Shelter, Pet Shop or Professional Breeder?

Question

Would you rather get your new Dog from an Animal Rescue/Pound/Shelter, a Pet Shop or a Professional Breeder?

And why would you get your Dog from a Animal Recue/Pound/Shelter, Pet Store or Professional Breeder

Answer 1

Well, NO ONE should buy from a pet store. They support puppy mills, which are bastians of animal cruelty. They sell animals simply for the money and don't care if the fit is right with the family or anything like that.

A professional breeder shouldn't just be 'professional'. They should be an ethical, responsible breeder that follows and exceeds the code of ethics put forth by their breed club. This includes NEVER breeding for money, only breeding champion dogs to improve the line, screening potential owners, limiting litters, health guarantees, health screenings, detailed pedigrees, and lifetime resopnsibility for each and every dog they help to create. A responsible breeder also requires that pet dogs have limited AKC registration and are spayed or neutered by a certain age.

Shelters are great, but certainly not the only option for a humane process of getting a dog. Shelters have plusses and minuses. A state run, state funded shelter will not care if the dog and the family fit together. They will basically give a pet to ANYONE who has the money. These dogs are not always well socialized and not always in the best of health.

A no-kill shelter often pulls dogs from shelters and rehabilitates them. The dogs frequently live with foster families who watch their health and train them so that they are adoptable. They frequently require that if you ever have to give up your animal, that you bring it back to them.

A fourth option is Breed Rescue Groups. These are typically for purebred dogs that the owners can no longer care for. They are all age ranges and all kinds of backgrounds, but most of these dogs are currently in a foster home and have gone through stringent vet checks. In fact, most breed rescues will not release an animal that is not in good health or they screen the family even further. Like a no-kill shelter, they will frequently require extensive contracts with the potential owner, require that if the family cannot keep the animal that it be returned to the rescue group, and usually do a home visit and an interview to ensure a good match. They will take into consideration the family's lifestyle, activity level, financial situation, whether there are other animals in the family and may even contact a previous or current vet, all to ensure that the animal has a perfect home for life.

Also not mentioned were backyard breeders/internet ads/newspaper ads/friends with accidental puppies/etc. These are another no-no. They contribute to the abandoned and abused animal rate just as much as pet shops, if not more. They frequently breed only for money, care little about the actual health of their dog or the puppies, cannot answer breed standard questions, do not show their dogs, do not know where their dog is weak compared to the standard, require either no contract or a small 'sale only' contract, wash their hands of the dog once it leaves the property and the check cashes, and other disreputable.unehtical traits. These are to be avoided at all costs.

Personally, I have a rescue dog that I got from breed rescue. It was around $150 to get a perfectly healthy dog with a wonderful personality. She was 8 months old, semi-trained, spayed, UTD on all shots, and had extensive vet checks. She's been a gift to us and we are so lucky to have her. She was given up because she was a gift from a pet store and it was an impulse buy. Her family did no research on the breed, which is somewhat needy, and was gone for most hours of the day, forcing her to spend 12+ hours alone in a crate. They realized they were being unfair to her and gave her up and now she's a spoiled baby with our family. And this is frequently the story with breed rescue dogs. Families didn't know it would be so much work. Families weren't prepared for potty issues. Families were aware that dogs chase cats.

I hope this offers you some good information! : )

Answer 2

I had to deal with this last year when I decided to get a puppy. I really wanted to adopt from a shelter, but the puppy would be my first dog ever and I wanted to know exactly what I was getting myself into, so I ended up getting a golden retriever from a breeder. I know that typically goldens are fast learners, but also very energetic and sometimes chew things up, and so on. Since I believe in owning a dog for life I wanted to know exactly what I was getting. That being said, when my fiancee and I get a dog next year it will definitely be from the shelter. The shelter is definitely best because you're saving a dog and giving it a home, but at the same time, if you've never had a dog you need to be sure it's a good fit because ownership is for life and it's more important that the person doesn't contribute even more to the homeless dog population. From the research that I did last year pet shops are the worst place to get a dog because they're often impulse buys (so they end up in the shelter a few weeks later) and they aren't treated as good as a dog from a professional breeder (poor things have to spend all their time in a little box in the store).

