. The first litter that came available was a small litter with one brown male that was of show quality. I had to wait for the next litter. – So You Think You Want a Show Dog? Here’s 9 Things You Should Know, My Brown Newfies & Me
Dogs Get Returned/Surrendered, Regardless of Where They’re From
Some owners aren’t willing to wait for a new dog which is unfortunately why selling puppies online is big business. Not everyone has the patience to wait for the “right dog,” and that’s where a lot of problems come from. People who decide one day that they want a puppy often buy them online or in pet stores, not from breeders who have waiting lists.
Have I mentioned that Laika was gotten impulsively? After having my application rejected from a rescue on a certain dog I’d fell in love with because I worked full time I was depressed. So that weekend I went out to my local shelter & adopted Laika.
I picked the first young dog I came across and didn’t ask any questions. She bit me that first day when I tried to take away the stupid rawhide she was sent home with. Not the best first day ever, but we eventually for that guarding issue under control.
I don’t regret it for a moment, but if I had kids I don’t know if I’d be saying the same thing. I didn’t know how to manage resource guarding, but I had the luxury of working with her without putting anyone besides myself at risk. Do I blame the shelter? No. I’m the one who decided that I didn’t need to spend any time with her out in the shelter yard or introduce her to my friends & family as they suggested. I had already made up my mind.
The impulsiveness problem with getting a dog isn’t unique to people going through breeders. If I decided I wanted a dog today I could either buy one online, go to a pet store or go to my local shelter. We have a lot of options, and a big part of the problem is how easy they all are, not just where they’re coming from.
So yes where a dog comes from is important, but so is the commitment to that dog regardless of where they came from. Unfortunately just because someone chooses to get a dog from a shelter doesn’t guarantee they have a home forever. Many dogs get returned & surrendered, and it’s not a problem unique to dogs from breeders.
I’ve seen so many conversations go from ‘my dog has this issue, do you have any advice’ to ‘well what did you expect? he’s from a pet store.’ That attitude isn’t helping anyone. When owners are looking for help or advice don’t start playing the blame game. Sure they might be doing something incorrectly, and sure their dog may have come from a pet store, but there are things we can do to help them get decent advice. If the conversation just goes into meltdown mode because people can’t get over where a dog came from the original question gets lost. The owner is left with the same frustration that they came in with.
Dogs have a surprisingly high turnover rate, as in there’s a high percentage of dogs that end up getting returned or surrendered to a shelter. If you want to help with the issue of homeless pets consider being available to offer suggestions to concerned owners – even if you don’t approve of where they got their dog. It may not help keep every dog single in a forever home, but good advice can go a long way to help educate owners about the problems they’re facing.
If you choose a purebred puppy reach out so some reputable breeders first, rather than acting impulsively.
Can We Please Just All Get Along?
I’d be lying if I said writing this post doesn’t make me a bit nervous. I might lose some readers that have chosen rescue or bad mouthed breeders, but I’m hoping they’ll read this post fully and start to understand my point. All that name calling towards anyone who hasn’t rescued? It’s aimed at a lot of decent people who love their dogs and have already made the commitment to give their dogs a loving home.
If we want more people to choose rescue we have to reach people that are on the fence about adopting, not just shame the ones who’ve already chosen otherwise.
I’m a dog owner and you’re a dog owner. I’d love to see puppy mills & pet stores put out of business just like you. While I know that the majority of breeders might be bad I refuse to say all breeding should stop. Some people need dogs to protect their livestock, while others of us just need a loving companion.
Bad breeders are much easier to find than the good ones (try googling “Corgi puppies for sale” to see my point), but good ones do exist and they’re doing a great service for their breed.
The amount of homeless dogs in shelters is huge, but good breeders aren’t adding to the problem.
Good breeders make sure their adopters are a good fit, and many have a policy in place where they will take back an animal if something unexpected happens. Reputable breeders have a lot in common with good rescues, and it’s a shame that we don’t acknowledge those similarities.
We Often Stick to What We Know
It’s not a perfect world, and as hard as I try I’m not a perfect person. And my dog, well she’s not perfect either even though she was rescued. I’ll keep promoting rescue because it’s what I know and what I’m familiar with.
But I’d be lying if I said all those snarky remarks about those who “don’t rescue” didn’t piss me off. I think of all the people I know who didn’t rescue and hate seeing them so easily dismissed. They’re some of the most dedicated dog owners I know, they don’t deserve to be clumped into some bad category.
Advocates want to get the word out that shelter dogs are some of the best canines around, and come in all shapes, sizes, temperaments, and ages. Guilt-tripping, shock-tactics, and wagging fingers is not the way to do it. Information about the great dogs and cats in shelters are. – If You Bought Your Dog I’m Not Judging You, Dogthusiast
How we acquire our pets is a personal choice. It’s my choice, it’s your choice, and it’s their choice. We might not always agree but so what? One choice doesn’t give us to the right to feel superior to those that did something different.
On this blog I talk a lot about rescue & adoption. It’s something I’ve been involved with for years and I’m comfortable talking about it and giving advice to any potential adopters. I’m always available to answer questions when it comes to the adoption/rescue process, and I love sharing sharing inspirational adoption tales. I know about it, it’s what I’ve chosen to do many times myself.
What I Recommend When Someone Wants a New Dog
In the beginning of this post I stated that comparing rescues to breeders is like comparing apples to oranges. What I didn’t mention was that while they are quite different they have one fundamental thing in common — good rescues and good breeders are both dedicated to matching their dogs with the right family. If we’re able to acknowledge this we can stop bickering about it and open up the breeder vs rescue debate into something meaningful.
If someone you know has a certain breed in mind help educate them on making a good decision rather than shaming them. Tell them about breed specific rescues, educate them about puppy mills, and show them how to go about finding a reputable breeder.
And remember that in the end it’s their decision — not yours. Don’t dismiss it just because it’s not what you’d choose.
Barley was an impulse decision, too! I’m glad you and Laika are able to make it work, too. I’m totally with you that this isn’t a black and white issue–my aunt has 4 dalmatians–one is a rescue and three of them came from an awesome breeder that makes sure her dogs are healthy and go to the best possible homes. When I brought Barley home, I filled out an application, gave the shelter a check, and brought her home–my landlord was never called to make sure I could have a dog and our vet wasn’t called to make sure my cat was up-to-date on his care. They were so overcrowded and understaffed that I think some things got overlooked–I’ve volunteered there and seen them do those checks a lot for other adopters, but I’ve also seen the opposite happen. This is a great post!
Thank you so much. It’s disheartening to hear all the anti breeder talk out there, I couldn’t imagine what it feels like to have a dog from a breeder these days. (as if it somehow makes you less of a decent owner)
I know! My aunt’s dal friends are some of the first people to step up and help a dog that needs a foster home or forever home. I was even more convinced that breeders aren’t all bad after reading about all of the work that went into Glory of Sand Spring Chesapeake’s puppies–I learned so much reading about preparing her puppies for their new homes.
Their story is definitely part of the reasoning behind this post – and all of the other wonderful bloggers I’ve met that either own purebred dogs or have ties to the show/competition world.
It’s something I wasn’t familiar with before a couple of years ago and I admire all the dedication they put in to their breed.
Thank you for writing this. Hopefully your post will reach and educate people who assume all breeders are bad. There are good, reputable breeders in the world. And this –
“They’re the ones that get word of mouth referrals, they’re the ones you meet at dog shows, and they’re the ones that are found after doing your research on a given breed.”
Is a perfect description. So thanks!
Thank you so much. I admire the work that reputable breeders do and it’s a shame that they’re not given much credit these days.
FINALLY! I was beginning to think I was the only one who thought this. Thank you for writing a post about this.
I grew up in the dog world, and I have seen good breeders, okay breeders, and rotten breeders, and at the same time, I have seen good rescuers, okay rescuers, and horrible rescuers. The same goes for dog trainers. And dog owners. Period.
It isn’t the choice of dog that makes you a good or bad dog owner. It’s your commitment to your dog, your willingness to learn, and the example you set that determines what kind of dog owner you are.
Again, thank you SO much for writing this post. This is one of those days where I feel there is hope for mankind. *grins*
Thank you so much for that, I was certainly nervous to publish this given all the anti breeder sentiment that’s out there these days. But I can tell you being part of this pet blogging community those are not the people I’ve been talking with, nor the ones I feel a connection to, but their comments bother me none the less.
I’ve met so many awesome people involved in the show/competition world over the past few years and they’ve taught me so much. I admire their dedication.
Thank you for writing this post. A few days ago, I read a post so full of hate and venom toward anyone who didn’t adopt their dog from a shelter. The name calling, cursing and accusations were the most ugly writing I’d ever read.
For the record, I’ve rescued a dog off the street in the past. I also now have a beloved dog from a reputable breeder. My boy was not “show Quality” and the breeder carefully sought out a good home where he could be a companion dog.
I have also volunteered for and served on the Board of an animal shelter organization. There are many ways that I help shelter dogs.
We who love our dogs are not heartless, evil people condemning shelter dogs to death.
We literally had a 3-pawed kitten show up at our doorstep this pst week. We didn’t want a kitten, but did we drop her at a shelter? No way. We took her to a family member’s house who loves animals and the kitten is now a spoiled princess. And I know not everyone has the ability to re-home an animal, but how hard is it to find a home for an unwanted pet with tools like social media?
And guess what, we are working with a breeder, spending time with her dogs, building a relationship, and seeing how her dogs interact with our children because after six months of research and reading tons of “warnings” about the rescue dogs that caught my eye, we realized it was too scary to take a chance on a dog with an unknown background and unknown trauma.
