How do you justify buying from a breeder instead of rescuing a mutt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do I sleep at night? That's a pretty extreme perspective on this issue.

Are ALL rescues dangerous and unpredictable? No, of course not. Nor are ALL puppies from breeders safe and predictable. But we have three small kids and are not going to expose them to unnecessary risk by bringing a rescue home. Adopting a rescue can present safety issues (and many rescue organizations won't place dogs into families with small kids for this very reason).

If we didn't have little kids, things would be different. But we do, so there it is.

Also, I sleep just fine at night, thanks, in part because I'm not judging the heck out of people over an issue that, in the grand scheme of our dumpster fire of a country, is small potatoes.

You can adopt a puppy with as many kids as you went. I had 4 kids (youngest was 8 months) and adopted a yellow lab mix puppy from Puppy Haven. Poor litter was left on a West Virginia shelter doorstep. She lived for 13 years and she by far rescued our family. She is sorely missed.

[Anonymous]

So the breeders don't do home inspections, interviews, or anything like that? Just show up with some money and here is your genetically made dog? That is super sketchy.

Also, why did you all give birth to random kids. Why didn't you genetically modify your kids to your liking. It is no different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do I sleep at night? That's a pretty extreme perspective on this issue.

Are ALL rescues dangerous and unpredictable? No, of course not. Nor are ALL puppies from breeders safe and predictable. But we have three small kids and are not going to expose them to unnecessary risk by bringing a rescue home. Adopting a rescue can present safety issues (and many rescue organizations won't place dogs into families with small kids for this very reason).

If we didn't have little kids, things would be different. But we do, so there it is.

Also, I sleep just fine at night, thanks, in part because I'm not judging the heck out of people over an issue that, in the grand scheme of our dumpster fire of a country, is small potatoes.

You can adopt a puppy with as many kids as you went. I had 4 kids (youngest was 8 months) and adopted a yellow lab mix puppy from Puppy Haven. Poor litter was left on a West Virginia shelter doorstep. She lived for 13 years and she by far rescued our family. She is sorely missed.

Do you want a cookie?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
1. We needed one of a very limited list of specific breeds known for being less allergenic (less dander). None of them could be found at local shelters or rescues.

2. Temperament is largely inherited, and we wanted to be sure of getting a sociable, friendly dog. One of the many duties of a good breeder is make the lineage characteristics known to prospective buyers. Our dog's parents and grandparents are all very social, and so is he and his littermates.


You appear to be confused about the differences between puppy mills, backyard breeders and reputable breeders. The first is by definition unethical. The second may not place the dogs' interest first, either through ignorance, lack of means, or cruelty. The third should be the only genetically and ethically sound solution to pet ownership.

Reputable breeders are passionate about their work and it usually costs them much more than any income from dog sales or stud fees. Call it an expensive second job, if you will. They attach great importance to weeding out genetically-inherited diseases that have developed through the decades by poor breeding programs, by testing every single dog they own and entering all results - both good and bad - in the national dog health database (CHIC). They do not breed unhealthy carriers.

Our breeder set a camera 24/7 in the whelping pen she had constructed in her bedroom, so that we could check on the puppies and dam at any moment, right from birth.

We saw the breeder handle the puppies every single day, as she should, to habituate them to human handling. I can clean my dog's ears, clip his nails, take away embedded thorns in his pads, clean very sensitive areas, take away his food, clean his teeth, place medication down his throat, and he will not flinch. That is a result of proper handling.

The breeder exposed them to all kinds of city and farm noises, so they wouldn't be jumpy creatures.
She leash-trained and started to potty-train them before we picked up our puppy at 9 weeks.

We visited her home, and the dogs were well cared for. Good breeders care for a small number of dogs, which live inside the home and not in a kennel. They do not breed mothers often. Our breeder manages a birth once every two years and allows two pregnancies per dam.

What a total crock of shit on the money issue. You can not be that dumb to believe they are doing this for good will.

Also, I received all of my rescues as puppies and did all of the same handling and have had wonderful loving social dogs. I didn't have to pay anyone to do this. How lazy are you? I bet you had a wet nurse and a Nanny too, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do I sleep at night? That's a pretty extreme perspective on this issue.

