Fee Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 To me, the importance of having a dog of a particular breed is totally secondary to any dog that sits there in a kennel, waiting for a home of their own. If that dog would be happy in the home that I can provide, and I have the possibility to adopt him then that dog is coming home with me, regardless whether they are black, white, spotted, striped, short, tall, pure breed or cross breed, simple as that. That's absolutely fair enough, and I'm pretty much the same, most of my dogs over the years have been pretty much what's turned up on my doorstep one way or another - but I also accept that not everybody feels like that, and I don't see it as me being 'right' and them 'wrong'. What if you want that breed via rescue, is that wrong? What if you want a puppy from rescue, knowing that puppies often have a waiting list of adopters while adult dogs are overlooked, is that wrong? What about taking a dog from a pretty awful rescue (which I have done because I was appalled at the state of him and the conditions he was living in), was that wrong to put a donation in those peoples' hands and create a space for them to take another dog? I wish I had the moral certainties some people on here seem to have, but I'm afraid I find life far too complicated (and interesting) for black and white most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Many people involved in responsible breeding are every bit as horrified by puppy farming and irresponsible breeding as anyone on this site. I've been on a non-rescue forum recently where someone had bred a litter without doing any health checks and where one of the parents had a dodgy temperament. She was villified, mainly by the breeders on the site, to an extent that would have made the reaction of people here look positively polite. By tarring all breeders with the same brush I feel we are closing a lot of doors to potential allies against large-scale commercial breeding, which is where I feel the main problems really lie. Knock the puppy farms and BYB on the head and we probably wouldn't have a significant rescue problem. I also think we have to be realistic in the message we put out to the wider world. Yes, I would absolutely and totally push the 'consider a rescue' message at every possible chance, but if someone has their heart set on a Cocker Spaniel puppy there is very little point trying to make them feel guilty about not taking a middle-aged Springer with issues - which they may not be able to handle anyway. Far better to point them towards a responsible breeder, I'd have thought. A lot of people I've spoken to are quite suspicious of 'rescue' in that they have come across some very dogmatic attitudes and inflexibility that has done the cause no good at all. Very well said Fee. I don't imagine a time when I would buy a puppy from a breeder - though I would love for there to be so few dogs in rescue one day that that becomes a possibility - but I don't think a divide between good rescues and good breeders helps the situation any, when they would both very much like to see an end to puppy farming. I have asked good breeders (well what I would consider to be good, from hearing of their practices/love of their dogs etc.) if they ever promote rescue and they do. If I heard of someone looking for a puppy, then I would always encourage them to look at rescue (puppy or adult) but if they were determined to go to a breeder, then I'd far rather they found a good breeder than bought from a puppy farmer/BYB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 What if you want that breed via rescue, is that wrong? What if you want a puppy from rescue, knowing that puppies often have a waiting list of adopters while adult dogs are overlooked, is that wrong? In some people's eyes it would seem to be, so I'd best take my unimaginative self off to the shallow corner with my love of black labs. As many know, I adopted a young black Lab pup from rescue last year. I have absolutely no regrets, I adore her. She didn't take the place of an older dog, a difficult dog, a nervous dog etc. as I didn't want to adopt one of those this time around, having all three already as it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tegk68 Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 By tarring all breeders with the same brush I feel we are closing a lot of doors to potential allies against large-scale commercial breeding, which is where I feel the main problems really lie. Knock the puppy farms and BYB on the head and we probably wouldn't have a significant rescue problem. totally agree with that Fee. and I mention field sports on here elricc because they are one of the avenues that do support rescue dogs, and not many people realise that. Just as I know many breeders do, either by being active volunteers or by fund raising etc. Obviously I appreciate that mentioning the former is not popular and will not raise it again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EAD Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 I have both, Lily who was bought from a breeder 6 years ago, Kyla & Alfie who are both rescues. Benji was also a rescue. Given what I know now, I wouldnt buy from a breeder again as there are so many in rescue and im not that fussy. There are definitely plenty of terriers (westies, scotties) or rottie crosses so if I wanted similar to I have now i'd be spoilt for choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobleronie Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 I speak from Rescue to find a home that will take a labrador that is from working stock that is used to working is very very hard, they dont settle down in a a 'pet' home they want to work, so why can't I put that dog in a working home where they will be happy , some Labs are born to work and are not happy without that, for goodness sake, its in their breeding , not all Labs are lap dogs although most people think they are happy go lucky sleepy dogs they are not allways like that. Mention to Fact, Barney was in 3 homes before he found the RIGHT home as a working loved dog before he became a forever dog............... question that if you will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nettie Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Oh dear, I've got 3 rescues but I really would like a Borzoi at some point...............don't think they come up in rescue for often which is great for the breed but not so good for me, so one day I may make a decision to purchase a puppy. They do come up in the States but I'm not sure we can stretch to shipping one back here but then I'd be in the doghouse because my dog wouldn't be English. What can you do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Mention to Fact, Barney was in 3 homes before he found the RIGHT home as a working loved dog before he became a forever dog............... question that if you will And knowing his forever home, he couldn't have found a better one Oh dear, I've got 3 rescues but I really would like a Borzoi at some point...............don't think they come up in rescue for often which is great for the breed but not so good for me, so one day I may make a decision to purchase a puppy. They do come up in the States but I'm not sure we can stretch to shipping one back here but then I'd be in the doghouse because my dog wouldn't be English. What can you do? I'd always say it's worth