I have a shelter dog and a shelter cat and I think it is not immoral for people to buy purebreds from a reputable breeder.

A potential pet owner has no moral obligation to save the life of a homeless pet. That moral duty fell squarely on the owner of the pet who either turned it over to the shelter or who failed to spay/neuter the parent of the unwanted pet.

A pet owner's only moral duty is to take care of the pet appropriately once s/he takes it in.

If a potential pet owner chooses to take in a shelter pet, that is a good thing, but not doing so is not immoral.

For example, do you judge people who don't own pets but who are in a position to do so negatively for not saving the life of a pet? Should my brother, whose dog died two years ago, who has a nice house with a fenced in backyard, time on his hands, and no issues that would prevent him from owning a pet, be considered a bad person because he has not adopted a shelter pet?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went with a reputable breeder. We've had rescue dogs before and they've been awesome. This time we wanted a German Shepherd. We know a lot about the breed, both good and bad. We have young children, so temperament was key. We went with a breeder so that we could adopt a puppy and train him correctly, so that we could select specifically for temperament as opposed to show quality, and so that we had a health guarantee.

s/o. often times the "health guarantee" of a breeder is not what it seems.

Ours would refund the money but we had to spend hundreds of dollars on diagnostic X-rays for hip displaysia before she would honor it. This was a goldendoodle, too. Ignore the crap about "hybrid vigor." It's baloney.

Love our dog, but she is facing years of medical procedures and we're looking at bleeding cash.

I know, right?

My MIL purchased yorkie for $1200 with a health guarantee. Prior to that dog even turning a year, she started having major issues. SHe got her money back from the breeder for the cost of the dog, but I shit you not, that dog is 4 years old and she has spent nearly $10,000 keeping it alive. Good thing she has the money. If that were my dog, it would have been laid to rest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responsible breeders will take their dogs back for life and provide them a home if at any point the owner is not able to.

While it might be viewed as more "ethical" to rescue a dog, purchasing a dog from a responsible breeder does not contribute to over population.

Please explain.

Because the breeder takes responsibility for homing the dog for life.

Which affects the dog overpopulation in what way? It may give one dog (or however many dogs the breeder takes responsibility for) a guarantee of a home. It has absolutely no effect on the problem of pet overpopulation. The breeder is still producing dogs, when dogs need homes elsewhere.

Probably the better term is overpopulation of unwanted dogs.

Every single self-righteous shelterdog owner out there better for darn sure never have biological children of their own. there are thousands and thousands of children in need of good homes, right?

Actually no, there are not thousands and thousands of children in need of good homes. You might try talking to some couples who are trying to adopt.

adopt babies not children. Wednesday's child on NBC features a child that needs a home - foster kids are available.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number one reason dogs are put down is because they can't be trained. They become unruly and the family can't handle them. So thoughtfully picking a calm dog that is trainable was the most responsible thing to do.

OP - fight fire with fire.

"So why didn't you save a dog"
"It's a service dog."
"Really why do you need a service dog"
"Hmmm - I don't really usually talk to strangers about my families medical conditions - pause - I am sure you understand."

You buy a dog once ever what 15 years - get exactly what you want!

+100 bold above
I have a pure breed because there is something powerfully beautiful (to me) about my dog's classic appearance. She is simply gorgeous, inside and out, and I have joy every single time I see her standing in a certain way that her breed has proudly displayed for centuries. I have wanted this certain breed dog since I was 11 years old. Beyond loving my dog and caring for her incredibly well, her looks bring back happy memories to me from my childhood. There is more to having a pure breed than the old and tired breeder vs. rescue debate. OP, thank you for your post.

So get a pure bred! Why do you need to get it from a breeder is the question for me.

Because the breed I wanted is never available at a shelter. I have tried for YEARS. I have wanted this particular dog badly since I was a little girl and the fact that I am now 49 with a 10 month old pure breed puppy is not a coincidence but because I WAS waiting for one to be available to rescue. And before anyone goes on and on about how every type of dog is always available please do not. I waited for years trying. I have over a decade of e-mail correspondence and other communications to prove it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number one reason dogs are put down is because they can't be trained. They become unruly and the family can't handle them. So thoughtfully picking a calm dog that is trainable was the most responsible thing to do.

OP - fight fire with fire.

"So why didn't you save a dog"
"It's a service dog."
"Really why do you need a service dog"
"Hmmm - I don't really usually talk to strangers about my families medical conditions - pause - I am sure you understand."

You buy a dog once ever what 15 years - get exactly what you want!

+100 bold above
I have a pure breed because there is something powerfully beautiful (to me) about my dog's classic appearance. She is simply gorgeous, inside and out, and I have joy every single time I see her standing in a certain way that her breed has proudly displayed for centuries. I have wanted this certain breed dog since I was 11 years old. Beyond loving my dog and caring for her incredibly well, her looks bring back happy memories to me from my childhood. There is more to having a pure breed than the old and tired breeder vs. rescue debate. OP, thank you for your post.

So get a pure bred! Why do you need to get it from a breeder is the question for me.

It hits a nerve because loving dogs are put to sleep by the thousands every.single.day. Great dogs that are waiting in shelters, by no fault of their own (mutts and purebreds). We have a rescued Yorkie, with many health issues, and a large hound mix with no health problems. I could never adopt from a breeder, and most good people I know couldn't either, maybe you're all missing the empathetic gene. And perhaps very selfish.

Anonymous wrote:The number one reason dogs are put down is because they can't be trained. They become unruly and the family can't handle them. So thoughtfully picking a calm dog that is trainable was the most responsible thing to do.