Dogs are emotional animals, and rescue dogs can be the best dogs in the world. But they can also be unpredictable. You have to find the right fit for your family. We have a child with special needs who would benefit from a service dog, but we also don’t have $25k to pay our share. So we chose a working breed, we found a trainer, and we will work with this puppy from day one to make sure the puppy learns good manners and is raised in a loving and well-prepared home. We can provide this type of home because we have raised three puppies (two accidents and one from a breeder), and we have never had issues with biting or being fearful around food or toys. By the way, we’ve seen “biting” from multiple rescue dogs who were normally awesome dogs. Again, unacceptable with kids. All dogs can bite, but a dog that has been raised with specific training and is chosen for its temperament is much less likely to bite because you raise the dog to be a part of your family with your expectations (e.g. no biting the children even if the kid grabs your food).
And here’s my final thought. Our breeder and I myself have adopted humans. Do all people with rescue dogs foster and adopt humans? What about paying thousands for IVF when there are tons of foster kids out there? People need to do what is right for their own home, their families, and their resources. The problem is the shady folks out there who don’t care about animals or people or think of dogs as objects or ego-fillers – e.g. look at my perfect dog (show or rescue). If we want to empty our shelters the answer is not to keep adopting rescues; you have to fix the problem at the source. Where are these shelter dogs coming from??? Why are there certain breeds that are constantly filling up the shelters? What is up with next-day pet services online? Have you looked into the eyes of these puppies? They look sad. We should stop judging and quit thinking a band-aid approach is the answer. Everyone who loves dogs should be concerned about the atrocities of puppy mills and profit-mongering from the top. Don’t takeaway from the family who doesn’t have the means to care for a potentially traumatized dog, or the person who is allergic to dog fur, or the couple who don’t have a yard. This divisive talk and mentality is not helping the animals.
Whew..i’m glad someone wrote this article! I’ve been wanting to for a while but was scared of the potential backlash from the rescue world. I have always had rescue dogs, even growing up we picked out our dogs from (yes craigslist) and greenhill. Both my current dogs are rescues from two different local groups, I foster, promote rescue, and wish people would research dogs before going out and getting one to help keep dogs in homes and out of shelters. I HATE backyard breeders…
But that being said, I know some awesome breeders who breed dogs for health and not just because they think their dog is “cute” and ought to spread its cuteness.
Being involved in flyball, I’m really thinking our next dog i’d like to have an Australian Kelpie or and Australian Cattle Dog. Currently i’m researching rescues for these breeds but I’ve never had a baby puppy in my life and I kind of want my next dog to be a pup so i’m also researching different breeders – i’m having most of my luck on facebook because they really don’t advertise online and yes the wait list is VERY long but they do have a facebook page so people can see their dogs and what they do.
I also like the idea of a mastiff, I know they are hard work and I know they can have health and behavioral issues so unless it was a really amazing rescue we’d pick one from a responsible breeder and I have two friends in this field I’d probably get one of their pups for personality and health reasons.
But you’re right, many people have the wrong idea about true breeders. Wouldn’t it be nice if backyard breeders didn’t exist, pets had to be neutered/spayed, and the shelters were empty so everyone had to go through a breeder for a pup? If owners were screened it would certainly mean less dogs in the wrong hands.
It would be so lovely if backyard breeders & puppy mills didn’t exist. We wouldn’t have to have this discussion to begin with – or feel bad about all the animals left in shelters by owners that weren’t prepared for a lifelong commitment.
That’s one thing that both rescues and good breeders do so well – they screen their potential adopters, making sure the whole family is involved and really ready for that specific dog.
Fantastic post!!! I completely agree. When I started blogging, my goal was to raise awareness of both rescue and reputable breeding. Today, I no longer write about either, because people are passionate and very black and white on the topics.
Rodrigo and Sydney were adopted from a rescue group. Scout and Zoey came from a woman in Idaho who had an “accidental litter.” She had experience with breeding dogs (family business and passion) and we loved working with her. We have four amazing dogs.
I will continue to adopt and buy – to me, it’s about the dog, not about where the dog comes from; I just want to make a dog’s life happy.
Great great post!!!
It’s sad that people feel so strongly about going through rescue that many often fail to see the good work being done by reputable breeders, and I agree it’s such a black & white issue for many when it shouldn’t be.
I have rescued animals, but I now have asthma. This is why I’m picking up my puppy in 2 weeks from a Breeder. I got a mini golden doodle. Allergies and as I get older I needed a smaller dog to take care of.
I wish I could have rescued a dog, but for health reason I wasn’t able too ????
This is just perfect. I strongly believe in rescue, but I also strongly believe in reputable breeders. It’s no secret that I have a special place in my heart for pyrs and I know the pyrs I love wouldn’t exist without reputable breeders. Both of my current dogs are from a breeder, but we’ve rescued and I help to run the pyr rescue in our state. We need both sides to work together.
Once you fall in love with a certain breed I think it’s easier to see that the reputable breeders out there are doing a good service for sure. I look at Laika’s hips and think to myself “if she weren’t part of a who knows how this happened accidental litter” there migh not be a bunch of dogs with premature arthritis out there. I know I’m making assumptions but dealing with Laika’s health has made me realize how important health screening is, and the more breeders that participate in the proper ones the better off all dogs will be in the long run.
This is a great article! I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum. I’ve rescued most of my pets, but my current dog is from a reputable breeder. I wanted a certain breed, rat terrier after doing a ton of research. I did try a couple breed rescues but I wasn’t qualified for a pup because I rented and didn’t have a fenced backyard. I then did some research on breeders and found one a couple hours away. I talked a lot with her and emailed several other people who had pups from her. I visited her kennel and all the dogs were well taken care of and socialized. Family dogs. All her dogs are health screened for eyes, knees and hips. I have a healthy wonderful companion and while I’ve been looked down on at dog parks because I bought from a breeder rather than rescued, I don’t regret it for a second. I may try again to rescue a future rattie, but I also won’t hesitate to go to a good breeder either
My dog is a mutt and unfortunately her hips are horrible. I wish every day that whoever had her “accidental” littler would have taken some extra time to think about what they were doing in the long run to these dogs. I don’t know if her littermates have arthritis as bad as she does but it’s been horrible having to watch her go through this since the time she was 3.
Wonderful post and so well written! I wish I could write this way about this topic! I’ve never understood the battle and shake my head when either side comes out attacking the other. It’s not black and white at all. I usually question the ones who come out attacking, I mean how much can they really love dogs if they attack certain ones? I remember one lady left a comment on my blog that she wouldn’t touch my dogs with a 10 foot pole because they were purebred and from a breeder. And this is who we want advocating for dogs? No thank you.
Thank you for touching on the what makes a good breeder aspect of finding a breeder. That part is not talked about enough.. too many people want a particular type of pet, and I can understand that desire, and they really have no idea what it means when they buy a dog or a cat from a pet store, because the pet stores are telling them that their dogs are coming from reputable breeders..
Thank you, I’ve seen so many articles about what “not to look for” in a breeder and very few that actually tell people how to find a good one. It’s not leaving me with a lot of confidence with the articles for those out there looking for reputable breeders are finding.
I know I already responded, but I wanted to share something I wrote a while back. It’s the perfect example of why people need to change their views on reputable, ethical and caring dog breeders.
http://collie222.blogspot.com/2014/08/breeders-vs-rescue.html?m=1
When you are prejudiced against a group of individuals, you become blind to the truth.
My god, this!! A thousand times over, this. Perfectly said!
– Dachshund Nola
http://dachshundnola.blogspot.com
Well said. I think so long as people realize there are pure breed rescues out there, pure breed dogs in shelters, mixed breeds dogs are great and DO their homework…then do what works for them. But find a responsible breeder who is doing it for the love of the dog. And stay away from pet stores unless they are working with a local rescue.
Amen, Sister!!!!!!!!! Just…. that. 🙂
Good post.
In truth, I’ve felt terribly guilty getting Honey from a responsible breeder. For at least the first two years, I always introduced her by telling people we got a purebred dog to help us fostering pups. It just felt terrible to me.
And yet, I feel that working with Honey’s breeder and having a dog with the absolute best start in life has been an important part of my education about dogs. There are things I’ve learned with Honey that I know will help me when I adopt my next dog from a shelter or rescue.
I still feel bad that I didn’t find the perfect dog in a shelter who would have partnered with me in fostering puppies. But I know that Honey, with her excellent breeding and socialization, has helped many other dogs. And not just the ones we’ve fostered directly.
Our trainer has even referred people to us with reactive dogs who needed a calm dog to “practice” around.
The guilt is a little less now. But it’s still there. So thank you for your post. And stay away from the doggy world drama. A FB battle has never helped a single dog.
Please don’t feel guilty. It is your right to choose and by going through a proper breeder you choosing the traits that suit you and your lifestyle. If more people thought like this less dogs would be abandoned. People constantly ask me if I “rescued” my dog. I proudly say “no, I bought her”.
I agree with you – thanks for writing this! In fact, I don’t just want a particular breed but I want small & athletic dogs of that breed (Lab), and you almost never can get such a specific type from a rescue. Moreover, we get rejected by almost every rescue and shelter because we do not have a fenced back yard (it’s not safe to put a dog out in a fenced area in mountain lion territory, imo). I hate when I’m made to feel like a total loser for buying from a breeder although I’ve done it several times. And, I have rescued two dogs (personal rescues from acquaintances) – but I will probably get a dog from a reputable breeder again sometime in the future.
This is wonderful! I help foster rescues and have 2 that I decided to keep… But I adore my dogs I got from good breeders. Yes I waited a long time. I know and have met at least three or more generations. I know the parents are clear of health issues prone to the breeds and I know what to expect in temperament! A good breeder gives the puppy many early lessons to give them a great start with social skills and experiences they may encounter. I have not ever gotten a purebred from a “breeder” that did not require the dog be returned to them at any time if I could no longer keep it..at any age ! Thank you for this article. While you may have lost some readers you also gained many.
