Quote:
Originally Posted by FishyFishy89
So...answer me this?
Why spend so much money on a "pure-bred" dog? Why not go give a dog in the shelter a loving home? Do you know that for every dog you purchase from a breeder thousands more are being killed because you decided you wanted a "pure-bred" dog?
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That is actually an incorrect statement and one that really gets my goat.
Properly bred purebreds (not those produced by 'hobbyists', BYBs or puppy mills) are bred with a purpose in mind. The type of home they are sold into are usually very unlikely to dump their dog off at a shelter and even if they do it is usually sent to the breed rescue group for adoption.
Me buying a purebred dog because I want to know the temperament, health, background and upbringing of that dog (all of which play an important role, particularly in a strong and reactive breed such as shepherds) does not directly correlate to the euthanasia of the thousands of dogs in shelters and pounds.
Those dogs are there because of ignorant, irresponsible and lazy owners. They are there because of people who failed to make provisions for their animals should something happen. They are usually there because they are dogs and the people purchasing them would be more suited to owning pet rocks than a living, breathing animal that requires more effort than a pat and a 'good boy'.
Even if I never ever bought another purebred dog again thousands of dogs would still be in shelters. You then know what happens when all the good, responsible breeders of dogs stop breeding? You end up with dogs whose genetic history is unknown, dogs who have severe health problems later down the track because of a lack of screening, dogs who have huge holes in their training because their owners couldn't be arsed getting off the couch and teaching them.
My dad has a dog we got from a shelter here. It is a two year old pitbull cross who was dumped at the shelter because the owners did not have a fence. This dog has severe separation anxiety and is all over you like a rash with no off switch. My dad's yard looks like a Jurrassic Park exhibit as he struggled to keep him contained. He is a very sweet dog and when he listens he is very smart and loves to please. However, never in a million years would that be the kind of dog I am interested in.
Yet there are thousands of 'Porters' out there who will be destroyed because no one wants a dog that is going to scale a 5ft fence and push through electric fencing to get out.
I know I certainly would not. It is hard enough raising a puppy from scratch, let alone fixing the mistakes of others.
So don't rant at me and anyone else who chooses to purchase from responsible breeders. We are not the problem, and if there were only people like us in the world there would probably be many less dogs sitting in those shelters waiting for a home that is never going to come.
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