It seems that rescuers and breeders are on two different sides when it comes to the right choice of how and where to get a dog. There are breeders who boast the myth that only a good dog can be purchased from a breeder, while rescue workers attest that there is such a great animal overpopulation that breeders should be put out of business. Let me shed some light on the situation.
As a rescue worker, I can assure you that I will do my best to be fair in my statements, actually much more fair than the statements that I have seen from many breeders posts on blogs. I do believe that people should be able to make a living in whatever they are doing: be it breeders, pet stores, groomers, trainers, etc. That being said, it should be a living not at the expense of another's suffering, be that a pet or another person. If I were to derive a living from beating and confining my workers to make my t-shirts, I'm sure you would agree that this would be wrong. Well, that is what the battle against some breeders known as puppy mills is about. With the internet so widespread, many people get their dogs from far away places and rely on the photos and testimonials they read on the breeders website without ever checking out the breeder. If you can visit the breeder and see it for yourself, chances are its a good breeder. Legitimate breeders love their dogs and care about where they go. They will do intensive interview and question prospective buyers. They will NOT just ship a dog to anyone. Puppy mills will.
Puppy mill breeders are in it for the cash and sell misery. EVERY legitimate breeder will hate puppy mill breeders even more than people in rescue. Why? because it makes them and their entire industry look bad. Pet stores for the most part, more than 90% sell puppies from puppy mills. NO legitimate breeder would sell their puppies to a puppy store and not care about where their dogs are going. Good breeders want to know the future of their dogs and will take back a dog that doesn't work out. Puppy mills and pet stores don't.
There are countless rescue organizations from general breeds to breed specific rescues that scour the shelters and save millions of dogs. They operate on limited budgets and are run by animal lovers who are often struggling to make it. Some make money, some charge adoption fees for legitimate reasons, however none but one or two operate at a sizable profit... in fact most are Non-Profits. These organizations rescue, board, foster and re-home the dogs that were cast away. So the big business people say, "Why should it be your responsibility to take on 'someone else's problem'?" Well, its not. Looking at it like that makes it seem like you are taking over someone's credit card debt with nothing in return. What people overlook is that it is a life. You are not taking over a problem, but a life that will give back to you just like the dog you get from the pet store, but often with a lot less issues. Yes, you can get a puppy from a breeder, but rescues are often overrun with puppies as are shelters. You won't get that fancy piece of paper stating its history, but you still get a loving life. If you can trace the entire lineage of your partner before you settle down, then maybe getting a purebred papered dog is the right choice for you. However if love and doing something heartfelt for an animal who needs a second chance is in your scope of reality, a rescue may make you just as happy as a dog from a breeder.
As a professional dog behaviorist I can attest that dogs from shelters / rescues can be every bit as loving (sometimes more so) than breeder dogs. I've had both and have seen both sides. Puppies are cute, but very hard to deal with. A dog who has outgrown the puppy stage often makes for a better pet. Puppy love lasts for a while, but then you have to settle down to cleaning puppy poop, pee, puke, deal with chewing, digging, whining, barking, etc. These all seem like fun, but then grow into issues. And, I can tell you professionally that if they are not dealt with properly, they will cause greater issues than any I've seen in rescue dogs.
Getting a dog is a decision that should not be spontaneous. It is something to think about. Both sides of this issue are very passionate about their ideas. My passion lies merely in what is right for the dog. If you have done the research and are ready to make your decision, move on and do it. The compassionate choice is the one you make with a clear conscience. More than 5 million shelter animals are killed each year. Many of them come from breeders, puppy mills and pet stores. Educating yourself on the responsibilities of owning a dog will help you to avoid being a part of the problem and therefor help solve the problem.
There are times when you have a warm feeling inside after a rescue. I got that feeling when I placed Zeus, because he did go to a wonderful home and a really great family. Well, I was able to get that feeling again this last week when I placed Wrinkles (now SusieQ) to Kathy at Merlins Hope. I've sent other little ones there before and each and every time I say this. There is no better rescue than Kathy. She is the most caring, compassionate and understanding dog owner I know. Speaking as a dog trainer / behaviorist Kathy is unmatched. I NEVER worry about her ability to handle a dog... the way the dog needs to be handled. I don't think I can say that about many other people that I know.
When you work in rescue you are constantly bombarded with hundreds of dogs that need saving. What makes one stick out? I still ponder the answer to that question, but I can tell you, when it does, you know.
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