it’s 2015, we should stop saying “adopt dont shop” and change it to “adopt wisely and shop only from a reputable breeder who health tests their dogs and cares about their temperament and needs.”
Anyway…….. adopt don’t shop
Ah no.
Adopt don’t shop is a catchy phase but it’s ultimately based on uneducated claims and simplifying a much more complex issue. There’s a range of reasons why adopting from animal shelter’s isn’t always the best course for some people.
I’ve worked in an animal shelter for 3 years now. And I am all for adoption and encouraging people to adopt. But there are valid reasons why adoption isn’t always the right option.
- Firstly allergies. There are specific dog breeds that are bred to be hypoallergenic for people with moderate to severe allergies.
Most people will just say in response “why not just find a hypoallergenic dog in the shelter then!” This is unrealistic. As someone who has worked in a shelter, I’ve never seen a hypoallergenic dog there. Most of the dog breeds are unknown or mixed breed. Hypoallergenic are expensive too, so it’s unlikely they’ll end up in shelters. And if they do they’d be high-demand dogs who would be easily adopted within days.- Breeds for specific purposes. Some people need certain breeds of dogs for certain specific reasons (be it allergies, illness, assisting with a disability, family friendly, working dog) ect. Certain breeds have been bred to assist with very specific purposes and expecting to find these breeds in shelters is unrealistic
- It ignores the importance of good breeders and rescues working together. Breeders can offer valuable resources such as finances, kennel space, networking or knowledge Shaming and alienating proper breeders does nothing to help animal shelters or the animals people claim to care about
- Proper breeders are actually beginning to breed more healthier dogs (that often have a range of health issues due to inproper breeding). Such as with brachycephalic breeds like pugs.
- Not everyone is prepared / experienced enough to deal with shelter dogs. Not all shelter dogs have issues, most of them are just lonely or scared. But there are also of dogs (and cats) that require extra care and patience. And you just never know with a shelter animal. Most of the time the history of the animals are unknown. You might not know how the animal will react around children, or around other pets. Not everyone can accommodate for the needs of these animals. That’s why so many animals adopted from shelters end up getting returned weeks or even days later! And this can really mess the animal up even more so.
There’s lots of great reasons to adopt shelter animals! But there’s also great reasons to want to buy a pet from a proper breeder too. Shaming someone for buying a pet instead of adopting (especially when you don’t know the circumstance or situation) is stupid and based on a misguided sense of moral high ground.
Another factor in my choice to buy from a breeder, is that responsible breeders offer lifetime support, so no animal they breed should ever end up in rescue- and the breeder will bend over backwards getting them out if they ever do. If anything were to happen to me, my dog has a safe and knowledgeable home to go to, guaranteed. That’s peace of mind. Also, my breeders are always available for any questions I might have, and will even be taking on my girl for a few months while I’m away overseas. While I have endless respect for those who choose the rescue option, the ongoing support and shared love of the breed clinch it for me. I’m proud of owning a dog from a responsible breeder.
My cats are all rescues, and I volunteer at an animal adoption center. But my family’s dogs have always come from reputable breeders - the ones that for whatever reason were not considered suitable for working/showing (mismatched eyes, too much nose, deaf or blind, etc). The breeders wanted to find the best homes for them, where they could be beloved pets.
Yes, you’re paying the breeder a fee for your dog. But you’re ‘rescuing’ it just the same.(Generic/chain pet stores, OTOH…yeah. They need to stop selling livestock. That’s what adoption days are for.)