I have never understood the rift either. Rescue is a great way to get a dog for some people. Getting a dog from a breeder may be the right choice for others. It is true what you say about people never even hearing about the really great breeders who are breeding great dogs. Just try to get a field trial dog out of a great breeding and not only will you be waiting (in some cases years), but you will probably also have to show the breeder that you put a title on a dog to even get on the wait list. Needless to say even the wash outs from these breedings still end up as hunting companions….that is how in demand some of these dogs are. I think the dumbest argument that some rescue only people make is to say that every dog sold by a breeder takes a spot from a rescue. Like the person waiting for that great field bred dog would choose a rescue if no great field bred dog was available.
I am a strong advocate for rescue and I lobbied for the puppy mill law in our state, but I also believe that there are good, and responsible, breeders out there who look out for their dogs. i know that not everyone wants a rescue dog, and while that makes me sad I am saddened more by those who choose to buy online or from a pet store without thinking. If the good breeders were easier to find it would be wonderful, but I think there will always be those idiots who just want a puppy and don’t care where it came from or if it is really the right breed for them and their lifestyle.
Great piece. Nicely done.
I have one rescue dog and one I got from a fantastic breeder. I can’t say enough good things about this breeder. She truly epitomizes “good breeder”. She has traveled to France, Germany, Ukrane, and twice to Russia for dogs to improve her line. If I ever get another dog it will be from her.
I have always wanted a Frenchie. A baby Frenchie. But now that I have had rescues, I cannot imagine buying a dog from a breeder. I don’t disagree with the practice, I just can’t do it myself. Our rescues were from a high kill shelter down in LA and to know that our two girls would have been killed is enough to make me set aside my wish for a little bat eared baby and embrace dogs that are facing their ending. Our rescues brought a world of love into our home and as much as I would enjoy another purebred, I know that having papers or raising them from a baby would not have made them any more amazing in our lives.
I love your article and embrace the philosophy of letting folks make up their own minds. I sure can’t judge anyone else on anything dog since our fur kids are horribly spoiled and sometimes even a bit bad mannered but we don’t care as long as they are happy and healthy. How folks acquire their dogs and how they raise them is none of my business as long as they do both with a sense of responsibility. Dogs coming from puppy mills or being raised to be dangerous or left unloved, well those things get my judgment call full on and I’m not shy about expressing my opinion but when it comes to things like breeder vs rescue, I’ll advocate for a rescue every single time but won’t judge anyone who goes with good breeders.
No one questions the kind of pet owners that people who buy from breeders are. The practice in question is the breeding itself, and the choice to support breeders by getting your dog from one.
I just heard about a “responsible” breeder, who’s dog only had a litter of one, and put customers on a waiting list to get their puppy in the “next round” in the fall. This poor mommy dog who just keeps getting bred and bred and bred!
Ladies especially, how would you like to get repeatedly impregnated & go through delivery – all for putting some cash in someone else’s pocket?
You’re part of the issue. For gods sake. Breeding a female dogs once a year a couple times in its life hardly constitutes “breeding the mommy dog over and over and over for earn someone else cash”. Do you know how much money gets poured into properly breeding a litter?
Nothing can change the minds of people like you. I know this. I used to work in a ferret rescue. After dealing with people like you for over a decade I’m done. I don’t and won’t rescue again. Keep judging; I’ll continue to fight for breeders rights and continue to buy my dogs from breeders and encourage and educate others to do the same.
Excellent article and I am one who would like to see less breeding for profit. In Spain, like a lot if places, we have far too many neglected and abandoned dogs and imo, breeding fir profit adds to the problem. Of course responsible breeders find responsible owners. I for one would like to see less of it and mire being done to reduce the strays and abandoned dogs that are being destroyed in their hundreds daily.
Awesome post!
I have so many friends who don’t get this. I love rescue but as someone with 5 rescues sometimes IM TIRED. My dogs arent perfect at all. Yes dogs die in shelters and maybe I’m a bit callous in saying even if every one looking for a dog adopted there would still be dogs dying in shelters every year, however I don’t want to see all these amazing dogs die out. I’m so sick of seeing rescue friends condemning people and saying never. There is no never and there is no always
First of all, there is not such a thing as a ” good breeders out there”, there is people that force two unaltered dogs to produce offpring as many times as possible even forcing the female dog until she is exhausted. They abuse these dogs so people can have an attractive and “pure” breed dog that fulfill people’s need to show off their pets.
It is impossible to be “good” and yet make money forcing dogs to produce offprings unnaturally, and putting their health in risk.
Also, it is impossible to be “good” knowing that for every dog they sell, thousands of dogs are dying because they are denying them the opportunity to find a home.
You said that how we acquire our pets is a personal choice, yes it is! and it can say so much about a person. It can say how frivolous you are.
People get dogs for different reasons, I’d argue that not everyone who gets a dog from a breeder is doing so to show off their pet. Some people need working dogs, and a lot of them go through breeders that have working lines available. I didn’t say all breeders were good, I didn’t even say that a majority of them were. But there are some out there that fulfill a need for certain kinds of dogs.
You say there are people out there forcing dogs to reproduce as many times as possible and you’re right, but you’re talking about puppy mills, not breeders. The way you describe breeders is the way I describe puppy mills. I’d love to see all puppy mills shut down, there is absolutely no excuse for the horrible things they do. The majority of purebred dogs do come from puppy mills, but that doesn’t mean every single person who breeds their dog is operating a puppy mill. There’s a big difference between a puppy mill and a person who breeds one litter every year.
Wrong. There ARE good breeders out there. Not all breeders are engaging in the practice to make money: they do it as a hobby. And breeding responsibly is an expensive hobby. People take up flying, skiing, boating, travel, stained-glass making, golfing, horseback riding, scuba diving and many other activities as expensive hobbies because they LOVE those activities. The typical serious hobby breeder is doing it because they love a particular breed, not because they intend to make money. Most of the best breeders are either competing with their dogs — in the show ring and/or performance sports — or have their dogs proving themselves by working in the field in activities such as hunting or herding.
I have a relative who showed collies for decades, and bred occasionally. (Far less than once a year.) She did health testing on her breeding stock. She never bred her most successful show dog, a female who was ranked nationally in the top 20, because the dog had a health issue my relative was unwilling to perpetuate. My relative didn’t “force” dogs to mate; sometimes she was using semen imported from another state! The best breeders generally aren’t breeding two dogs of their own together, because they’ll look far and wide for the best match to correct and balance the faults of their own dog.
My first dog, a Shetland sheepdog, came from a high quality breeder. Her sire was an international champion and had advanced titles in herding, agility and obedience. You probably have no idea the time and money it takes to train a dog to that level. He was an important stud, and his owners would breed only to approved females. His daughter whom I owned wasn’t show quality — that was obvious even before she was weaned — but she had ideal Shetland sheepdog temperament and was healthy, living to 15. The two random-breds I’ve had since have had more medical problems, and more behavioral issues.
My current dog, a mixed breed, is a rescue. She’s beautiful, loving and incredibly smart, but she came with behavioral baggage the dogs I brought home as puppies did not have. I’m not ruling out getting another well-bred purebred puppy when she’s gone. Another dog, like my Sheltie, produced by a a high quality breeder who health tests their breeding stock and who campaigns their dogs in the show ring AND performance sports. And who hopefully makes me sign (as the very best breeders do) a contract that I can never sell or give up the dog to another party, but have to return the dog, regardless of age, to the breeder if I cannot or do not wish to keep it.
You think you have to FORCE two dogs to have sex until they are exhausted? My god you’re dense. That’s literally the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard.
Dogs will readily mate if the female is in heat. And it only takes a few minutes.
Thanks for your contribution. I’ll continue to keep buying dogs and encouraging others to do so. You’re a shining example of why I will never rescue again; i don’t want to deal with people like you.
Wow. You’re a shining example of what, exactly? To use your own logic, your gross behavior has turned me away from all breeders permanently. Thanks on behalf of the 70 million dogs that need a home in the USA today
Nice post. I’ve sat this discussion out for the most part because frankly I have no guilt whatsoever for my preference of pedigree dog Golden Retrievers, German shepherds and Labs. I’m immune to their odd stares and flippant comments. I think it’s asinine. I love the rescuers and the work they do. I’ve owned and loved many mutts. But after years of loving and having dogs my preference has become for pedigrees.. end of story. The reasons are my own and I won’t go into it as it’s been said many times.
Neither I or my dogs have ever killed another dog. My dogs have never attacked a human. I’ve never lost or abandoned a dog. Never had a dog “accidentally” get pregnant or impregnate another dog. Never have I given up on a dog. No dog of mine has ever been sent off to the “farm” so they can be “happy”. I have never contributed to the number of unwanted dogs ever. I haven’t seen any other pedigree dog owners who have.
My beef is the slander and unsubstantiated claims rescuers use to further their political agenda. It’s rare indeed that a person who has researched and paid for a expensive pedigree dog to give up on that dog and send him/her to a shelter. It’s rarer still for a person who loves a certain breed and has had them in their families for many years to give up on a dog.
I’ll go even further. Most dogs in shelters are mixed breeds. Unless these backyard breeders are foolishly breeding and selling mixed dogs even they aren’t responsible for the countless dogs in shelters. It’s the inexperienced dog owners who’s dogs end up in shelters. Somebody is dropping their dogs off at shelters and it’s probably not the lady who just paid $1,500 for her Weimaraner.
I won’t argue with anyone who says there are many pedigrees in shelters because it is a exception and not the rule.
Perhaps if people had to pay $500 and up (like people who buy pedigrees do) for that puppy they want to pop out of that box at Xmas there would be more commitment from them as owners. Attacking real dog fanciers that love their dogs is foolish on the part of the rescuers. They are alienating their greatest allies. Sometimes I think they attack pedigree dogs, owners and breeders because they are the only people standing still. The bad dog owners are dropping their dogs off at the pound and disappearing. The shelters are actually enabling this far more than the pedigree bunch.
Rescuers have my full support and will continue to get my support because I love dogs. The condescending rescuers? Not so much.
Must rescues do not realize that rescue was started by BREEDERS. Breeders went out and took unwanted dogs of their breeds and either kept them or placed them with someone else in Rescue until the dog could be evaluated. Were many found with undesirable problems? yes they were and they were either worked out or the dog was put down. Remember Breed Rescue if you are looking for a certain breed but also want to rescue.
