Shelter Dogs? What do you really think?

Question

I am so tired of hearing people answer questions regarding when, what, why to they want to breed their dog, by saying they should go to a shelter and adopt a dog first. WHY???? Those shelters are full of diseases, viruses and mistreated dogs and god only knows what else? I say, if they are the ones that are feeding the dogs, then they are the only ones that need to have an opinion as to why they are breeding, etc. What do you think?

i agree that it usually is the initial owner/ breeders fault, but why pass that on to someone else to try to "fix"?

Answer 1

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It is what is asked for here.

All dogs at the shelter are not diseased or mistreated. Many, many are dumped because the owners don't know how to take care of a dog (although they think they do) and their "care" creates behavioral problems in the dog (pees on carpet, is dominant, chews inappropriately, jumps up on people). Sometimes the dogs are sick (owner's too cheap to pay vet bill).

We have many good dogs in our shelter that in the right home with a person who is willing to actually train them, like they should have been in the first place, they will become fabulous pets.

That said, a shelter dog can be more trouble than if they had been started out right in the first place. That is where a good breeder (I recommend and active, competitive exhibitor or owner of actively working dogs) can be a great asset. I have two dogs. One I got years ago, second hand, from a newspaper ad and the other I got two years ago from a fabulous exhibitor who shows his dogs in the show ring. Both were started out very well by knowledgeable people.

I am all for adopting from a shelter IF you can train the dog right and are committed to it. I am also all for well-bred dogs that are bred by knowledgeable people who are in it to improve the breed in both form and function

Answer 2

98% of the time if not more, its the owners fault the dogs are at the shelter not the dogs fault
The OWNER didnt take enough time to socialize the pup and honestly couldnt be bothered.
50% of dogs in shelters are PUPPIES that are healthy and need a good start on life ,they can become great pets
The other 48% are dogs gave up ,either due to no time, divorce, death , not enough money ,moving away, allergies or new baby ,or change on work schedule.
These dogs are already housetrained and are sweet dogs. They deserve another chance its not their fault their owner didnt have enough time. So no the dogs arent the rejects, not all are diseased and mistreated.
I have adotped 3 dogs from shelters a lab, a yorkie and a havanese.
All great dogs, couldnt ask for better , no diseases ,well behaved and loving.
Now if I would have went to a BYB which is what your describing and supporting then yeah its a 95% chance of getting a sick,mistreated ,unhealthy dog.
So before you judge shelter dogs why not get off your butt and go meet some?
AND on top of all this; instead of breeding about 2-6 dogs, why not rescue one?

Answer 3

98% of the time if not more, its the owners fault the dogs are at the shelter not the dogs fault
The OWNER didnt take enough time to socialize the pup and honestly couldnt be bothered.
50% of dogs in shelters are PUPPIES that are healthy and need a good start on life ,they can become great pets
The other 48% are dogs gave up ,either due to no time, divorce, death , not enough money ,moving away, allergies or new baby ,or change on work schedule.
These dogs are already housetrained and are sweet dogs. They deserve another chance its not their fault their owner didnt have enough time. So no the dogs arent the rejects, not all are diseased and mistreated.
I have adotped 3 dogs from shelters a lab, a yorkie and a havanese.
All great dogs, couldnt ask for better , no diseases ,well behaved and loving.
Now if I would have went to a BYB which is what your describing and supporting then yeah its a 95% chance of getting a sick,mistreated ,unhealthy dog.
So before you judge shelter dogs why not get off your butt and go meet some?

Answer 4

Many people just don't like the fact that breeders are creating more animals when there is an overpopulation of dogs and cats already.

I understand why people want certain breeds, many are very beautiful and have good dispositions.
But when it gets to the point where the animals are inbred so badly that they get health problems from it, it kind of makes me angry. There are already so many animals suffering in shelters that would be just fine (no diseases, viruses and they haven't been mistreated, just abandoned) as pets. All they need is a loving home.

Just to let you know, shelters also contain pure bred dogs and cats. Its not all mutts and tabbies.

If someone is looking to buy a purebred, they should get it directly from the breeder or animal rescue centres that have pure breds. Also, local shelters sometimes have pure breds that have been abandoned by their owners with nothing wrong with them.

Answer 5

There's nothing inherently wrong with mixes, mutts, crosses, or purebreds that you find at a shelter. Shelter workers are often volunteers who work purely for the joy they experience when caring for "unwanted" or neglected animals. As you can see from previous postings, shelter volunteers are passionate about their jobs and do everything they can to benefit the lives of the animals lucky enough to cross their paths. Props to shelter workers! Keep up the good work! (my chihuahua came from a shelter...)

Also, buying from a breeder will certainly NOT guarantee a healthy pet. Some purebreds are "manufactured" by breeders to look a certain way, and this can be at the expense of the dogs' health. A friend of mine had two bull mastiffs that had numerous health problems associated with the "breed standard" (hip dysplasia). Also, try googling "teacup" anything. Due to the sudden popularity increase in "pocket dogs," breeders (not reputable ones, though) have started tapping into a breeding goldmine--one that champions unnaturally small and possibly unhealthy dogs. Of course these dogs need loving homes, but please don't fool yourself into believing that a purebred is somehow naturally better or healthier than shelter dogs!

If you're interested in finding a new four-legged family member, ask lots of questions from the shelter, rescue group, or breeder your dealing with. Spend some time playing with and observing the dog. A really sick dog may act...well... really sick. Common health problems you may come across, like "kennel cough" or intestinal parasites, can be extremely easy to deal with. Don't rule out any dog just because it's in a shelter, though!!!

