Interesting topic, just curious what others think?

Question

I have always wondered this, especially reading a lot of the Q & As on here. People always seem to strongly advise against getting puppies in pet stores or from backyard breeders (i am one of those people), but always encourage people to rescue a pet from a local shelter (i also do that).

What i don't understand is the difference. Don't all of the dogs need homes? If its a matter of potential health problems, aren't those just as likely with a rescue dog whose background you don't know either?

I am just curious on the different views here.

Just to add, I am absolutely in favor of adopting from a shelter. I just feel like the dogs in pet stores and in the paper already exist, they have already been born, its not their fault where they came from, and they need good homes too.

I also do not breed dogs, nor do i ever intend to. Not sure where that assumption came from.

Answer 1

People are advised to avoid puppy mills because of unethical treatment of animals.

Answer 2

I think people seem to have this idea that if they spread the word on shelters puppy mills and backyard breeders will go out of business. Unfortunately this just isn't reality.

Pet stores and breeders are always going to be producing dogs unless suddenly everyone stopped buying from them, not going to happen. Not to mention all the extra dogs that would suddenly end up in shelters due to the over supply.

The reality is anywhere you get a dog from you are providing an animal with a home that needs it. Each option has positives and negatives; inbreeding, genetic conditions, temperament issues etc; and it is up to the person where they feel most comfortable getting a family pet from.

While I'm all for spreading the word on shelters and animals that need homes I find it fairly ridiculous the way most people who ask about new dogs/puppies on here are bombarded with rescue madness.

Answer 3

I've spent a lot of time thinking about that question as well. I'm one of the people that gives that exact advice.

Yes, all the dogs need homes, but if people would stop buying from pet stores and adopted more from shelters, there would be less of a market for the puppy mills and shelters wouldn't be so crowded. I think we need to encourage positive actions and discourage negative ones - by doing so, you actually get societal change. Because of this viewpoint, large chain stores like Petco and PetSmart have adoption centers and don't ever sell puppies and kittens. And mostly people really do need to stop thinking they should breed their animals and spay and neuter them if they are really just pets. I'm always amazed at how many people still think a dog or a cat should "have just one litter and i have homes for them all anyway," without looking at the big picture of what that means (some other animal won't have a home).

If we ever get to a place where there are only expensive purebred dogs bred by quality breeders, there might need to be a discussion about what the best breeding practices should be because not everyone wants an expensive show dog. But we are so far from that place, I'm not spending any time pondering that utopian dream just yet.

Answer 4

I agree that all dogs deserve good homes. However, the less people buy from pet stores, backyard breeders and other people out to make a quick buck from the sale of a puppy the less common they will become. It's simple supply and demand. People buying puppies this way is encouraging more of the same type of breeding. For every dog purchased from a backyard breeder or pet store another one will be bread in its place.
If people do not support these unhealthy practices they will stop being so common.
While if more people were aware of the amazing dogs you could get in a shelter, and the hard work our shelters do they will receive more funding and be able to rescue more dogs.

Answer 5

If you get a dog from the pound, you save a life, and open up a space for a new dog. There are odds the dog may have a hereditary issue, or something will come up.

If you get a dog from a BYB, that does not test, and the only question they ask is "Did you bring the cash", you may or may not end up with a dog that is unhealthy, or has a hereditary issue, even one they should have tested the parents for, but will not spend the $$ to test, because the consumer will continue to buy anyway, so they will not waste the money.

If/when your pup has a problem, the BYB will not want to know about it, and will continue to breed their dogs, because the problem does not affect ALL of their pups, and it is not costing THEM, even if it is costing you a fortune.

If you buy from a pet store, you are supporting horrendous suffering and neglect. There is no way around it.

If one *must* have that puppy in the window, I suggest hunting the parents down and buying them also, as they are the ones who suffered so someone could have instant gratification and a cute face, regardless of how hungry, ill or cramped in cages the parents are.

Answer 6

Many of the animals that end up in shelters originated at backyard breeders and pet stores. With all the homeless animals why should we need to produce more??? Animals aren't disposable. They aren't throw away fads. They are creatures with feelings. Why add to the misery in the animal shelters by paying someone to add to the pet population? All dogs do need homes, but buy introducing more into the population you are taking away a potential home for an animal in a shelter who may be facing death that desperately needs a "forever home". Please get your pets from a shelter or rescue group. Don't encourage pet stores or backyard breeders.

Answer 7

I discourage people from buying dogs from backyard breeders/puppy farms/pet shops at every chance I get, because I don't think people like you should be breeding dogs.

By buying from back yard breeders, people are encouranging others to mate dogs for profit, regardless of the massive overpopulation of dogs, and without regard for the dogs safety or health. The vast majority of backyard breeders do NO health checks, and are only interested in turning a profit, thereby doing as LITTLE as possible to increase profit margins.

On the flip side, there are hundreds of thousands of dogs that have ALREADY been born that do not have homes. These dogs are victims of the dod population problem that exists, and unfortunately for these dogs, they are being forced to live in horrid conditions at the shelter until they can find a home.

So, while people like you are making money, there are animals dying every day because there isn't enough space for them at the shelter, and there aren't enough people who want to own them.


I think you contributing to this problem is terrible. I see you as the worst kind of enterpenure, as you look at your animals as a source of profit instead of a companion, AND, at the same time, you are denying a poor dog in a shelter a home.


EDIT: I read the 'i am one of those people' part to mean that you are a backyard breeder... Sorry for the confusion.

So.. uhh.. Read this as an open letter to backyard breeders...

Answer 8

My opinion on the matter is: Puppy Mills do not (mostly), take care of the animals that they're trying to sell for a profit. They don't care that the puppy hasn't had it's very important first shots or worming. They don't seem to notice or care that the breeding populous is standing in ankle deep feces/urine or mud..... I could go on. I've purchased animals from individuals, shelters and ONE puppy mill. I've also rescued puppies and kittens that were pulled away from the mother 2 sometimes 3 weeks too early....The Breeder I purchased from only allows her dog to breed once a year and starts the pups on wormers and first vaccs. A rare beauty. If I had my druthers? I'd get the pets from the shelters.

Answer 9

the reason that people say to not buy from the breeders and stores is because even though yes, they do need homes, if we purchase them, it's only going to give that breeder more money and encouragement to keep breeding & keep selling.. if we all adopted from the shelters, then the breeders would be put out of business.. BUT.. if the breeders were put out of business, there would be hardly any dogs, and not enough to be in the shelters.. well.. that's just my personal opinion!!

Answer 10

BYB and people who run puppy mills are only in it for the $$$. The dogs health is no concern of theirs. This is why a lot of puppies from pet stores have health problems. If everyone stopped buying from UN responsible- breeders and pet stores and went to shelters and rescues instead there would be many many saved lives. How ever as much as I would like to see every byb shut down it is unlikely that is why we must educate educate educate !

Answer 11

Huge difference.. If you rescue a dog from the shelter, you open up a spot for a new dog that needs a place to stay for a while.
If you Buy a dog from a petstore, you open up a spot for the puppymill to fill again. The more you buy from a puppy mill the more you are supporting their cause, giving them the money they want / need to continue their crappy endeavour..

Support those that were accidents and were lost and already are without a home. Don't help someone nasty have a reason to breed another litter.

Shelters don't breed and fill up the shelters, Puppymills are the ones filling up the shelters. Why support the puppymill directly when they are going to end up in the shelter eventually anyhow??