Are ALL rescues dangerous and unpredictable? No, of course not. Nor are ALL puppies from breeders safe and predictable. But we have three small kids and are not going to expose them to unnecessary risk by bringing a rescue home. Adopting a rescue can present safety issues (and many rescue organizations won't place dogs into families with small kids for this very reason).

If we didn't have little kids, things would be different. But we do, so there it is.

Also, I sleep just fine at night, thanks, in part because I'm not judging the heck out of people over an issue that, in the grand scheme of our dumpster fire of a country, is small potatoes.

You can adopt a puppy with as many kids as you went. I had 4 kids (youngest was 8 months) and adopted a yellow lab mix puppy from Puppy Haven. Poor litter was left on a West Virginia shelter doorstep. She lived for 13 years and she by far rescued our family. She is sorely missed.

Do you want a cookie?

No, I want selfish bitches like you to stop buying genetically-made dogs for a massive profit that increases puppy mills and breeders across the country, so that maybe the 670,000 dogs that have to die each year have a chance to live. That is all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the breeders don't do home inspections, interviews, or anything like that? Just show up with some money and here is your genetically made dog? That is super sketchy.

Also, why did you all give birth to random kids. Why didn't you genetically modify your kids to your liking. It is no different.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the breeders don't do home inspections, interviews, or anything like that? Just show up with some money and here is your genetically made dog? That is super sketchy.

Also, why did you all give birth to random kids. Why didn't you genetically modify your kids to your liking. It is no different.

+1

Um, actually a lot of people do get tested to see if they are carriers of certain diseases, etc that are passed down and then make decisions on how to conceive based on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. What sucks? If I'm going to take responsibility for another living creature for 12-15yrs it makes sense that I'd be conscientious in deciding what animal to bring into my home. If I know what works for our family, and it isn't available at a shelter, why does it suck to get that pet elsewhere, in your opinion. Do I just say "sorry, kids. no pet for you because all breeders are evil yet what we want and need cannot be acquired via rescue."

Actually, yes. It would be a good life lesson for your kids. Sometimes you sacrifice for the greater good.

The problem with your approach is that it doesn't solve the problem of too many dogs in this country. The end result would be that eventually the only dogs available are ones created as a result of irresponsible owners and puppy mills. It's a "let the bad guys win" solution. My family not getting a dog in your scenario here is not part of any greater good.

Of course it is. You don’t go to breeders, they go out of business. Simple as that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People go to breeders because rescue people are crazy. If you have kids or work or don't have a fenced yard, then you aren't good enough for them.

I have 7 kids and no fence and two rescue dogs.
Wolf Trap Rescue will adopt to you. It just takes some looking to find the right dog/rescue. Breeders are more immediate gratification.

Unethical (aka puppy mills) or backyard breeders like the family with two dogs described up thread maybe, but even those of us who use breeders find those options to be awful.

Ethical breeders often have long waitlists. They interview each family, and they temperament test each puppy to match them appropriately with the right home. They often do genetic screenings and can provide you with the results of those screenings going back three or four generations. If you can walk into a breeder's living room and walk out with a puppy that day, you're not dealing with an ethical breeder but with someone focused on making money.

Right. Ethical breeders don’t breed for the money. What a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we please stop the silliness? No one goes through this process:

1. I want a dog.
2. I refuse to support rescues because they're bad people and do things wrong.
3. So I'll go to a breeder and get the exact dog that I want.

This is the real process:

1. I want a dog.
2. I want a certain kind of dog.
3. So I'll go to a breeder and get the exact dog that I want.

Own up to what you're doing and thinking, people. Quit the bs.

You forgot one.

1) I want a dog
2) I do not want a pitbull of any kind
3) I won't get one from a rescue because I do not trust them not to lie about the breeding of the dog.

Is there something wrong with not wanting a pitbull?

And I know people will say "rescues have more than just pitbulls" but I've actually volunteered in a rescue and while there are other breeds occasionally, they are either not available for adoption or they are claimed the second they become available. You'd have to camp there to get your claim on a non-pitbull.