Wow, I love this! You are saying much of the same things that do when presented with the shaming of being a breeder. I consider myself as a reputable breeder, as I do all the health and genetic testing that is available on my breeding pairs. I study the pedigress to produce puppies for a purpose and to advance the breed. I have a interrogation process for every new puppy home and people do get declined. I actively have my dogs shown to have the paper behind them to validate the quality of dog that I representing. I am not against rescues at all. Great dogs can come from there. I have dogs from rescues and let my welping bitches raise a litter of rescue puppies.. I find that many of my puppy homes have tried rescues, but come back to getting a puppy from a reputable breeder because the dog that they rescued had behavioral or health issues that made many challenges. These challenges probably are the same reason the dog was surrendered in the first place. A good hearted person with the best intentions that wants to save a rescue sometimes just does not have the patience or understanding on how to deal with those issues. I believe the over pet population problem starts with the registries. If the registries would limit WHO could register a litter of pups by having requirements that the breeding pairs are fully health and genetic tested to the breed suggestions, can only have 3 litters (or whatever #) a year, the breeding pair have titles in a venue etc then the puppy mill and bad breeders would be put out of business. These breeders continue the health issues known to breeds by not screening and preventing the genetic problem that are avoidable. They have too many puppies at a time to give the proper socialization that a puppy needs to be a good citizen, creating behavioral issues. I agree with you, can’t we all just get a long and Love our animals that we have been blessed with, regardless of where they came from?
Thank you so much for that reply. And I completely agree with the registries; but unfortunately that’s such a big part of their income that they’re unwilling to support any legislation that would cut down on puppy mills. I can’t speak for all of them, but the big American registry spends a lot of time and money actively campaigning against legislation that could help cut down on commercialized breeding facilities.
I hear what you’re saying insofar as what distinguishes you from a “mill.” But, unless I’m mistaken (and please correct me if I’m wrong), you and/or your business of being a responsible breeder exists ONLY and exclusively for the purpose of making puppies for a profit, albeit responsibly? Am I wrong? Or, do you do this as a hobby to enrich someone else’s life by giving them a free puppy? Please don’t misunderstand me in thinking that I’m attacking you in any way — I’m not. But, after reading all the padding yourself on the back content of what you wrote, it still boils down to that, even as dogs that may not be puppies are waiting in cages at No Kill Shelters, waiting to be given away for free, even with current shots and health records all free (or for a nominal fee of less than $100 to cover the shots and such).
This article could not have been more timely! Thank you so much for bringing out this ‘elephant in the room’ in the dog world. I am awake this morning extra early and the stress and aggravation of how I was treated by two judgemental, ‘rescue snobs’ yesterday while I was at an event volunteering for a rescue has been bothering me so much I can’t get back to sleep!
When did loving animals turn into us vs them? And I’ve seen it from both sides: snotty breeders that maintain that if the animal isn’t a purebred it’s junk, and snotty rescuers that shun you if you have any dog that’s not been rescued!
I do my part! I volunteer, I have fostered many dogs, I have owned purebred dogs from breeders and mixed dogs that were rescued, some from horrific situations. I LOVE THEM ALL!!
We just lost two of our three beautiful dogs last month. One of the two was a rescue, mixed-breed dog that was the other half of my heart. A lot of his fantastic attributes were due to the Australian Shepherd component of his mix, based on the research I’ve done. We want those traits back, so I searched all local rescues, left my name, and unfortunately couldn’t find one. We want what we want, and that’s ok. We deserve to get it.
So, in response to the nasty witches that judged me and gave me attitude yesterday because I just bought a purebred Aussie pup from a FARM, shame on you! We are all here for the same reason: love for animals.
“We want what we want, and that’s ok. We deserve to get it.” I can’t love this enough!
This was an amazing article. I have been trying to rescue a dog of one of my two favorite breeds (Frenchie) for over 3 years. My problem is I prefer a puppy because of my adult dogs, however there have been many puppy’s through the two rescues I am an approved applicant and still everytime I am told the foster mom decided to keep it or someone already had been chosen and I am an approved applicant. So I am buying my second from a very reputable breeder. However my other baby who’s a Doberman is a rescue she’s my first took me about a year to get her as a pup 19 weeks old However I was raised with train protection Dobe so my love for the breed has been there since I was born. I have also had 2 since I was 18 and old enough to have my own. I again get them from very reputable breeders however in this situation my family has been close with some of the top Dobe breeders for years so it makes it easier for me then my french bulldog. My point is I always feel guilty still after buying a baby because of they way people proceed my dogs. I do chose to rescue and buy, I also go to the breeders home and these places are more amazing them my home. Like you said most people do a ton of research before buying from a breeder for me when I got a Frenchie who was a new breed for me I researched them for about 2 years bought countless books and talked to Frenchie owners and I still got one with allergies lol but again I knew this before buying the dog eventhe breeder warned me of all the possible problems they could have even though non ran in the family. His allergies didn’t show up until he was about two anyway. So I think it’s a good mix if you have a deep love for a breed.
I do not even know what to say anymore. I lost a male dog love of my life a year ago and have two other dogs at home who live a wonderful cared for life. Golden Retriever BIG-TIME breeders I have contacted have been rude, egotistical, some with such wealth backed money they have no clue what reality is. The contracts are mind boggling—and I have nothing but a paradise of a home to bring a dog to. Most recently one BIG breeder wanted to sell me a gorgeous champion but although he could be “my” dog he must stay un-neutered so she could use his sperm! What a great deal that is for a new owner who was willing to pay $$$ for this dog. Who benefits here $$? And the Rescues….now bringing in dogs from Taiwan or Russia off the streets (poor dogs) just to be able to “provide” dogs in these Breed Rescues. Obviously you are asking for trouble with those poor soul dogs who come with overbreeding, possible medical issues, etc. I am definitely not in favor of puppy mills which should be shut down but there are some small, family type breeders who do get clearances but do not engage with the BIG time nonsense of the show ring and politics—-and I think I applaud them because they seem to be the most honest. Let’s call it what it is, I believe in sound pedigrees but if these BIG, self centered breeders continue to make it impossible and make people feel like you need to prove yourself to be deserving of one of their high priced dogs—-well, you wonder why folks go to other solutions? Even Breed Rescue groups have far too much politics so it seems. I will probably go to a shelter since the end result here is really to give a poor dog a wonderful life.
Yes, thats what I,said in my post. Golden retriever rescues require fenced in yards and we have a 2300 sqt town home. We walk, hike and take ours to the dog part… makes me sad bc we seem to be excluded from rescuig that breed.. so we have been talking to a breeder… my heart is,still in rescue.. just praying for the right pup for our fam.
Hey. Good post. We rescued the 2 dogs we have had. Lost our Golden a year and half ago and been searching. I want to rescue, but a lot of the Golden Retriever rescues MAKE u have a fenced in yard. I get it, but we have a 2300 sqf house and walk our dogs, hike w them and take them to dog park… sad Im excluded from adopting bc I dont have a yard. So we have been looking at a breeder.. I am not 100% on it, but this helped ease my mind. Goldens just have my heart… doesnt matter where I,find them!
Wanted to rescue ,but get turned down repeatedly due to high demand for the breed of dog we want. We are now looking for a breeder.
I am sitting here with my dog who is recovering from a $3,000 cancer surgery. Six years ago, I attempted to adopt a rescue when his companion died. I gave up after waiting three weeks for a decision. The hold up was my indoor cat was only vaccinated for rabies as she had bad reactions to vaccines and the cat specialist that had been caring for her since kitten hood advised, after her second set of vaccines landed her in the hospital, that we do more. Reactions can apparently become much worse if the vaccines are continually repeated. The rescue group really had a hard time with this and they would not be assuaged with a vet tech reading her records. They just had to speak with my vet who was out for an extended time for a family emergency. I bought a purebred instead and we just adore him. Today I am looking for a cat or kitten, but I am not even considering a rescue. I will never go through that again. It looks like I am going to have to by a purebred cat because it seems the rescues have all of the domestic kitties. Too bad, I really just wanted a domestic cat.
Thank you. I’ve just brought home a purebred Wheaten puppy five months after losing our Shih tzu of 11 years. Response on social media has been strangely silent from my friends with rescues, and a bit frosty when I expressed frustration interviewing with a breed specific rescue. While we did find ours quickly, we found her with an amazing breeder who invited us to spend an afternoon with her pups socializing them and meeting the adults. We have the ongoing support of a breeder who meets every suggestion you’ve made above as well as a great veterinarian who cared for our last dog. Puppies are challenging and sometimes I’m really worn out but I feel like I’m not allowed to say those things out loud.
Thank you for your thoughtful article.
After four years of wanting a dog but not being ready to be good owners, and after months on shelter lists for puppies, and visiting puppies at SPCA who were not quite right, plus a host of other factors that were important to us, we decided to buy a puppy from a shop. She is gorgeous and we love her. I feel that we made the best decisIon that allowed us to be responsible and loving dog owners.
However we get criticized a lot. And I get direct questions: where did you get her?
And then criticism. My daughter lied to her teacher who asked her the same question, which was unfortunate. We discussed it and we do fully understand the puppy mill atrocities which are rampant in my town, and we support SPCA in every way (donations, participation, adoption of other pets etc)
I am not sure how to answer strangers, or neighbors whom I don’t know well, who ask me directly: where did you get her? I want to be honest because I value honesty, but I don’t like being the target of criticism, esp when they do not understand the full story, or know anything else about my life choices.
Discovering this blog has really been a wonderful thing for me, and I can’t help but to state how helpful and supportive most of the content is!
I’ll be getting a pup within the next week, and she is from a breeder. While I don’t necessarily have word of mouth to find good breeders for this breed, I did a ton of research so I could ask her many knowledgeable questions to help me determine whether or not a puppy from her was the right decision.