OP - fight fire with fire.

"So why didn't you save a dog"
"It's a service dog."
"Really why do you need a service dog"
"Hmmm - I don't really usually talk to strangers about my families medical conditions - pause - I am sure you understand."

You buy a dog once ever what 15 years - get exactly what you want!

+100 bold above
I have a pure breed because there is something powerfully beautiful (to me) about my dog's classic appearance. She is simply gorgeous, inside and out, and I have joy every single time I see her standing in a certain way that her breed has proudly displayed for centuries. I have wanted this certain breed dog since I was 11 years old. Beyond loving my dog and caring for her incredibly well, her looks bring back happy memories to me from my childhood. There is more to having a pure breed than the old and tired breeder vs. rescue debate. OP, thank you for your post.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responsible breeders will take their dogs back for life and provide them a home if at any point the owner is not able to.

While it might be viewed as more "ethical" to rescue a dog, purchasing a dog from a responsible breeder does not contribute to over population.

Please explain.

Because the breeder takes responsibility for homing the dog for life.

Which affects the dog overpopulation in what way? It may give one dog (or however many dogs the breeder takes responsibility for) a guarantee of a home. It has absolutely no effect on the problem of pet overpopulation. The breeder is still producing dogs, when dogs need homes elsewhere.

Probably the better term is overpopulation of unwanted dogs.

Every single self-righteous shelterdog owner out there better for darn sure never have biological children of their own. there are thousands and thousands of children in need of good homes, right?

Actually no, there are not thousands and thousands of children in need of good homes. You might try talking to some couples who are trying to adopt.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responsible breeders will take their dogs back for life and provide them a home if at any point the owner is not able to.

While it might be viewed as more "ethical" to rescue a dog, purchasing a dog from a responsible breeder does not contribute to over population.

Please explain.

Because the breeder takes responsibility for homing the dog for life.

Which affects the dog overpopulation in what way? It may give one dog (or however many dogs the breeder takes responsibility for) a guarantee of a home. It has absolutely no effect on the problem of pet overpopulation. The breeder is still producing dogs, when dogs need homes elsewhere.

Probably the better term is overpopulation of unwanted dogs.

Every single self-righteous shelterdog owner out there better for darn sure never have biological children of their own. there are thousands and thousands of children in need of good homes, right?

I don't quite see the connection. We don't put children to death in 60 days if they fail to attract new "owners."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responsible breeders will take their dogs back for life and provide them a home if at any point the owner is not able to.

While it might be viewed as more "ethical" to rescue a dog, purchasing a dog from a responsible breeder does not contribute to over population.

Please explain.

Because the breeder takes responsibility for homing the dog for life.

Which affects the dog overpopulation in what way? It may give one dog (or however many dogs the breeder takes responsibility for) a guarantee of a home. It has absolutely no effect on the problem of pet overpopulation. The breeder is still producing dogs, when dogs need homes elsewhere.

Probably the better term is overpopulation of unwanted dogs.

Every single self-righteous shelterdog owner out there better for darn sure never have biological children of their own. there are thousands and thousands of children in need of good homes, right?

The number one reason dogs are put down is because they can't be trained. They become unruly and the family can't handle them. So thoughtfully picking a calm dog that is trainable was the most responsible thing to do.

OP - fight fire with fire.

"So why didn't you save a dog"
"It's a service dog."
"Really why do you need a service dog"
"Hmmm - I don't really usually talk to strangers about my families medical conditions - pause - I am sure you understand."

You buy a dog once ever what 15 years - get exactly what you want!

Anonymous wrote:Or even a designer mutt, why is it anyone's place to tell them that they should have reescued a dog?
We got a special breed because my husband is disabled and we needed a calm dog, thus a special breed.
I have no reason to feel that I owe anyone an explanation.
Before, when I lived alne and single, I wanted a purebred guard dog that I had trained to guard. I got pure bred puppies and have no regrets.

I am fully aware that there are too many dogs and so on, but please people, every single time a person posts about a breed, someone (often the first post) is about rescue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responsible breeders will take their dogs back for life and provide them a home if at any point the owner is not able to.

While it might be viewed as more "ethical" to rescue a dog, purchasing a dog from a responsible breeder does not contribute to over population.

Please explain.

Because the breeder takes responsibility for homing the dog for life.

+1. As part of the contract when we purchased our puppy, there was actually a clause that at any time in the dog's life we would return her to the breeder as opposed to sell her or take her to a shelter if we no longer wanted her.

I agree with OP. A dog is a member of your family, and you do what you think is best for your family. How many puppies of a given breed end up in rescue situations? I purchased a purebred puppy from a reputable breeder, even though I volunteered with a rescure organization. Healthy puppies are few and far between, if that's what you want.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responsible breeders will take their dogs back for life and provide them a home if at any point the owner is not able to.

While it might be viewed as more "ethical" to rescue a dog, purchasing a dog from a responsible breeder does not contribute to over population.

Please explain.

Because the breeder takes responsibility for homing the dog for life.

So if I give birth to a baby, knowing that I have a home for that baby, I'm not contributing to the global population of humans?????

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responsible breeders will take their dogs back for life and provide them a home if at any point the owner is not able to.

While it might be viewed as more "ethical" to rescue a dog, purchasing a dog from a responsible breeder does not contribute to over population.

Please explain.

Because the breeder takes responsibility for homing the dog for life.

Which affects the dog overpopulation in what way? It may give one dog (or however many dogs the breeder takes responsibility for) a guarantee of a home. It has absolutely no effect on the problem of pet overpopulation. The breeder is still producing dogs, when dogs need homes elsewhere.