Anonymous wrote:Gives the dog street cred.

10:35 again. This was first family pet for us. I hadn't had a pet in over 20 years and DH never had so we had no vet reference. We have a partially fenced yard and we were clear that the dog would be left alone 8-9 hours/day. We didn't plan on crating the dog unless we had to. We also have 3 kids between the ages of 7-10. No one gave us a hassle about the amount of time the dog would be alone or not having a fully fenced yard. Except for the Montgomery County Humane Society, every shelter person we had contact with was very helpful and nice. I especially appreciated the advice from some of the volunteers about the dogs they didn't think were quite right. I never got the sense that it was because they disapproved of us but that there was likely a better fit out there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: But, the applications are easy to fill out and if one group has done an inspection, other groups will contact the inspector and accept the results.

This has not been my experience at all. Do you mind sharing which rescue groups do this? TIA

The dog we brought home was from Lucky Dog Rescue http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/adopt/adoptable-dogs . We were interested in a dog from Homeward Trails http://www.homewardtrails.org/adopt-a-pet/pet-adoption-process/ and they were the ones that arranged for the home inspection. When Lucky Dog learned we'd already had an inspection, they asked for the inspector's contact information. I provided it, they contacted her and she cleared us for their group. Lost Dog Rescue http://www.lostdogrescue.org/ also accepted it. I had phone interviews with all the groups but it only took about 15 minutes. The dog we were interested in from Homeward Trails was still in a rural shelter when we contacted them. They initially thought he'd be a great family dog but when they got him up here and fostered, they recommended against it because of high prey drive and a tendency to 'herd'. We agreed that wasn't a good fit for us. I contacted Lucky Dog about 3 dogs I found on Petfinder, they heard more about what or needs/preferences were and they recommended one of the three. We've only had him 4 days but he seems like a great fit and we're very happy with him. When I contacted the other groups to let them know we'd found one and were no longer searching, they were very polite and seemed happy for us. It was a very good experience for us - partly because I think we managed our expectations. We expected it would take us at least a month or two to find the right dog. And, some rescue groups are better than others. Montgomery County Humane Society was the worse. Fairfax County Human Society was great as was the Alexandria Animal Welfare League.

Good luck.

So many of the dogs at the shelters are the same breeds that the books tell you are "difficult"

Gives the dog street cred.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shaming people has been a very effective way to get people to quit smoking. If we can shame people into not buying dogs from breeders or stores, then I'm all for it.

This whole attitude is just wrong-headed. First, shaming was completely ineffective in getting people to quit smoking. Laws banning smoking in public places and workplaces were effective. Laws raising taxes were effective. So, if you want to pass laws banning dogs from being sold in stores, do it. (Some jurisdictions have.) If you want to pass laws requiring all breeders to get a license to sell animals in a given state with criminal punishments for buyers in addition to sellers, do it. Those would be effective at getting people to stop buying dogs from puppy mills. Second, breeders are not the same as stores. There are many legitimate reasons why people seek out specific breeds even if you don't want a show dog. Allergies are the biggest and I'd say temperament and suitability to family lifestyle are the other. If I know I am not going to be jogging with my dog or available to play for hours on end or able to tolerate a lot of barking, I will seek out a reputable seller of a breed which is a good fit for our family and lifestyle.

To sum up, these sorts of self-righteous statements are why people think those who go on about "rescues" are self-righteous.

I agree with the second PP. There is NO shame in buying from a reputable breeder if you want a specific breed (whether for show, for allergies, or whatever reason matters to the person seeking out the dog). Puppy mills, yes. That is an entirely different situation. I wish there was more oversight and regulation of puppy mills. You can't compare that to real legitimate breeders. I have a dog from a breeder for my own reasons. Perhaps I could have found a dog that met my specific needs from a shelter. Or I could have been stuck in over my head with a dog that didn't turn out to be compatible or have issues beyond what I could handle. 10 years later, my dog is literally my best friend. It worked out for me, personally, to get this dog from a breeder. There is no shame in that. But kudos to people that can chose a rescue and have it work out for them.

I think there is shame in buying a dog from a breeder. Sure, it's not as bad as buying from a store that gets dogs from a puppy mill. People can find dogs from shelters that meet their needs, but they give up or they refuse to compromise (as in, they want a puppy). And puppies bought from breeders can also turn in to problem dogs or be incompatible. It happens all of the time.

Breeders are part of the problem, overpopulation of dogs, and the people who buy from breeders only encourage the problem.

But people don't want to admit that. I'd have more respect for someone who admitted, "yeah, I went to a breeder b/c that was easier." But I can't stand the people who give the BS excuses.

You are mistaken. The premise of your post is wrong, and we reject everything that came after this erroneous statement.

Anonymous wrote:The response to "What kind of dog is he?" should be "We're not sure but we think he's a mix of X and Y." No need to add that you were so noble to rescue him, doesn't answer the question.

Saying "she's a rescue" explains why you don't know what kind of dog it is. You're reading the "noble" part into it; again, context creates connotation -- so, either you have something of a tin ear for language or you feel guilty.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do it because my dog is still very skittish, and it is a result of her difficult past. I want people to understand that she's not that way because I'm doing something wrong. Also she is a beautiful, loving girl and I want more people to realize that wonderful animals are waiting to be adopted through rescues. I hope it will make them pause and think a little about whether they should buy from a breeder.

+ 1

My guy was a bait dog in Southern MD and is a bit neurotic on-leash around other dogs, tall men, umbrellas, you name it. Skittish is an understatement.

I feel as though the term "rescue" helps make folks more aware of the situation an animal came from, and that my guy is not like this by choice.

So folks are supposed to deal with this? In the last month I have had to put up with several young adult rescue owners who were sold the pitbull bill of goods. I saw these dogs in the company of the owners for hours. Both gotten as puppies, obedience school, etc. These things can't even use the standard household big dog crates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what's the "excuse" for the purebred dogs that snap at my sweet and gentle rescue? Actually, no excuse is needed because even well-trained dogs will snap at each other sometimes. The important thing is for the owners -- both of them -- to be alert and know what to do when this happens -- or, better yet, spot the signs that this could happen and keep the dogs apart in the first place.

I'd be interested in seeing just what your "sweet rescue's" body language is when he gets snapped at. Many, many people do not realize what message their dog is telegraphing and are just shocked when their sweetie pie getsicked on. Meanwhile, their dog was being incredibly pushy.

It would be hard for her to be "pushy" at a distance of several feet, though, maybe your purebred has ESP?

Maybe not pushy, per se, but your dog can give a hard stare from several feet away, which is super rude in dog language.

Oh, and who said I had a purebred? Oh, you just assumed that, too.

It's so funny to even think of my dog giving a hard stare at anything but a squirrel, bird or bunny. I assumed you had a purebred because of the sarcastic tone of your response and the fact that you didn't say, as I did, that any dog can snap. So, tell me, what kind of dog do you have?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what's the "excuse" for the purebred dogs that snap at my sweet and gentle rescue? Actually, no excuse is needed because even well-trained dogs will snap at each other sometimes. The important thing is for the owners -- both of them -- to be alert and know what to do when this happens -- or, better yet, spot the signs that this could happen and keep the dogs apart in the first place.

I'd be interested in seeing just what your "sweet rescue's" body language is when he gets snapped at. Many, many people do not realize what message their dog is telegraphing and are just shocked when their sweetie pie getsicked on. Meanwhile, their dog was being incredibly pushy.

Oh, I get it. Your bully dog was provoked.

humane society puppy mill raid
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/facts/

Note that licensed breeders are livestock /puppy mills. Sadly these puppies are/can be bred from unhealthy dogs, no socialization at critical periods, etc. My second childhood dog as a mut-one of my dad's friends male dog got the neighbor pregnant. Most people get their dogs fixed today.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shaming people has been a very effective way to get people to quit smoking. If we can shame people into not buying dogs from breeders or stores, then I'm all for it.