A lot of people feel very strongly against breeders. I would never tell any person to go to a breeder over a shelter, and I have nothing personally against any person with a dislike for breeders. Ultimately I did research into what I most wanted in a dog, an active companion with guardian tendencies that I could train and encourage. Sure there are dogs I could train from a shelter, however, in this case I felt a breeder gave me the opportunity to receive an even-tempered pup with a bloodline supporting my goals. I have, and I’m sure will have more, dogs from the shelter, but their history can be ambiguous, so I felt strongly about finding a breed and breeder I was confident in to give me a pup I can help shape into a companion protector adulthood.
Thank you greatly for the visibility on what breeders may not always be the worst choice–but should not be an immediate first choice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc7aVCIUT24
I have a Standard Poodle. People judge immediately. I needed an assurance of a hypoallergenic dog, non-shedding, and smart. Our dog has been trained to be my son’s medical alert dog. When people make flippant comments about my purebred dog (I had to wait 2 years for her), it used to bother me. Now I just realize there are so many judgmental and patronizing people in the world that I just dismiss them and realize they could never be part of my world.
If someone seriously asks why I bought a purebred, I explain my reasons in hopes that they will educate one more person. That seems to be the best I can do.
That you for writing this. Personally, some of my favorite breeds are Japanese breeds, particularly the kai ken, akita, and shiba. However, there’s never a whole lot of those breeds in rescues and the breed specific ones in my state have always adopted all their dogs. As far as the kai ken goes, I’ve discovered that it’s a pretty rare breed, especially outside Japan, so the only way I’d be able to get one is through a breeder. I’m the first to step up and rescue an animal, I mean I found my younger cat in the middle of a busy street and just took her home. But I’m not opposed to going to a reputable breeder and doing my research. Part of my concern currently having a cat and wanting a dog, is that I’d need them to at least tolerate each other while I’m at work, or at least in between the times I’d have friends checking on my place. While I’d have to put in work to ensure this, sometimes I think it’s be a better option for me to go with a smaller rescue or breeder where a dog would have been in an environment with cats before and been assessed for how they handle cats.
My first dog came from my brother who was in the military and I had her my entire life, I loved her everyday for 16 years. Then she was put down due to hip displacement. She was a German shepherd/husky and I was heart broken. After a few months of grieving my friends suggested I look in some shelters for a new companion, I did so… for 9 years! After some personal issues I was then told I’d benefit from a therapy dog, and so that motivated me further to try and connect with a dog. But no such luck. So finally I came across a local breeder who’s well known in the province and saw the picture. I instantly fell in love so I texted the breeder so I could have a look, and the connection was instant. He came up to me and just sat on my feet. I’ll nevr be ashamed of how Leo came into my life. He’s a border collie/shepherd mix, he’s helped me in so many ways I thought I couldn’t be helped and he helps me with daily tasks. I always felt sad for the dogs in shelters, but I was raised to not adopt the first pet you see, and once you bought the pet, it was yours until his/her last breath. So I didn’t want to commit to another dog without that connection as I was still heart broken and dealing with mental issues. So my point is will always be the most important part of my life.
Thank you for writing this outstanding article!
The truth is the puppy mills could have been shut down 15 years ago, but every time they write legislation to shut them down, they also include words and phrases that would allow them to shut down EVERY breeder in the country. That is why the people and politicians keep voting against these bills. Literally everyone hates puppy mills! But most Americans wont vote for a bill that bans all breeding altogether. The bill put before congress in 2015 said to ban and criminally prosecute ” any breeder who sells puppies for monetary gain.” In other words, breeders must give their puppies away FOR FREE, or they will be shut down and criminally prosecuted. While this bill was advertised as being anti puppy mill, it was actually anti ALL breeders. And we wonder why it lost by a 78% margin?
As a breeder, I understand the desire to fight back against the so-called rescue groups, but I also understand that fighting back would not be helpful.
The other thing that burns me backside is that the rescue groups don’t seem to target backyard breeders who sell their pups for $250 to anyone willing to meet in a parking lot with cash. They seem to focus almost entirely on quality breeders who sell pups for over $1000, do background checks, health screening, home inspections and pay thousands upon thousands for veterinary care.
Like I said, puppy mills would already be illegal if quality breeders were not the primary targets.
Don’t feel bad now because I’m sure you’re aware that the “resues” were caught buying puppy mill puppies to sell to people who wanted a “rescue dog” and now they’ve gotten in hot water again because they’re buying their “resuces” from overseas puppy mills and dragging disease in with them including rabies and the CDC has had to step in and stop this! Not only that but even the local shelters in a lot of cities have been adopting out dogs with serious aggression issues. 3 people died from this last year. California has been forced to pass a law against lying about the dogs bite history and despite this the city of LA adopted an APBT to a family who was in there for mauling a jogger and causing extensive damage to his arms, it attacked the grandmother whose lost both her arms. A 92 yr old woman and a 80 yr old woman were mutilated by newly adopted APBT’s that had significant bite histories and weren’t disclosed and they have lost their mom’s and grandma to these sociopaths at rescues! I love dogs but I didn’t get one until my kids were in 1st grade because I my dog died of cancer when I was pregnant and I was just busy enough with 2 kids a job and taking care of my own mother who had cancer. I grew up with a spaniel. I’d rescued 4 of them, one in the LA freeways during rush hour. So when I found an English cocker spaniel I went to see her and she seemed fine with the kids and myself but she just went nuts and attacked my brother when he came over to see her, he went to the hospital and she had to go to the pound because she didn’t have shot records. They asked me what I was going to do with her and I said euthanize her. I sure couldn’t take her home and I wasn’t comfortable giving her away after I found out she had lived her life in a kennel in Utah as a breeding dog! They got all upset with me but my kids came first no matter what any other ignorant morons thought. I ended up getting the money I’d spent on her back from the breeder and I forced her to sign papers relieving me of liability and promising not to rehome her with anyone with children! Then I asked around and found a wonderful breeder who was keeping the dogs in his home and they had nice big runs and children who were playing with the puppies all the time and I bought the cutest little cocker and she was a wonderful friend from them until she died when my son was 18! So keep breeding those dogs if you’re doing it right. Because now after all the efforts to get every pet steralized we’re having a shortage of puppies being born and it’s only going to get worse! I’d rather have a great home grown dog than a foriegn sickly puppy mill puppy!
It would be far more beneficial to impose a licensing system on breeders and make BYB illegal. Shelters aren’t full of dogs from quality breeders. They are full of mix breeds and puppy mill cast offs. The problem is not the breeder.
I am so glad to have come across this article. As someone who has rescued pets my entire life (I have 2 rescued dogs and 2 rescued cats currently), I have decided to go through a breeder for my next dog. The guilt I sometimes feel is strong, as I too, have judged others when they didn’t go through a shelter. But it is true – it is how you treat and care for the dog that matters. I’ve known people that have had dogs throughout their whole lives and always get a puppy of the same breed. They like that breed, they know the breed and comfortable with it. They also treat their dogs like their own children, so who am I to judge? I am not saying I will never rescue again, I’m certain I will. But there is also nothing wrong with going through a quality breeder at least one time in my life.
I just rescued a dog from a not so great rescue organization. I received very little information about the dog as what’s was written about her online could not be confirmed by her foster. The dog is overweight from being fed whatever was donated. She also isn’t leash trained from being let out in a fenced in backyard. The foster definitely meant well but was new, inexperienced and had no access to resources and very little contact with the rescue. Bad rescues suck. We are working with her quirks with lots of training and patience. When I tell people about her I often hear horror stories of rescue dogs mauling children and other pets. The debate needs to end…all dogs are worthy of love.
I waited a long time for my yellow lab Bentley. Met the father- a show dog with an excellent temperament. And Bentley’s grandfather showed. Taking Bentley to work was easy. He was so good. Then I had a traumatic event in my life, could no longer work or run my businesses. Bentley was trained for my needs as a service dog. He’s invaluable. And I believe it’s because of his excellent breeding that he made it to be a working service dog. I’ve sometimes wondered if all these animals that get rescued and promoted as being rescues in fact encourages further breeding. I find it very sad to see someone that has a male and female and want to just see what it’s like to have puppies… I strongly believe in finding an excellent breeder with stringent standards both in breeding and in selecting proper placement of their dogs.
We make judgment about everything from food to clothing purchases. It’s impossible not to judge when someone has options. ONLY when there was no choice but to do something in that way (in whatever example you use) can judgment be taken out of the equation. Can we ALL agree on one thing — that “Responsible Breeders” AND “Puppy Mills” BOTH have one thing in common : that they both exist to make a profit?? I have NEVER heard of a breeder that exists to just give away puppies and enrich other peoples’ lives.
No Kill Shelters exist ONLY to save lives, to prevent the killing of unwanted dogs. I have had to work at one (court mandated which beat going to jail at that time in my life) and I fell in love with animals after putting in 120 days of “forced” volunteer work. Those places BARELY survive on shoestring budgets. They depend on donations from people.
So forgive me if I snicker at the notion of not judging people that choose to go the Breeder or Mill route when there is an animal out there that needs love already and is waiting for some to care about them too. If less and less people got their pets from Breeders and Mills, there would NO LONGER be an incentive for those people whose sole purpose is to make puppies for profit. And I’m a capitalist. God bless!! But as a capitalist, a consumer can choose which stores he buys his goods from. And in this instance, what’s better than getting a “free” dog, especially when that dog (or other pet) has been yearning for someone to love him/her too and has probably suffered in more ways than one?!
You are a moron. I’ll explain why over the next few paragraphs.
Lets first compare this to humans. How many children have been abandoned and are in state care. Why don’t these same people that are so insistent that you should always rescue a puppy rescue a person? The answers, as it turns out, aren’t all that different. It’s a matter of personal connection and more knowledge of what their lives were like, or what issues they may have. Funny enough, it’s easier to get a puppy you know will be healthy than it is to know that even your own child will be.