Answer 3

If all a person is after is a pet, the local shelters are the perfect place to start. For some a shelter dog will work, for some their ego requires something more. And there is nothing wrong with that. Others like to play one or more of the dog games that are out there, and this most likely places limitations on what they can consider for a dog. Everyones needs are unique to them, it is just the way people are wired.
Here is a breeder matrix that one of the breed clubs put out that gives a good prospective of breeding practices.

http://www.shilohshepherds.com/puppyBreeders/breederMatrixv4.htm

.quote
"Breeders are not vet's and they lack the long term knowledge to be able to determine things like hip displasure. "

This is absolutlly not true. More often than not those that have been breeding for a long period of time will actually be more up to date ON THAT ONE BREED than a vet will be.

Answer 4

SHELTER! The best place to ge an animal is from your local animal shelter or humane society. These pets are in desperate need of homes, and are amazing companions. They are usually up to date on shots/vaccines, and are often already spayed or neutered (or a low-cost spay/neuter option is available). Almost one fourth of the dogs in shelters are purebred, so there's plenty to choose from. If you're wanting a particular breed of dog or cat, your shelter can also help you find a local rescue group for that breed.

If you're still set on a particular breed, a reputable breeder can be a good option. However, you need to do your research first. A good breeder should be knowledgeable about their breed, and you should be able to see both parents of the litter before picking your puppy/kitten/etc. Also, the breeding facility should be clean an orderly. If the breeder does not allow you to see any of this, it could be a sign of a poor breeder with something to hide.

Whatever you do, don't get a pet from a random pet store. Unless the store works in cahoots with a shelter, the majority of their pets come from puppy mills. These pets are kept in poor conditions and breeding is not carefully monitored, so animals from mills are very prone to a variety of health problems, and tend to live shorter lives. Not to mention, they cost much more!

Answer 5

ASPCA wins for me... hands down. I have never purchased a pet from a person or store. I personally do not agree with making a profit from something that was not your creation. Yes you do pay an adoption fee at the rescue agency but you also get vet check, rabies shot, spay/ neutering included in this price and TRUST me you will pay alot more than the 60 bucks (or whatever amount) it costs you to adopt for those services at the Vet.

Also there is a big misconception that all "pound puppies" are mutts. This simply isn't true. I recently visited a rescue shelter where there were full blood jack russell terrier puppies for a $40 adoption fee. So please dont be under the assumption that shelter animals are worthless.

Answer 6

Animal shelter hands down! There are so many pets that need a new lease on life.

I would never buy a cat or dog from a pet store, 99% of the time they are from puppy mills.

If I really wanted a pure bred dog, and could not find it at a shelter, I would look for a responsible breeded that could produce health records for both parents and has knowledge of inherent problems to their breed and is addressing it in their breeding program.

Answer 7

I've taken dogs from breeders and shelters(never a pet store I never like the way the puppies are housed)
I've taken a dog from shelters who drew me-they were just pets and companions-
I've taken dogs from breeders when they were for a paticular task hunting/field trial training as there is a tracable record of how the bloodline performs and therefore we could estimate reasonable expectations for a young dog, as you know how it's relatives have performed in the past.

Answer 8

I have bought / adopted dogs from all these outlets EXCEPT for a pet store.
You can find a wonderful dog or puppy from anyone you choose between a shelter to a rescue organization to a professional breeder.
Please don't buy from a pet shop! You will be supporting puppy mills.
BAD BAD BAD!
I recommend that you research the breed you are interested in.
Good luck

Answer 9

I got a cat and a dog from a shelter. They are both wonderful animals.

It depends what you are looking for. If you want a puppy, they go quickly at shelters, so it might take you a while to actually get one. If you want a purebred, same thing.

I got my cat when she was six. She was fixed and declawed and the friendliest cat I've ever met. I got my dog when he was 2. He had actually been at the shelter twice. He was also fixed and potty trained. He has a bit of attachment disorder, but it has improved greatly since I've gotten him.

Answer 10

it would all depend on what i was wanting. it doesn't matter where a dog comes from, it will be a good pet if you are good to it, but if i was looking for a specific breed or a pup, probably a pet shop or breeder.

If i was just looking for a companion, and didn't matter age or kind of breed, i would go to a rescue/shelter.