Are you kidding me? Go to the websites of Lost Dog, the DC area shelters, Lucky Dog, etc. There are SO not only “occasionally” dogs other than pit bulls. There are tons of dogs that clearly have no pit in them whatsoever. I have easily adopted two non pits. Tons of beagles, hounds, terriers, etc. are for the taking. If you don’t want one of those dogs, that’s fine, but again own it. This hyperbole isn’t helping your case.

I just went to Lucky Dog. So many of the dogs listed as labs look like they are part pitbulls visually. Interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. What sucks? If I'm going to take responsibility for another living creature for 12-15yrs it makes sense that I'd be conscientious in deciding what animal to bring into my home. If I know what works for our family, and it isn't available at a shelter, why does it suck to get that pet elsewhere, in your opinion. Do I just say "sorry, kids. no pet for you because all breeders are evil yet what we want and need cannot be acquired via rescue."

Actually, yes. It would be a good life lesson for your kids. Sometimes you sacrifice for the greater good.

The problem with your approach is that it doesn't solve the problem of too many dogs in this country. The end result would be that eventually the only dogs available are ones created as a result of irresponsible owners and puppy mills. It's a "let the bad guys win" solution. My family not getting a dog in your scenario here is not part of any greater good.

Of course it is. You don’t go to breeders, they go out of business. Simple as that.

Which does absolutely zero to stop the proliferation of puppy mills and dogs that aren't spayed/neutered. That's where the homeless dog problem comes from in this country, not ethical breeders and owners focused on the betterment of a particular breed of dog.

If everyone spayed and neutered, and if everyone stopped buying from puppy mills (INCLUDING shelters and rescue organizations who buy via auction), and if rescues stopped importing dogs from other countries. THEN maybe you'd solve the problem. Telling people not to seek out reputable breeders and acquire purebred dogs doesn't solve this problem that you seem to be so fanatical about. Your passion is misplaced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I want selfish bitches like you to stop buying genetically-made dogs for a massive profit that increases puppy mills and breeders across the country, so that maybe the 670,000 dogs that have to die each year have a chance to live. That is all.

I think everyone is in agreement that buying animals from puppy mills is bad, or at least those of us having a reasoned discussion are. Stop with the name-calling. Puppy mills contribute to the problem. Ethical breeders who work closely with the AKC and focus on one or possibly two litters a year are not your problem here. Understand the difference.

In the same way that not all shelters or rescues are unethical, nor are all those who produce pure-bred dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do I sleep at night? That's a pretty extreme perspective on this issue.

Are ALL rescues dangerous and unpredictable? No, of course not. Nor are ALL puppies from breeders safe and predictable. But we have three small kids and are not going to expose them to unnecessary risk by bringing a rescue home. Adopting a rescue can present safety issues (and many rescue organizations won't place dogs into families with small kids for this very reason).

If we didn't have little kids, things would be different. But we do, so there it is.

Also, I sleep just fine at night, thanks, in part because I'm not judging the heck out of people over an issue that, in the grand scheme of our dumpster fire of a country, is small potatoes.

You can adopt a puppy with as many kids as you went. I had 4 kids (youngest was 8 months) and adopted a yellow lab mix puppy from Puppy Haven. Poor litter was left on a West Virginia shelter doorstep. She lived for 13 years and she by far rescued our family. She is sorely missed.

Do you want a cookie?

No, I want selfish bitches like you to stop buying genetically-made dogs for a massive profit that increases puppy mills and breeders across the country, so that maybe the 670,000 dogs that have to die each year have a chance to live. That is all.

Keep screaming into the abyss! I think it's working!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wanted what I wanted and paid for it. Simple.

Exactly. Had a rescue had what I wanted then I would have rescued.

I stopped reading here in page 2. They are acquiring possessions, not pets.

When they are ready to divorce and upgrade their spouse a similar mind frame will be had.

[Anonymous]

Even if everyone stopped buying dogs from breeders, almost the same number of dogs would be killed because the vast majority of them are dogs that no one wants like pit bulls and chihuahuas. Many irresponsible people have put bulls and don't spay and neuter them. Why should my choices be limited because of irresponsible owners? i would choose not to have a dog rather than adopt a dog that is a pit bull, part pit bull, or. chihuahua.