This whole attitude is just wrong-headed. First, shaming was completely ineffective in getting people to quit smoking. Laws banning smoking in public places and workplaces were effective. Laws raising taxes were effective. So, if you want to pass laws banning dogs from being sold in stores, do it. (Some jurisdictions have.) If you want to pass laws requiring all breeders to get a license to sell animals in a given state with criminal punishments for buyers in addition to sellers, do it. Those would be effective at getting people to stop buying dogs from puppy mills. Second, breeders are not the same as stores. There are many legitimate reasons why people seek out specific breeds even if you don't want a show dog. Allergies are the biggest and I'd say temperament and suitability to family lifestyle are the other. If I know I am not going to be jogging with my dog or available to play for hours on end or able to tolerate a lot of barking, I will seek out a reputable seller of a breed which is a good fit for our family and lifestyle.

To sum up, these sorts of self-righteous statements are why people think those who go on about "rescues" are self-righteous.

I agree with the second PP. There is NO shame in buying from a reputable breeder if you want a specific breed (whether for show, for allergies, or whatever reason matters to the person seeking out the dog). Puppy mills, yes. That is an entirely different situation. I wish there was more oversight and regulation of puppy mills. You can't compare that to real legitimate breeders. I have a dog from a breeder for my own reasons. Perhaps I could have found a dog that met my specific needs from a shelter. Or I could have been stuck in over my head with a dog that didn't turn out to be compatible or have issues beyond what I could handle. 10 years later, my dog is literally my best friend. It worked out for me, personally, to get this dog from a breeder. There is no shame in that. But kudos to people that can chose a rescue and have it work out for them.

I think there is shame in buying a dog from a breeder. Sure, it's not as bad as buying from a store that gets dogs from a puppy mill. People can find dogs from shelters that meet their needs, but they give up or they refuse to compromise (as in, they want a puppy). And puppies bought from breeders can also turn in to problem dogs or be incompatible. It happens all of the time.

Breeders are part of the problem, overpopulation of dogs, and the people who buy from breeders only encourage the problem.

But people don't want to admit that. I'd have more respect for someone who admitted, "yeah, I went to a breeder b/c that was easier." But I can't stand the people who give the BS excuses.

Going to a good breeder isn't easier. They screen and have wait lists. We have had wonderful dogs from breeders. People meet the parent [sometimes dad too] while pregnant or before. See the pups at about 4 weeks. You don't choose-the breeder does. I've had breeders refuse to sell me a dog based on age of children. I got a shelter dog decades ago. He was great. I went to the pound and picked him.

At a rescue event at a pet smart I spied a dog I would have taken home-turned out it was a black lab and the owners tshirt just resembled the rescue group's at a distance. It seems many at shelters are pitbull blends or chihuahua. This young guy looks good:
http://lostdogrescue.org/dogs/56090/buddy-the-aussie

Anonymous wrote:I do it because my dog is still very skittish, and it is a result of her difficult past. I want people to understand that she's not that way because I'm doing something wrong. Also she is a beautiful, loving girl and I want more people to realize that wonderful animals are waiting to be adopted through rescues. I hope it will make them pause and think a little about whether they should buy from a breeder.

+ 1

My guy was a bait dog in Southern MD and is a bit neurotic on-leash around other dogs, tall men, umbrellas, you name it. Skittish is an understatement.

I feel as though the term "rescue" helps make folks more aware of the situation an animal came from, and that my guy is not like this by choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shaming people has been a very effective way to get people to quit smoking. If we can shame people into not buying dogs from breeders or stores, then I'm all for it.