Next thing to consider, even people purchasing puppies from mills aren’t the biggest part of the unwanted dog population. I assure you that the people who are buying pure breeds aren’t the reason that shelters are so filled with mixed breed large dogs. If you really want to die on that sword, show me a single shelter that is overflowing with pure breed registered dogs. It doesn’t happen, because when your dog costs you more than $1,000 people tend to put some thought into that decision. How many “rescued” dogs get returned and then subsequently killed because the person “rescuing” them wasn’t prepared to deal with a dog with separation anxiety, food guarding, a fear of loud noises, or attacking children and other pets? Compare that stat to how many pure breed dogs are returned to breeders.
Next, are you trying to say that just because a puppy is born to a breeder that it is less deserving of love than a dog in a shelter? In reality, the difference is that dogs in shelters weren’t planned for, and most puppies that are sold by breeders were. They were desired and accounted for BEFORE they were born. On the flip side, nobody knows how many mixed breed large dogs will be born next year, and nobody knows how many impulsively rescued dogs are then returned to be killed when their behavior is too extreme for the average person to deal with, but it’s a fair bet that the puppies from responsible breeders that cost a significant amount of money and time aren’t going to be that failed rescue that dies anyway.
I know it’s tragic, and something should be done, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any breeders out there that aren’t providing a valuable service. Having a dog with a known genetic history, proper socialization, no prior abuse, a good diet, good exercise, and so on can be important.
You also need to realize that that those few dogs purchased from responsible breeders DID NOT TAKE A SPOT FROM A RESCUE, and even if they did, do you really thing that subtracting all those $1,000+ dogs from the numbers in shelters would make a meaningful difference? The person searching out a good breeder is not in the market for a random mixed-breed large dog. Instead the people out there looking for a cheap or free dog (many from shelters) that refuse to pay the price to fix them contribute far more to this issue, and don’t pretend this doesn’t happen.
Anyway, that’s enough of my time wasted on you. Try to think a little.
Well done! I think your post was very smart, well thought out and fair. I believe I am a person that falls into several of the above mentioned topics. For example, my 2 pets are both rescue chihuahuas and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to get the breed I wanted from a rescue. I am a strong supporter of shelter dogs, rescues and spay & neuter ALL pets. That being said, I did specifically seek a breeder and purchase my livestock guardian dog to protect my livestock and poultry from predators. I can’t just go to a shelter or rescue and expect just any large dog to fulfill this job. Being a livestock guardian dog involves breeding and training. Just like sporting breeds are bred for prey drive, pointing and retrieving.
My only sister is reputable breeder of 20 plus years and I defend her and her breeding program everyday to many of my rescue organizations that I volunteer and donate. It is a constant source of conflict but her dogs are bred for show and conformation, not profit. Her breeding does result in occasional “pet quality” when fault occurs during breeding such as over-bite, under-bite or other conformation faults occur. She has a waiting list for puppies that includes spay/neuter agreement, will not sell intact retired adults and always takes back one of her dogs if owner cannot care for it. She has never advertised puppies for sale. I have nothing but the highest respect for these breeding practices.
I agree people do jump to conclusions and make hasty negative comments about dog breeders. Craigslist should stop all “rehoming of pets” it is nothing but a playground for puppy mills, kitten mills and all pets with no regard to anything but making money. Bottom dwellers! Imagine how many fewer animals would be euthanized if organizations and individuals used the internet to educate and improve animal welfare instead of providing idiots with an “free online classifieds” to over-populate our states with unwanted animals. Kudos!
Thanks for the article. I’m in Canada where there were only a recorded, from SPCA and humane society, 105 adoptable dogs in all of entire country put down in 2017. Granted we could probably say the number is closer to double as in 210, or 0.00003% of our countries dog population.
We still get this attitude from the holier than that your dog should not come from any breeder. This is due to the tens of thousands of dogs imported from overseas and down south. Each charging $500 or more for these dogs – dogs with questionable diseases, histories and temperaments. Often the dogs are adopted out the second they arrive as we do not have a dog overpopulation problem here. Good luck knowing what you’re getting.
Wanting to find a dog that fits with your family and home doesn’t seem to matter much to these people, you should take whatever the rescues truck in and deal with it. Then you can brag about how you saved a dog from the meat market or whatever.
I am very much a pet is for life person. All my pets have been fixed and I have never given one up. I spent a lot of time looking but ultimately couldn’t go with a pup that was bad with kids or cats. I also had to get a dog that would be happy without a fenced backyard. We are extremely happy with our little well bred Havanese. The holier than though comments just get to be annoying.
I am a registered breeder eho does all the screening etc. I don’t consider people whonput dogs together to produce puppies breeders, I consider them puppy farmers or backyard breeders. So it is interesting that you lump all breeders, registered or not, under the same label.
My perspective on rescue is that breeders are responsinle for the lives they create, and it is certainly wonderful that people want to help dogs to find homes, but I think it encourages the greedy irresponsible people to produce pups without any regard for the consequences. For me, that is where the rescue/breeder divide begins. I am not a fan of rewarding greed and irresponsibility, which is my view on rescuing badly bred dogs, not checked for health, not good physical examples or representatives of their breeds, or crossbred so called ‘designer’ dogs. Not saying the dogs don’t deserve help, they deserve not to be bred, or not to be put in irresponsible homes in the first place.
So thank you for your interesting perspective which I had not previously considered.
While you do make some good points, mostly about responsible dog ownership, I do feel that you are still a bit misinformed. “Most breeders are bad” & “there are many “puppy mills” is OLD, misleading animal rights/PETA rhetoric & it is far from true. Please do some digging, please go to the National Animal Interest Alliance. Com & Akc.org, maybe even CDC.gov for some more correct data. Many (most) US breeders have been legislated out of any significant volume of breeding & only impact the pet market by around 10% or less of demand, current numbers show less than 4% of those ever end up in shelters – most good breeders have a return policy in their puppy contracts but, some owners aren’t as responsible as we’d like…while modern retail rescues are simply a new way to market pet store supply. They ARE the new pet stores! They just have found a way to market that lets them sell dogs tax free! Which, you have to know, does indeed hurt the REAL rescues! Also, we currently import over a million dogs from around the world to supply our growing pet demands – since local breeders are no longer in business to supply that demand…..Many of these are poorly bred, non vaccinated, non health tested & currently, NONE are inspected in any way! We created this niche by villianizing responsible preservation breeders, as well as well run responsible commercial breeders (yes, it’s a real thing!) while extolling the virtues of “rescuing” – even though now most of those dogs are also a purchased commodity.
So, where do we go from here???
“Not Everyone Is Just Like Me, And That’s OK”
I feel like we shouldn’t be ok with what’s not good for animals. Why not being judgmental to people hurting animals? I think it ok to judge and fight for what’s best.
I agree with Emily. This entire article is missing the point. It’s not whether a breeder is responsible or not. It’s about the thousands of healthy animals being destroyed every day.
If you truly LOVE animals you would not promote anyone to breed or people to pay money just because an animal is cute or the breed is popular. Your not buying a car or a new coat.
These are intelligent beings that are suffering & “need” a home.
Find another hobby. Our animal companions don’t need to win prizes or do tricks. They are perfect just the way they are.
Why not be judgmental to people hurting animals? Because apparently it’s not popular. Not as popular as buying a purebred to show off to your friends or breeding animals for profit when there are hundreds of thousands of them dying in shelters every year. It’s not cool to give a f*ck about the animals, so holding people accountable for the harms they do to animals isn’t cool. That’s why. It’s unfortunate that being this selfish and superficial in regard to living creatures – the ones we’re supposedly supposed to care bout the most (?) – is normalized. But people are starting to wake up. Give it time.
I get puked everytime I hear somebody say, “My dog’s a rescue.” Do you want a crown or something. I have a rescue, but I would never brag about it. She is just a dog we liked. The end.
Over time I have started getting repulsed by rescues. The people at the top are often not who they say they are. They make a living selling dogs. They make a living getting accolades. But there are hellish ones. You cross them, when they have everybody bow down and kiss their toe, and they can go after you. You could be the best dog owner, dog lover in the world. You could be the most aware and conscientious person on earth regarding your dog, but if you don’t do it exactly to the T as they want, even though your veterinarian is on your side, they can go after you, and make your life hell. They do not care about the dog! They care about getting the last word. It is a business for a lot of disgruntled lonely miserable people in life, that can’t see the forest for the trees. I will never buy from a rescue again. The hate, malice, and slander that I have had to experience, all for wanting the best care for my dog, is out of this world at the top malicious and ridiculous. They don’t care about dogs. The volunteers do, the owners don’t.
Isn’t it amazing?
I felt i was the bad person and they don’t care how you feel. It was like time travel back to an age with lack of customer service where if i did exactly as they told they were super sweet and as soon as i asked or requested some that would work for me i had their evil twin surface.
You do have to do as they are told or else.
I bet there are many owners or 1st timers who just want to impress their kids with a dog etc and they are not a fit…but i knew all along we are going to be great parents to this dog .. so they should assume one is a good person until proven not to be . I contacted them to rescue a dog , they should be nicer to say the least. I had choices. Their vet literally wanted to make me drive 4 hours in one week for the fixing appointment and got nasty and hung up when i asked questions he didn’t like. This dog went through 2 days of transport in a van with 3 pups in one cage… she doesn’t really like traveling and stress of leaving her. The rescue said they can’t afford losing the vet bc of me! Ha! They lack customer service and she goes out of het way to tell me this than they are of my list…. she could ve just keg it at that she didn’t hear there conversation…. so shouldn’t take no sides. I ended up going to my vet and pay for a good service. Im here for the dog and dogs best care. It’s not about the money for me.
No more of this 2 months old nightmare for me.
This isn’t a very bright comment. Where do shelters get their animals from? People surrender them because they don’t want them after all or can’t care for them.