Best of luck to you all!!

Answer 6

All these shows on TV now portray only bad breeders and how terrible breeding pets is. The thing about sheep is that they are loud, stupid, and gullible creatures what the TV says is law to them. I personally hate those shows. Especially the aspca ones that put a bowl of food in front of a dog that is starving and when the dog bites the plastic hand that gets shoved into the bowl the poor thing is instantly put on death row. When food aggression could easily be fixed with training. Or my favorite scene is when they throw this plastic doll at them that looks like the bride of chuckie and when the dog freaks like any normal person would it is aggressive to kids. (Apparently the dog is to stupid to know the difference between a doll and a human)

I have gone both ways and although adopting is a nice thing to do it's also a pain. My adopted dog was full of behavior problems that had to be fixed and when they say the stray is grateful for the home you give it I have yet to see this. I like buying from responsible breeders because when you buy a breed you already know what to expect out of them.

We get german shepards knowing how they will behave and health problems they are prone to. We got a yorkie knowing she would be loud, bouncy, and energetic. I got a dalmation knowing that she was high energy and prone to deaf and blindness. We even got a peek-a-poo (in 1989 when the term designer dog didn't exist) that had the energy and build of a peek with the small size and shed-proof coat of a poodle.

I adopted a husky/border collie mix that destroyed my house, was an escape artist that could not be tied or penned, and would run away constantly. He also chased cats and cows, chewed metal, and ripped the gutter of the side of a house.

Adopting is well and good but it annoys me to no end when that is their answer to everything.

And to all the sheep out there using false % and assuming stuff I'd like to share the definition of assume that a teacher taught me:
ASSUME< To make an *** out of U and ME.

Answer 7

Saying that the dogs that are in shelters are full of diseases, viruses and mistreated is pretty irrational. That's not even an accurate statement. The reason that some of us recommend getting dogs from shelters is that there is a total overpopulation of dogs, and to get one from a breeder, unless it is for a specific reason such as for showing, or other "work" purposes, is simply a waste of money. There are perfectly good dogs, who are healthy and need to have homes. Why spend the money and encourage people to continue to overpopulate, and PUPPY MILL, when there are many dogs who need homes in shelters. Have you ever even been to a shelter, I would suspect not, if you have, you apparently just like to say stupid and untrue things.

Answer 8

I think shelter dogs are wonderful. I have one and I will never get another dog any other way. She is the sweetest thing. She had been dumped on the side of the highway with 7 other siblings in a cardboard box. It is a miracle a that they all lived. She then was put in to a home with one of her brothers, but because the people got two dogs instead of one she was returned. They did not have time to socialize her. It just took two weeks at our house and she is the best behaved dog that I have ever had.

My mother has always been afraid of large dogs (my dog is 80 pounds) but she has offer to take care of Lulu whenever I need to go out of town.

I honestly don't understand your problem with shelter dogs. If a people takes the time to get the right match for their lifestyle, then shelter dogs are great.

Answer 9

I volunteer weekly at a county shelter. I have personally brought over 20 dogs and 15 cats, out of that shelter or other shelters, and vetted them, cared for them, and adopted them out to loving families. I have been doing this for several years with the support and involvement of my family and none of those dogs has been returned. None of those dogs has every done anything inappropriate to my children, me, or my own pets.

As far as illness and disease, their vet care has consisted of dewormer, flea treatment, vaccines and spay/neuter and that was it.

What do vets offices treat? sick animals that have viruses and diseases. I'm not trying to argue that vets offices are on the same level as a shelter. But most illnesses that you find in a shelter are very easily and affordably treated. They do their best to maintain as germ free an environment as they can. They treat the areas with strong chemicals to kill the germs and yes, many of them when they become overcrowded euthanize for safety and health of those remaining. But germs can be found everywhere. Just like when you get a dog from somewhere else, the key is good vet care. A shelter, rescue group, and probably a good breeder would tell you to have the dog checked out by your vet within one week of bringing him home.

And the pet stores that allow people to walk their dogs through the store, you don't think there are germs there too?

As far as abuse, yes you see that in shelters but it is not the norm. Most dogs are brought into shelters as strays, unwanted litters from dogs that weren't spayed, moving and don't want to take the dog, divorce, etc. There is nothing wrong with those dogs and they're not at the shelter through any fault of their own. Dogs with issues are typically euthanized or only given to a qualified rescue group that is experienced in rehabilitating dogs.

I have 2 dogs from shelters. I love them like I love my children. They are wonderful dogs and a delight to be around.

I'm not criticizing professional breeders. There are some excellent breeders but there are also many who are not.

Maybe you should consider volunteering at a local shelter? Most shelters are very welcoming to any volunteers and they can always use the help. Volunteering at a shelter is a rewarding experience and it might give you a clearer picture of exactly what a shelter is like.

Answer 10

Shelter adoption is preferable because millions of dogs are euthanized because of overcrowding in shelters each year. Each animal that is purchased from a breeder is one more animal that misses out on a potential home from a shelter. There are many people on her asking questions about breeding which makes it apparent that they know nothing about it and are only out to exploit their animal and make money, which is unethical. A lot of these purebred dogs wind up in shelters. Backyard breeders don't care where they go, as long as they get $250.

Puppy mills are another atrocity. Maybe you should familiarize yourself with the deplorable conditions that go on there before you jump to the conclusion that anyone who advocates shelter adoption is just a do-gooder.

Shelters are not full of diseases. In fact all animals get vaccination within minutes of walking in the door.