This whole attitude is just wrong-headed. First, shaming was completely ineffective in getting people to quit smoking. Laws banning smoking in public places and workplaces were effective. Laws raising taxes were effective. So, if you want to pass laws banning dogs from being sold in stores, do it. (Some jurisdictions have.) If you want to pass laws requiring all breeders to get a license to sell animals in a given state with criminal punishments for buyers in addition to sellers, do it. Those would be effective at getting people to stop buying dogs from puppy mills. Second, breeders are not the same as stores. There are many legitimate reasons why people seek out specific breeds even if you don't want a show dog. Allergies are the biggest and I'd say temperament and suitability to family lifestyle are the other. If I know I am not going to be jogging with my dog or available to play for hours on end or able to tolerate a lot of barking, I will seek out a reputable seller of a breed which is a good fit for our family and lifestyle.

To sum up, these sorts of self-righteous statements are why people think those who go on about "rescues" are self-righteous.

I agree with the second PP. There is NO shame in buying from a reputable breeder if you want a specific breed (whether for show, for allergies, or whatever reason matters to the person seeking out the dog). Puppy mills, yes. That is an entirely different situation. I wish there was more oversight and regulation of puppy mills. You can't compare that to real legitimate breeders. I have a dog from a breeder for my own reasons. Perhaps I could have found a dog that met my specific needs from a shelter. Or I could have been stuck in over my head with a dog that didn't turn out to be compatible or have issues beyond what I could handle. 10 years later, my dog is literally my best friend. It worked out for me, personally, to get this dog from a breeder. There is no shame in that. But kudos to people that can chose a rescue and have it work out for them.

Um, dogs from breeders "snap" and bite people, too. Any dog can snap. If you adopt an older dog, you are actually able to have a better idea of its personality before you take it home. Not so with a puppy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shaming people has been a very effective way to get people to quit smoking. If we can shame people into not buying dogs from breeders or stores, then I'm all for it.

This whole attitude is just wrong-headed. First, shaming was completely ineffective in getting people to quit smoking. Laws banning smoking in public places and workplaces were effective. Laws raising taxes were effective. So, if you want to pass laws banning dogs from being sold in stores, do it. (Some jurisdictions have.) If you want to pass laws requiring all breeders to get a license to sell animals in a given state with criminal punishments for buyers in addition to sellers, do it. Those would be effective at getting people to stop buying dogs from puppy mills. Second, breeders are not the same as stores. There are many legitimate reasons why people seek out specific breeds even if you don't want a show dog. Allergies are the biggest and I'd say temperament and suitability to family lifestyle are the other. If I know I am not going to be jogging with my dog or available to play for hours on end or able to tolerate a lot of barking, I will seek out a reputable seller of a breed which is a good fit for our family and lifestyle.

To sum up, these sorts of self-righteous statements are why people think those who go on about "rescues" are self-righteous.

I agree with the second PP. There is NO shame in buying from a reputable breeder if you want a specific breed (whether for show, for allergies, or whatever reason matters to the person seeking out the dog). Puppy mills, yes. That is an entirely different situation. I wish there was more oversight and regulation of puppy mills. You can't compare that to real legitimate breeders. I have a dog from a breeder for my own reasons. Perhaps I could have found a dog that met my specific needs from a shelter. Or I could have been stuck in over my head with a dog that didn't turn out to be compatible or have issues beyond what I could handle. 10 years later, my dog is literally my best friend. It worked out for me, personally, to get this dog from a breeder. There is no shame in that. But kudos to people that can chose a rescue and have it work out for them.

I think there is shame in buying a dog from a breeder. Sure, it's not as bad as buying from a store that gets dogs from a puppy mill. People can find dogs from shelters that meet their needs, but they give up or they refuse to compromise (as in, they want a puppy). And puppies bought from breeders can also turn in to problem dogs or be incompatible. It happens all of the time.

Breeders are part of the problem, overpopulation of dogs, and the people who buy from breeders only encourage the problem.

But people don't want to admit that. I'd have more respect for someone who admitted, "yeah, I went to a breeder b/c that was easier." But I can't stand the people who give the BS excuses.