Responsible breeders take their dogs back. So most dogs in shelters will be from irresponsible breeders / mills. So people indirectly support irresponsible breeding when they get a dog from a shelter. If there were no responsible breeders then where would new dogs come from? Only the irresponsible people who aren’t concerned with inbreeding or temperament or health issues.
If more people got dogs from responsible breeders then there’d be LESS shelter dogs.
I loved your article.
The reason why I found it because I was searching through the net for different experiences on rescuing dogs. I just rescued but I think I rather would have a hydro colon therapy with a whip than going trough the drilling, feeling like I’m out to hurt the dog instead of “adopting” and being threatened that we can deny you anytime and take the dog back.
I am on the good side yet constantly felt as I was doing something wrong or my life , home , experience wasn’t good enough. I get it they have to make sure . But that doesn’t require to assume im here to hurt the dog and me having to constantly prove that im not.
We did have dogs previously, vet and family wrote references, we are only a family of 3 with a huge backyard and we both work locally. I could go on on the treatment from their vet affiliate to the emails I got from the spaying lady volunteer to me about how I was in the wrong. I shutt my mouth bc I wouldn’t have my beautiful dog and I don’t want their crazy attitude take over and take my dog but….
I absolutely will not rescue again which is sad.
I will go to a breeder and I will pick my dog from them.
I have a friend who wants a pug and can’t find them through rescues.
Everyone’s situation is different but it’s good to have education on the organization and the breeder as well .
My dog has minor issues bc she was only few months when came to us but the foster care, the transport , the shelter did leave a mark on her behavioral.
Breeders, you may have to wait four but you get a dog without these permanent issues.
Nothing is black and white as neither is this debate .
Im glad you were able to be courageous and present the other side of the story.
We as humans have to be kind while having opinions, stay educated and be open minded when it comes to a debate on any subject.
We should not have to fear who will ripp our heads off for having our opinions.
Im so happy when i get to read a levelheaded article like yours that states many sides of the story and stays respectful to everyone who feels different. So , thank you!
Thank you SO much for writing this.
My husband and I have had rescues. When they both passed away, we tried to rescue several times and the experiences have been disappointing and at times heartbreaking. I will spare you the details but when we finally decided we were ready to get a puppy from a responsible breeder, the pushback from the owner of a shelter was CRAZY. I had to tell her to please stop contacting me as we were not planning on working with her ever again.
(side note: the breeder I am working with is so awesome! She was recommended to me through a client and we have met with her and her husband several times. Not once has she pushed for us to get a puppy and we have built a nice friendship over the past year and a half).
We are still interested in adopting again someday but I am sick of grappling with the guilt and sadness over all of this. When I came across this post it really helped me to feel better.
What I have come to realize is this: yes, plenty of dogs need homes but not all homes are the right fit. Also, just like some breeders, not all adoption agencies are sterling. Sometimes they just want their money too.
Thank you for writing this. I’m one of those people that will get a puppy because i’m scared of dogs. In saying that, i want a protection dog so I have always had pure bred English Mastiffs and pure bred Pit Bulls; APBT’s. I get them as a puppy from breeders or accidental litters with experience. People shame me for not rescuing but it’s my choice and my life so thank you for giving me ammo to defend myself next time some a**h*** decides to push their breeder shaming on me. I want a puppy, darnit…not a big dog that im scared of and have no clue about his/her past. Thank you!
Hi
I do not really think it is about Rescuers Vs breeders it is about an already overwhelming population of dogs worldwide leading to cruelty abuse and barbaric treatment with many countries ignoring their animal crisis situation why would anyone want to increase that terrible situation. I was once a dog breeder and I made a lot of money doing so it was a busy life but well paid. Also the terrible unchecked cross breeding has led to many breeds becoming far weaker and their lives being shortened for the vanity and financial rewards of people showing their dogs in dog shows such as the disgusting Crufts who no longer recognize the Original Breed Standard. So sorry but as we are supposed to be humane animal lovers breeders should be the last resort not because they are good or bad but because a huge population of dogs in trouble need help . Paying £2000 + and a lot more to breeders is not going to help those that most need it.
Glad to see someone taking the middle of the road stance on this. I’ve owned 5 dogs during my adult life. One came from a farm breeder (not a puppy mill). One was a foundling during a rainstorm. One was from a private rescue. One was from the Humane Society. And, my most recent was from a husband and wife breeder that just had one or two litters per year from their home. In every case, these have been wonderful dogs. I am happy to get a dog from a rescue if it seems to be a good match for me. But, we also need good dog breeders. After all, even rescue dogs come from somewhere. And, if we want to keep specific bloodlines going, reputable breeders are needed to keep the records and insure that this happens.
The thing is, all those wonderful rescues are either (hopefully) surrendered by loving owners that can no longer keep a pet, or unfortunately, taken from a bad situation like a puppy mill or a disaster area. So, when people say, “You should get a rescue dog and not support those horrible breeders, because you don’t know what you’ll get,” they seem to forget that a lot of rescues come from those puppy mills they hate so much. I’m just saying that getting a rescue dog is not a guarantee that you’re getting the best dog for you. Adopting a rescue is a great thing to do. But, the most important thing is to get the dog you want to take care of for the next 12-18 years. The best thing you can do as a pet owner is find the right dog and make the commitment to take care of it.
I will say, it is a good idea to check the rescues for your perfect pet, first. Not only is it a good idea to see if the right dog is waiting for you out there, in need of a home, but it will usually save you a bit of cash up front as well. Rescues are usually a good way to go when it comes to having some of those puppy costs out of the way. All breeding issues aside, if you don’t need a pedigree, a “free” dog will usually make just as nice a pet as an expensive one. And, the adoption fees that most rescue places charge, cover a lot of those early expenses like shots and neutering.
Just remember that because rescuing an animal is a nice thing to do, it isn’t the only option. A dog from a breeder would also like to grow up in a nice home. And, once it has been born, it needs one. So, if you go the breeder route, just do your best to go with breeders that truly care for their animals. This is really more about supporting good people who love and want to continue to share their love of a breed with the world.
I think compassionate people see how every puppy bred displaces a homeless dog to be put down. How many dogs’ lives would be saved and considered as adoptable pets – that otherwise would have been overlooked by the adorableness of a designer puppy? It reminds me of when parents who are unable to conceive a child – end up adopting and only then realize how profoundly beneficial adopting is. It’s not about ego, for the rescuer types. It’s about compassion. The mindset is rare, the debate is a heated one for them, because the statistics of unnecessary deaths for these lovely souls is very high. 30% of homeless pets are designer pets. If breeders took responsibility for every dog they bred (by a chip) and were held responsible for the life of the puppy – we could reduce this number by 30%. The breeders would then maybe realize there has to be some other motivation than breeding if they love this breed so much. But how do you tap into compassion if there is none? Not everyone develops compassion. Most people are simply narcissistic… yes, a term all too common. The easiest way to develop compassion in a child is to show them as a child the benefits of rescuing pets – – – it saves lives, it doesn’t contribute in any way to pet overpopulation. I’m fully aware my opinion is rare. I am judgmental, but I also would never make a dog owner feel shame for buying a designer dog if I met them, as I know what it feels like to own “ugly” dogs – they judge me and are not kind enough to not show their disdain for “ugly rescues.” It’s rare for this type of person to approach me, because my rescues are often quite homely looking or in training to overcome their emotional issues, but some are adorable and far better behaved than some designer dogs I have met. I rescue for THEIR benefit, and in return try to do my best for them. There is nothing you can say to someone who operates out of ego and designer dogs are “high status” pets. A compassionate person couldn’t be paid to displace a rescue and be unnecessarily be subjected to euthanasia. I have no need for popularity, status nor tickets to a breeders show… compassionate people literally have different brain development.
Love this! Thank you.
A little while after my childhood dog (a cockapoo) died at 16, my mother wanted to get another dog. She looked for a rescue dog for a year but every time she found one that met her requirements (mix of what seem to be small breeds, and a young dog) it would already be adopted by the time her email was answered (she looked almost every day at a range of rescue shelters in a wide radius). Not everyone wants an older dog with inevitably expensive health issues because you can’t get pet insurance if they are past a certain age. Plus, half of all dogs in shelters are pit bull mixes and that’s just not for everyone. Their size alone is not a good choice for many owners who are either small or old, because one day when that dog gets old, there’s a big chance you’ll have to pick them up/carry them (whether it’s after a surgery, or if they have arthritis and can’t do stairs and your backdoor has a few steps they can’t do…). Another reason why some people want a small dog is because they live in an apartment – it could be considered cruel to have a large dog that really needs space to run around, cooped up in a 500 sq ft high rise, while some smaller dogs would do perfectly fine with just a few small walks a day. The other problem is that statistically pit bulls constitute the majority of dog attacks in the US each year, so there is a greater chance of aggression being an issue. The reality is that the ones being put down are the pit bull mixes and older dogs, the other ones are not only being rescued, they’re competitive to rescue! People have the right to get a companion that’s a good match for them and their environment, and that they’re able to properly take care of.
My mom ended up buying a “designer dog” from a reputable breeder that she drove a few hours to (twice), and it wasn’t to go with her designer outfits, of which she owns none. She got a cockapoo again for its loving disposition, intelligence (training is a breeze), smaller size, and because it doesn’t shed (so it doesn’t irritate our family members with minor dog allergies). You’d have a hard time finding a dog owner more dedicated than her.
Also I will add, rescue dogs are often much more expensive down the line — many often need trainers or behaviorists, and have poor health because they came from puppy mills or irresponsible breeders, or lived in an unhealthy environment for the beginning of their life. The same can happen with certain breeds, which is why we opted for a “designer” mix and not a pure breed. Our first cockapoo had not a single health problem except for Cushing’s towards the end of her life, that we were able to treat successfully until she was 16. $500 to buy a dog is literally chump change compared to paying for healthcare, whether you go the pet insurance route or not.
