We live in the southeast where pet overpopulation is an epidemic.
Up to 86% of dogs who end up in shelters around here are put to sleep.
Our local shelters euthanize dogs within 24 hours unless a rescue steps up. Even so rescuers have driven hours only to arrive and find they are too late.
Strays get a little more time, but not much.
I see people scratching their head and saying "I've never put a dog in a shelter. What does this have to do with me? I'm not going to breed my dog. Why does it matter where he/she came from?"
It does matter, and it does relate to the overpopulation epidemic, and I'll tell you why.
YOU may be a great dog owner and never give your dog up, but what about the other 7 pups from that litter of 8? Where are they now? Oh, but that's still not your problem right? Because you're not responsible for the rest of the litter, just the pup you brought home, right?
Wrong. You BOUGHT that dog. The money you and the other puppy buyers supplied the irresponsible breeder just encouraged said breeder to repeat the cycle. To have another litter. Another bitch pumping out pups twice a year. Another 8 or 10 or 12 dogs who need homes. Another litter that we can only HOPE will end up in good homes. But if the breeder isn't keeping track, you really don't know do you? Another 12 dogs who might go on to be bred, purposely or "accidentally".
Like it or not, your dollars connect you to that cycle, and make you partially responsible. No buyers makes one close up shop pretty quickly.
Every breeder should be able to tell you where their past puppies are. Even better, every breeder should microchip their pups with THEIR information in case the worst-case scenario does happen and the dog ends up in a shelter. At least that way there is a contact. Otherwise, within 24 hours of turn-in, that dog is dead.
Health testing matters, showing matters, well thought-out matings matter. Responsible breeding is a complicated puzzle that's hard to figure out sometimes. But blatantly irresponsible breeding is easy to spot, and as DOG lovers, we ALL have a responsibility to discourage this type of breeder through education and not supporting them with our dollars.
Money talks. Make yours say you don't agree with careless breeding.
Up to 86% of dogs who end up in shelters around here are put to sleep.
Our local shelters euthanize dogs within 24 hours unless a rescue steps up. Even so rescuers have driven hours only to arrive and find they are too late.
Strays get a little more time, but not much.
I see people scratching their head and saying "I've never put a dog in a shelter. What does this have to do with me? I'm not going to breed my dog. Why does it matter where he/she came from?"
It does matter, and it does relate to the overpopulation epidemic, and I'll tell you why.
YOU may be a great dog owner and never give your dog up, but what about the other 7 pups from that litter of 8? Where are they now? Oh, but that's still not your problem right? Because you're not responsible for the rest of the litter, just the pup you brought home, right?
Wrong. You BOUGHT that dog. The money you and the other puppy buyers supplied the irresponsible breeder just encouraged said breeder to repeat the cycle. To have another litter. Another bitch pumping out pups twice a year. Another 8 or 10 or 12 dogs who need homes. Another litter that we can only HOPE will end up in good homes. But if the breeder isn't keeping track, you really don't know do you? Another 12 dogs who might go on to be bred, purposely or "accidentally".
Like it or not, your dollars connect you to that cycle, and make you partially responsible. No buyers makes one close up shop pretty quickly.
Every breeder should be able to tell you where their past puppies are. Even better, every breeder should microchip their pups with THEIR information in case the worst-case scenario does happen and the dog ends up in a shelter. At least that way there is a contact. Otherwise, within 24 hours of turn-in, that dog is dead.
Health testing matters, showing matters, well thought-out matings matter. Responsible breeding is a complicated puzzle that's hard to figure out sometimes. But blatantly irresponsible breeding is easy to spot, and as DOG lovers, we ALL have a responsibility to discourage this type of breeder through education and not supporting them with our dollars.
Money talks. Make yours say you don't agree with careless breeding.
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