For all those people against getting a dog at the shelter....?

Question

Why is there so much debate on Yahoo! Answers about where to get a dog from. I think that if you just want a loyal companion or an addition to your family, go to the shelter. If you want a specific breed, go to a breed rescue. I wanted an alaskan malamute and i went to a Malamute Rescue a state away and rescued a full blooded Alaskan Malamute puppy! I think the only reason you should pay a ridiculous amount of money to get a purebred is if you are showing.
Watch this & tell me it doesn't pull at your heartstrings.....
What do you guys think? I want answers not people putting eachother down....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ_vcv5I_KA

Answer 1

I liked this question. I think it really made a lot of people think. I know it did me. I have four dogs, 2 from the shelter and 2 from breeders. Both have their purpose. I am a volunteer at our local animal shelter. What started out to be one or two hours a week has turned into 4-6 hours a day. There is so much need and so much sadness there that many days it's difficult to leave.

I think a lot of people don't feel comfortable adopting from the "pound" because of the uncertainty of knowing what you're going to get when you get home. I hear this a lot from families who don't really want or need a purebred dog, but they're leaning that way because they don't want any surprises. My response to that is "Talk to the volunteers". Our shelter holds 62 dogs and if I were to walk in today, I could tell you exactly which dogs are likely to fit into your lifestyle as long as you're honest with me. I can show you the dogs that love to walk and do well on the leash. I can show you the dogs that love to run in the yard and play catch. I can tell you which dogs will curl up with you in the evenings to watch tv and which ones will pace until you start throwing the ball again. I can tell you which dogs are going to get nervous around small children and which ones get overly excited when they see another dog. In fact, the only thing I can't tell you is how each dog is going to do around cats (the cat facility is down the street), but if you give me overnight, I can do a feline test to find out. As a volunteer, I'm the one who spends time with these dogs each day.

When a dog is picked up or surrendered, the facility is responsible for housing them and feeding them. It's the people who volunteer who are responsible for getting the dogs outside each day, spending time cuddling with them, working on behavioral problems, and just making sure the dogs are ready to enter your home. If you want to know what you're getting ask the volunteers.

Seeing these wonderful dogs sitting there day after day, waiting for someone to love them (besides me) nearly breaks my heart. So my first response to someone looking to get a dog for a family pet is check your local shelter. Sad as it is, there usually isn't too long of a wait to find what you're looking for.

Answer 2

I always recommend people go to Petfinder or a rescue group. However, the problem I've run into with people is impatience. They want a certain breed and they want it now. Of course, if it's not a real common breed, it may take awhile for the right dog to be available in a rescue. People won't wait, so they run down to the pet store or find some backyard breeder in the newspaper.
I used to foster for Whippet rescue. When I would get a dog, I'd have to call dozens of people on the waiting list to find someone who was still waiting. All the others either got another breed or went out and bought a puppy.

Answer 3

you know, I do go to the shelters and I do rescue dogs from there and find them good homes. (yes it is in the breed that i do breed) but, even when i get calls on other breeds I recommend them checking out a local shelter first. The scary thing is about a shelter , you never know what your getting, but i guess that is also from a breeder unless you have dealt with that breeder for some time or waited for a puppy and questiioned the breeder well.. I think there is nothing wrong with looking at local shelters for animals, I even own a mutt :) and she is 11 years old, (she has been spayed when i got her at 2) she is one of the best dogs i own, the doctors call her a "good ole dog" said this is what people want.. I am happy to say even at 11 she acts like a pup and is great all around.
I was seriously thinking about your question. I am a breeder, I have also worked in petstores as a youngin, I do know there are a lot of pet stores that don't care what they bring in, i have also known petstores to close because of parvo from the type of dogs they bring in (puppy mill dogs) But, there are SOME petstores who buy from decent breeders. I myself would never sell to a pet store because i want my dogs to go to a forever home where I can check on them! but,
as for paying ridiculous amount of money for a purebred. There are breeders out there who will sell you a GOOD PUREBRED for pet homes and not for $1500.00 and up.
Some people want the PUREBRED started as a puppy.. In which personally I would purchase from a reputable breeder. Not a pet store, but that is again because i have been there..

Answer 4

I think it is great that you rescued a puppy. I think that some of the trouble with people who want a pure breed puppy is that they can't get to the rescues because they are so far away. I know of some shelters that have to come to your house first to make sure it is a decent place for a dog and they will only go so far from the shelters location. It is a great idea to always get dogs from shelters but sometimes it is the distance that you have to travel to get the dog you want or the long wait for a certain breed to come into the shelter that gets people turned off to shelters. Personally I think rescuing dogs is great. And that video does pull at my heart strings.