looking in rescue - I have seen at least one Borzoi up for rehoming on here in the past. I must admit I wasn't sure I would find a black Lab pup in rescue but along came my dream dog. Appreciate Labs are a tad more common in rescue than Borzois, but always worth asking/waiting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redditchlady Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 I just feel disappointment when someone buys from a breeder. Often it shows a lack of imagination.A dog to me isn't a commodity to be bought and sold. I have nothing in common with someone who just has to have a particular breed, and even worse, a dog of that breed with a specific coat colour etc. That's probably because there's virtually nothing material in life that I just have to have, other than in general terms. Of course I have my preferences like anyone else, but they aren't set in stone. I have friends who breed and I wouldn't fall out with them about it, but I can safely say that I would never buy from a breeder. I really don't think that the guilt I would feel would allow me to bond with a bought dog the same way as I do with my rescues. I honestly don't see the point of so many different breeds destined to supply the pet market. There is an excuse for specialist breeding of dogs that are intended to do a job but I don't class being a pet as a job. I accept that rescue could not supply the demand for dogs, but that's the way I would always go. It wouldn't be practical if everyone felt the same as I do. I'm very proud of our agility club - rescue to bought is about 50-50. All the dogs are well loved and cared for. The rarest breed we have (a Spanish Water Dog) was rehomed by the current owner. We have a good number of merle collies, only one bought because it was a merle (and that has severe health problems). More of the merles are rescues than bought. We have 2 rotties - one bought from a breeder, one rescued from a totally unsuitable home. Both lovely dogs. Line up our club dogs and you'd be likely to lose money if you bet on which were rescue and which bought. Pam I agree in 1 respect Pam I have always wanted a Landseer Newfie after I lost Nelson after being castrated. But, rescues and foster dogs came along. I guess I can not do it again to go and buy a breeder dog. I would hope if I ever did it and went to a proper breeder that I could post on here without malice. I do not think that people here are narrow minded like that. I have fostered and failed on various doglets. I have given the rescues a lot of support. But, and here comes the but, there is room in my home for rescues as well as maybe 1 pedigree doglet? If I do decide to get a Landseer would that stop me fostering?? I don't think so. Just quoted your post, not to critisise, but to use it as an example Pam. Kazz xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nettie Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 And knowing his forever home, he couldn't have found a better one I'd always say it's worth looking in rescue - I have seen at least one Borzoi up for rehoming on here in the past. I must admit I wasn't sure I would find a black Lab pup in rescue but along came my dream dog. Appreciate Labs are a tad more common in rescue than Borzois, but always worth asking/waiting Of course I will look in rescue when the time comes, not the right time at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eve Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 S'pose I'm lucky that my dogs of "choice" are wonky old (or young) staffies and staffie crosses. With the occasional unwanted GSD thrown in. Plentiful supply for me for a while then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mop Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 Oh dear, I've got 3 rescues but I really would like a Borzoi at some point...............don't think they come up in rescue for often which is great for the breed but not so good for me, so one day I may make a decision to purchase a puppy. They do come up in the States but I'm not sure we can stretch to shipping one back here but then I'd be in the doghouse because my dog wouldn't be English. What can you do? There is a member on here, doesn't post very much but she does a lot for rescue dogs supporting rescues especially one and takes dogs in when people are throwing them out even pregnant bitches. Her dream was to have a Borzoi so went to a good breeder she knew. It hasn't stopped her helping rescues or taking dogs in. Just because someone buys a dog doesn't mean they are depriving a rescue dog of a place or promoting puppy farms and BYB. Nettie, think it would be cheaper to buy from a good breeder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 S'pose I'm lucky that my dogs of "choice" are wonky old (or young) staffies and staffie crosses. With the occasional unwanted GSD thrown in. Plentiful supply for me for a while then. I am the same , I just don't have a drive or desire to have any one type or sort of dog so I will never need to go to a breeder whilst there are rescue dogs available the nearest I got to having a breed was having 2 lurchers at the same time, other than that every single dog I have had has been differant from the last and I have no idea what my next dogs will be ( other than rescue ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 There is a member on here, doesn't post very much but she does a lot for rescue dogs supporting rescues especially one and takes dogs in when people are throwing them out even pregnant bitches. Her dream was to have a Borzoi so went to a good breeder she knew. It hasn't stopped her helping rescues or taking dogs in. And it was that same member, from memory, that advertised a Borzoi on here for private rehoming for someone else, so always worth looking into rescue I would say the nearest I got to having a breed was having 2 lurchers at the same time, other than that every single dog I have had has been differant from the last and I have no idea what my next dogs will be ( other than rescue ) Although I am crazy about black Labs and hope to always have at least one in my life, I have also adopted a collie type and two crossbreeds, including an oldie, so I suspect we will have other dogs coming our way along with the Labs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum24dog Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 So if I want a dog that is as healthy as I can get by researching the breed and the breeder I lack imagination, I find that offensive. I said "often", not always. If you choose to take my observation personally and be offended, that's up to you. After all this, it would be nice to have a dog that I can get more than 2 or 3 years from without serious health problems developing, the best chance I have for this is to go to a good breeder. Someone I know did that for exactly the same reason - the breeder dog bought dog has developed multiple health problems just like the rescue dog she had lost. Have any of the rescue dogs I have had been unhealthy? No. Another friend decided she was getting old and just wanted a dog without behavioural problems for a change so she went to a breeder, and now has a GSD that is getting more and more aggressive with other dogs, just like her last one. I'd like a "nice" dog for a change, but I won't go to a breeder for one - I'll just choose my next rescue carefully. Pam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts