Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is impossible to find a shelter dog that is not a pit bull mix. You have to go with breed specific rescues who raid puppy mills. Even then, a lot of the dogs are not pure breeds or the mix that the shelter tells you that it is.

Really? Every single dog? All 10 lb mini poodlely things at a shelter are definitely pit mixes?

There are no 10 pound poodle mixes in shelters.

They only have pit bull mixes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is impossible to find a shelter dog that is not a pit bull mix. You have to go with breed specific rescues who raid puppy mills. Even then, a lot of the dogs are not pure breeds or the mix that the shelter tells you that it is.

Stop with that nonsense. There are plenty of not pitbull mixes in rescues (municipal shelters are different story)

But zero non pinball options available in shelters, except for a random senior citizen tiny elderly house dog whose owner just went into a home or died.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PG county animal shelter has a lot of pit mixes, but lots that are not. In the size range you described, they currently have a German shepherd mix in foster (Star), a shih Tzu mix (rocket), a corgi-dachshund (puperoni), a PBGV mix (Bella) and several others. River the lab mix is a bit bigger than you wanted but also super cute.

pg county doesn't get as many adopters and puts dogs down for lack of space, so if you foster or adopt one you are really saving its life and allowing room for another dog to stay there.

This is an excellent point. A close relative runs the a county animal shelter in another state, and to quote her "the South really needs to get their shit together." Dogs are being rescued down there and being brought to rescues up here because shelters down there kill them right and left, then folks up here go to the rescues and not our shelters and then OUR shelters have to start killing. On top of that, most rescues won't take dogs back (because they're typically housed with foster families and not in a rescue's own physical space), so "returned" rescue dogs from the south end up in our shelters.

Just keep this in mind when you're looking at rescues and not shelters.

While I agree with many of your pointy, bolded doesn't really happen with reputable rescues.
As far as I know, Lucky Dog always takes their dogs back and place in foster care, it's written in their contracts that dogs should be returned to LDAR and not surrendered to shelters (and I've seen couple of cases when they pulled former Lucky dogs from county shelters)

Lucky Dog may take them back, great. But let's see . . . my sister RUNS a county animal shelter and has for years and you don't, so I think I'm go with what she has to say.

My point is more about due diligence selecting a rescue that doesn't do crappy things like that.
Sorry if my message wasn't clear

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PG county animal shelter has a lot of pit mixes, but lots that are not. In the size range you described, they currently have a German shepherd mix in foster (Star), a shih Tzu mix (rocket), a corgi-dachshund (puperoni), a PBGV mix (Bella) and several others. River the lab mix is a bit bigger than you wanted but also super cute.

pg county doesn't get as many adopters and puts dogs down for lack of space, so if you foster or adopt one you are really saving its life and allowing room for another dog to stay there.

This is an excellent point. A close relative runs the a county animal shelter in another state, and to quote her "the South really needs to get their shit together." Dogs are being rescued down there and being brought to rescues up here because shelters down there kill them right and left, then folks up here go to the rescues and not our shelters and then OUR shelters have to start killing. On top of that, most rescues won't take dogs back (because they're typically housed with foster families and not in a rescue's own physical space), so "returned" rescue dogs from the south end up in our shelters.

Just keep this in mind when you're looking at rescues and not shelters.

While I agree with many of your pointy, bolded doesn't really happen with reputable rescues.
As far as I know, Lucky Dog always takes their dogs back and place in foster care, it's written in their contracts that dogs should be returned to LDAR and not surrendered to shelters (and I've seen couple of cases when they pulled former Lucky dogs from county shelters)

Lucky Dog may take them back, great. But let's see . . . my sister RUNS a county animal shelter and has for years and you don't, so I think I'm go with what she has to say.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PG county animal shelter has a lot of pit mixes, but lots that are not. In the size range you described, they currently have a German shepherd mix in foster (Star), a shih Tzu mix (rocket), a corgi-dachshund (puperoni), a PBGV mix (Bella) and several others. River the lab mix is a bit bigger than you wanted but also super cute.

pg county doesn't get as many adopters and puts dogs down for lack of space, so if you foster or adopt one you are really saving its life and allowing room for another dog to stay there.

This is an excellent point. A close relative runs the a county animal shelter in another state, and to quote her "the South really needs to get their shit together." Dogs are being rescued down there and being brought to rescues up here because shelters down there kill them right and left, then folks up here go to the rescues and not our shelters and then OUR shelters have to start killing. On top of that, most rescues won't take dogs back (because they're typically housed with foster families and not in a rescue's own physical space), so "returned" rescue dogs from the south end up in our shelters.

Just keep this in mind when you're looking at rescues and not shelters.

While I agree with many of your pointy, bolded doesn't really happen with reputable rescues.
As far as I know, Lucky Dog always takes their dogs back and place in foster care, it's written in their contracts that dogs should be returned to LDAR and not surrendered to shelters (and I've seen couple of cases when they pulled former Lucky dogs from county shelters)

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all the advice, everyone. I really enjoy mutts for a variety of reasons. I do not want a pit mix, although sadly there are so many available. I know it is possible to adopt a great shelter dog, because I have quite a few friends who have/had amazing rescues. But, it will take me a lot of hunting to get my preferences, and that’s ok!

I will check out all of these organizations.

Lastly, as far as age, I was thinking from puppy to about 3 is ok.

Go to one of those adoption events at petco - they’re out on by the various rescues mentioned here. The foster parents are on hand to talk about the dog and its personality, behavior, diet etc

No need to go hunting they literally line up 100 dogs of all ages, sizes, mixes and temperaments.

Don’t get hung up on the pit thing - just get a good dog.

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. I really enjoy mutts for a variety of reasons. I do not want a pit mix, although sadly there are so many available. I know it is possible to adopt a great shelter dog, because I have quite a few friends who have/had amazing rescues. But, it will take me a lot of hunting to get my preferences, and that’s ok!

I will check out all of these organizations.

Lastly, as far as age, I was thinking from puppy to about 3 is ok.

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure you want a shelter? I would either go with a breed specific rescue (but then you risk unhealthy puppy mill dogs) or a reputable breeder. I feel terrible about shelter dogs, but if everyone went to reputable breeders, shelters wouldn’t exist. We still need to support reputable breeding. I have bad allergies and need a non shedding dog.

We need to shut down the puppy mills and get those Pitts spayed and neutered.

What the hell are you talking about?

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure you want a shelter? I would either go with a breed specific rescue (but then you risk unhealthy puppy mill dogs) or a reputable breeder. I feel terrible about shelter dogs, but if everyone went to reputable breeders, shelters wouldn’t exist. We still need to support reputable breeding. I have bad allergies and need a non shedding dog.

We need to shut down the puppy mills and get those Pitts spayed and neutered.

There are few “reputable breeders”. Most popular breeds of dog are horrendously inbred. There are just breeders who say the right things that people want to hear.

Worthy Dog Rescue out of NoVa. They give you lots of information about the dogs on their website and work hard to make it a good fit for the dogs and the people.

Anonymous wrote:PG county animal shelter has a lot of pit mixes, but lots that are not. In the size range you described, they currently have a German shepherd mix in foster (Star), a shih Tzu mix (rocket), a corgi-dachshund (puperoni), a PBGV mix (Bella) and several others. River the lab mix is a bit bigger than you wanted but also super cute.

pg county doesn't get as many adopters and puts dogs down for lack of space, so if you foster or adopt one you are really saving its life and allowing room for another dog to stay there.

This is an excellent point. A close relative runs the a county animal shelter in another state, and to quote her "the South really needs to get their shit together." Dogs are being rescued down there and being brought to rescues up here because shelters down there kill them right and left, then folks up here go to the rescues and not our shelters and then OUR shelters have to start killing. On top of that, most rescues won't take dogs back (because they're typically housed with foster families and not in a rescue's own physical space), so "returned" rescue dogs from the south end up in our shelters.

Just keep this in mind when you're looking at rescues and not shelters.

Anonymous wrote:It is impossible to find a shelter dog that is not a pit bull mix. You have to go with breed specific rescues who raid puppy mills. Even then, a lot of the dogs are not pure breeds or the mix that the shelter tells you that it is.

I got a non pit bull mix for lucky dog. She’s a shepherd mix and there were tons of non pit mixes at the event.

But breed specific rescues are great if you have a certain type of dog in mind. I previously had a basset hound that fit akc purebred standards to a T. Great pure bred dog for $250 donation.

Are you sure you want a shelter? I would either go with a breed specific rescue (but then you risk unhealthy puppy mill dogs) or a reputable breeder. I feel terrible about shelter dogs, but if everyone went to reputable breeders, shelters wouldn’t exist. We still need to support reputable breeding. I have bad allergies and need a non shedding dog.

We need to shut down the puppy mills and get those Pitts spayed and neutered.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is impossible to find a shelter dog that is not a pit bull mix. You have to go with breed specific rescues who raid puppy mills. Even then, a lot of the dogs are not pure breeds or the mix that the shelter tells you that it is.

What's wrong with having some American pit bull terrier in them? They are adorable, faithful and loveable

Nothing wrong with them (though I like staffies more), but can we keep this thread free of dno stop fight about pits?

Anonymous wrote:It is impossible to find a shelter dog that is not a pit bull mix. You have to go with breed specific rescues who raid puppy mills. Even then, a lot of the dogs are not pure breeds or the mix that the shelter tells you that it is.

What's wrong with having some American pit bull terrier in them? They are adorable, faithful and loveable