So when you say “it’s their choice” I’m assuming you’re referring to the humans involved and not the dogs. At the end of the day, animals are living beings and not property. Humans do not have the right to make that choice. Unfortunately you just spent a lot of time defending the idea that living creatures are property… there is no moral middle ground here when you look at every living being as an autonomous being. I mean…. how can anyone justify forcing a living being to procreate, have child and then selling said child??? Like… maybe I’m missing something here but this post seems like utter nonsense pandering to the morally ambiguous. Disappointed that the dogs point of view isn’t being taken into account. This is a primo example of humanity’s god complex.
You do realize that the dogs you’re rescuing came from that exact situation initially? Do you think you’re rescuing some sort of wild dog that has been living on the streets for decades? Even to rescue a dog costs money and is a transaction. If we banned all breeders, sorry bub but very quickly we’d have no dogs left for you to rescue next time around, except from the lovely super illegal dog fighting rings. And as I said in my comment that is pending below, if you care so much about animal rights, take political action and fight for laws that severely punish owners who abuse and abandon their dogs, so we can actually stop this problem rather than pat ourselves on the backs for being saviors while ignoring the fact that this problem is endlessly continuing until something is done.
I agree so much! Our dog, Emmi is from a shelter. She is an amazing dog! The dog we had before her, Oscar was from an amazing dachshund breeder and he was an amazing companion for 23 years.
Two other reasons:
1. Not everyone wants a dog with a greater potential for behavioral issues. Some people are older and more frail or tired, others have kids and don’t want to take risks with aggression. With reputable breeders you see the environment they have come from and both parents so you have a much more accurate idea of what you are getting/how your dog will turn out.
2. Shedding – a lot of people who have minor allergies to dogs are able to own them IF they don’t shed because shedding causes dander to be released from the fur constantly. VERY difficult to rescue hypoallergenic dogs.
And to the person above me, dogs are considered property by law — something that repulses me as well— but if you want that to change instead of criticizing responsible owners who buy dogs from proper breeders, take political action for animal rights that severely punishes dog owners who abandon and mistreat the animals and then maybe we won’t have so many rescues in the first place! (Cough cough who keeps buying and abandoning pitbulls….) If you really want to be a martyr, why not take steps to solve the actual problem that’s being overlooked here?
I think all it really boils down to is if you’re a compassionate person, or you’re not.
I just don’t see the point in buying puppies and dogs when literally 100s die in shelters every year. Those animals love unconditionally and don’t care what our pedigrees are so why should we? They’re dying because of us the least we can do is visit a shelter and adopt a $25 dog. No animal should be bought from a breeder while millions more die. It’s just not right so yes the person who rescued their pet is far better than the one who bought theirs in my opinion.
Do you have kids? Why didn’t you adopt instead of reproducing. There are thousands of children waiting in foster care to be adopted.
I love this. Totally agree. It not just dog. It cats, rabbits any purebred animals. I’m tired that most rescues are bashing all breeders especially the good reputable one. The Mills are the ones giving us bad repetition. That why most rescues are against all breeders regardless reputable or not. They even against youths. I try to educate people. Without any breeders. You never will heard of Mini Rex or Rex. Never would own any. People tend to forget where their animals come from. Like Dalmatian, etc. Not all breeders are bad. Not all rescues area bad. Stop putting all of us together as one.
It’s so nice to read this, I’ve rescued every animal that I’ve owned, my Norwegian elkhound mix was a pet store puppy part of an accidental litter, my pitbull black lab mix was rescued from a neglectful and abusive home, my chihuahua was owner surrender, my two siamese cats (one was dumped at 5 weeks old and the other owner surrendered) and even my turtles. After losing my oldest two dogs 13 months apart I have now decided I want to get a corgi. There are fantastic rescues out there but having wanted a corgi for years, no prior experience with one I feel that it would be best for us to get a puppy and so I’m going through a breeder. I was actually afraid of telling people to begin with because I didn’t want to be judged or yelled at. I love all my rescue babies and even the trials that come with them, in my case mostly a lot of fear but they’ve all been so loyal and loving. But in most cases with corgi dogs in rescue, at least around here they want you to have past experience which I don’t or they’re animal aggressive which would not work in my home. Later down the road I won’t say I wouldn’t want to rescue a corgi but right now getting my first experience with the breed this is what will work best for me. It really is a personal choice, what works best for you and your family and also what you’re looking for. Thank you so much for writing this.
So this is my opinion: Are there breeders out there who love their dogs and raise them ethically and are not backyard breeders, absolutely. Yet they are still breeding their pure bred dogs despite knowing that there are also pure bred dogs in shelters and rescue groups throughout the country who are not being adopted and are being euthanized due to overpopulation and overcrowding in shelters. According to recent published data from a 2021 study, nearly 25% of all shelter dogs are purebred dogs. My issue with breeders who are breeding for the health and safety of the breed are still creating dogs that will undeniably end up in shelters. That is not benefiting the breed in any way. A prospective owner can easily find any purebred dog in a rescue group specific to that dog breed. You can still get a pure bred and rescue at the same time. You can in fact save two lives by adopting the animal of your dreams, and adopting also makes room for another dog to be housed in the shelter/rescue group. The options for a dog are not only a breeder vs. animal shelter. But there are so many rescue groups that also have purebred dogs and puppies. They also need homes.
First of all there are a lot of people who care about animals and take them in and care for them and attempt to use craigslist for the purpose of actually rehoming animals and the whole place has been taken over by losers who have nothing better then to flag all day, if you care so much about animals then volunteer at your local shelter, stop flagging people trying to find homes for their animals, so what if they charge a fee that’s good! People need to pay for animals so they don’t flip them for a profit, craigslist could of been a great place to help this problem but the so called good breeders want you to buy their dog instead of letting others post for homes animals in need, I have seen people post 6 thousand dollar dogs on there, you have your flipping gojng on and breeders and people who just want a free animal, so it’s not craigslist it’s the stupid flagging that’s keeping animals from finding homes, shelters can’t and should not take them all, people willing to bring them into their family and love and care for them should, just like foster care for no children or the elderly, it’s out responsibility as a community to care for no each other, stop complaining and write something positive, this is all negative talk. For whatever reason animals end up homeless in need of a home and there shouldn’t be kill shelters we need safe shelters fot both animals and people, society is selfish that’s why so many animals and children are neglected and abused and in need of care, it doesn’t matter where they came from, of you see a living thing in need help it whatever you can do. It’s that simple, make spaying and neutering less expensive and let people find homes for their puppies and kittens, stop flagging them so big so called good breeders can make bank, and yes they are making a fortune, someone who has a litter of pups makes a fortune so don’t lie to yourself. Stop profiting off of animals, stop interfering with animals finding homes on Craigslist and stop acting immature about it all, it’s natural, animals reproduce so be responsible, and shut down puppy mills, kitten mills, make sure all living things are treated with love, and dignity. That’s what is ultimately important. You can volunteer at a shelter, take in an animal in need, give an animal a loving home even if it’s bought from a breeder, they all deserve love and care just like human children do as well. That should be tbe focus. Craigslist needs to change its flagging methods because breeders and flippers abuse it and they prevent animals from finding homes then people have no choice but to take their animals to the shelter and that’s not always easy so then animals get a Abandoned, think about what you do and say and how it actually effects others.
I’m disheartened to hear you support breeders. I noticed that you cling to whether the human is a good “owner” (worst word for the human caring for a dog even though dogs are considered property under the 4th amendment). I don’t find the main concern with those against breeders is whether the human who buys a dog rather than rescues will be a good caretaker and companion. The sadness and lack of respect comes from the fact that adoptable dogs are killed every day in our country. Breeders and their clients DO contribute to this. The human buying a dog could easily find a compatible dog at a shelter. Sure, maybe not if they have certain selfish wants you mentioned, but those are, again, selfish goals.
Yes, we all make personal choices in life. To hide behind the cloak of, “It’s my personal choice” is like giving a free pass for people to make selfish choices that negatively impact others. Do we respect thieves for their personal choice? Con artists? Liars? It’s ok to not be okay with someone’s ways of life, especially when it causes others to suffer.
I find your apologist stance toward breeders a backstab to the rescue efforts you purport to endorse.
So yes. We all make personal choices in life. These choices define our character and, often, the lives (or deaths in this scenario) of others.
Hi my name is kim, I have 2 beautiful male yorkshire terriers 11 &12 years old they are the love of my life, I bought them from a highly recommended breeder, they didn’t ask for alot of money for my babies they are a year apart but from the same breeder, grew up with yorkshire terrier, and now I’m looking for a small dog and doesn’t have to be burebreed or a champion not looking to breed or to but in shows but as another companion for me and my boyfriend of 14 years also for my two yorkshire terriers I have now, they love to play with other small dog mostly their own breed, I have been looking for awhile now,but I would love another yorkshire terrier and it doesn’t have to be a puppy, I can wait because I don’t want to just buy I, I want the Yorkie to get to know me and me him or her to feel comfortable with me and my older yorkies to be completely honest my yorkies will growl at first but warms up to people and animals they meet but they don’t like when people and other dogs come and go because they get attached. So I have to look out for their wellbeing as well. Looking forward to having a new addition to our happy family. If you have any information or ideas for me let me know and I can send my information to you, please serious reply only. THANK YOU KIM & MAX &BUDDY.
I get there are some bad breeders, but there are some breeders who love animals. For the anti breeders where did they get their children? Indstead of them breeding why didn’t they adopt one of the many thousands of children in foster care. Just Saying
So glad I stumbled upon this article. It honestly did open my eyes to how judgmental I’ve been because in my day to day life I see mostly horrible breeders that don’t know anything and are only in it for the financial gain. This is going to make me step back and reassess certain situations and try not to judge friends and family as much for how they choose to pick their pet. I will always rescue, but I think it’s time I start helping others see the good in both rescuing and picking responsible good breeders.
I buy all my puppies from breeders and always will. I prefer a clean slate rather than to bring home a dog with baggage. The “Adopt Don’t Shop” crowd with their insipid preaching is more than welcome to take those home.