Answer 5

I rescued a locker;) LOL Thats what we call her she is a Cockerspaniel and black lab. I would never buy from a breeder. All my pets have to be rescues. It really hurts to see people with these fancy dogs with papers knowing that a dog (mutt)was put down for them to have a pure bred(Its true look it up people. For every pure bred it means a dog must be put down for there is not enough room for them all) Also it makes me so mad when I have some one say "oh your dog came from a pound? Oh well i paid this much and she has papers" I feel like telling them about all the dogs that died that day in the shelter. I know that some may love having pure breed dogs but to me its not worth it. I take comfort in know not only is my dog a pound puppy but she is also the best dog I could ever ask for and I know she will not be plaged by hip probs because her dad was not her uncle or brother. Yes I know all breeders don't breed like that but the majority of them do. Oh and by the way we do pay for our dogs just the same as people pay for them from breeders. I bought my dog from the pound and yes I had more than the nessasry test done. I feel now that you people think only welfare trash get dogs from the pound. MISTAKE... High end people do too. Just because you have money doesnt mean you have to pay $2200 for a dog. Maybe spending that much is good when your buying stuff and getting them fixed and shots done and hair and nails and microchip and the list goes on.


There is my 2cents. Not that anyone will read it but at least I put it out there.


-mel

Answer 6

There is so much debate on where to get a dog from because people's answers depend on their personal values, which debate is not going to change.

For some, a furry companion is all that is needed or wanted...a shelter or rescue is perfect.

For others, a specific dog is needed for a specific purpose...for them, a reputable breeder is the only way to go.

Then there are some who care about the "label" and trendiness of the dog (though they are unlikely to admit it), and for them backyard breeders are where they go because other breeders wouldn't breed these dogs to begin with and these buyers generally see shelter dogs as lesser quality.

Answer 7

Every dog that we have had in my family has been from a shelter and ALL of them turned out to be very loyal, sweet dogs that have been really a part of our family instead of just a dog. I do understand that people like to get purebred dogs for showing, but I would personally rather spend money on trying to save a dog that doesn't have a home,then just buying it because it is a purebred.

Answer 8

I think that the focus should not be so much on where people are getting there dogs but what they are doing with them that causes shelters and rescues to overflow with abandoned animals. There is nothing wrong with buying a specific dog from a specific breeder if that is what you want to do. People who buy dogs are not lower than people who rescue just like people who adopt children are not more noble than people who give birth. The real problem is that people buy (AND RESCUE) animals without taking into account that they are accpeting responsibility for a LIFE. We need to stop viewing lives other than our own as expendable or disposable. When you bring a companion animal into your home you are making a choice for another LIFE and that needs to be taken more seriously by potential pet owners regardless of where they obtain their pet. I have 5 dogs - 3 purchased and 2 adopted and 2 children and each of those lives is dependent upon me and I am responsible for them in every way. The only difference is that one day my children will be able to completely care for themselves and my dogs wont.

**by the by I find it extremely amusing that I get a thumbs down because I dont think shelter dogs are "better" than purchased dogs by people who are supposed to be "dog lovers". Does that mean you love your dog more than I love mine? Hypocrisy.

Answer 9

I agree with you. I'm going to be 50 this year and, with 2 exceptions, all of our family dogs have been shelter or rescue dogs since I was a small child. All of them have been great dogs. I worked at my local SPCA for a while, and you wouldn't believe all the stupid, irrational reasons people have for giving up their pets. Pet owner: "We're moving to Illinois" Me: "Really? They don't allow dogs in Illinois?" Pet Owner: "He just isn't as cute as when he was a puppy." Me: "I see. Are you going to bring your kids here when they stop being cute, too?" Obviously I didn't last too long in that job. ha ha. Anyway, my point is that most of the dogs available at shelters and rescues have nothing wrong with them, it's the people who had the problems. I, too, will be interested to see the reasons people who wouldn't want to get a dog at a shelter or rescue give.

Answer 10

People are not yet educated about the quality of dogs available from the Rescue organizations.

As far as shelters, many people can't judge dogs and puppies for a good pet. I have always had a mutt. I like them and feel that because of hybrid vigor, that their immune system is superior, and that they live longer. But I have been lucky that I've always adopted superior mutts.