In Defense of (some) Breeders

by | Wednesday | June 8, 2011 | 40 comments

I’ve been following Dog Time’s multi part series about No-Kill with interest. Fascinating stuff. Then I saw yesterday’s piece: “There are no responsible breeders.” I read it, waiting for the twist, waiting for some clarification on the idea, and then I got to the end and realized that the author meant it, as is, in all sincerity.

Even responsible breeders who genuinely love and want the best for their animals you ask? I know this statement will raise some hackles, but it needs to be said: There are no responsible breeders. At least not now, while our shelters are full and perfectly adoptable animals are dying (some of which came from breeders).

It doesn’t matter that you’ve grown up with Collies or that a German Shepherd once saved your life. I don’t care what breed you love above all others. Your passion for wanting to see that breed proliferate is irrelevant when it comes to the welfare of a single animal. Breeding is a hobby for humans. It’s morally intolerable to value the worth of a breed over the worth of an individual. No exceptions.

And, here comes the part where I step in it.

I really, really dislike these overgeneralizations. Painting every single breeder on the planet with the same “you suck” brush (and really, calling them all irresponsible is doing just that) does nothing except create more divisiveness and defensiveness in the very group of people we need to be working with more than ever.

What this article is saying, in essence, is that there is no acceptable way to get an animal other than from a shelter/rescue. Regardless of the breed, regardless of your lifestyle or what you are looking for in a pet. You are selfish if you go about it any other way and are killing animals.

Well, that is a difficult position to argue against, isn’t it?

Don’t get me wrong- I do think many, if not the majority, of people that breed animals do so in a manner that could easily be characterized as irresponsible. But not all of them. The people who will tell you this with the most certainty are the responsible breeders, who get that breeding well is not something one can make a profit from. But to place puppy mill owners, backyard “I just want one litter” breeders and those people who painstakingly research the health and wellness of their pets before breeding them all in the same boat is doing a great disservice to us all.

And to imply by extension that anyone who dares to do something like get a pet from anywhere other than pre-approved channels such as a shelter is essentially smothering a puppy with their own bare hands, well, that’s not helping the situation.

The desire for purebreds isn’t going anywhere

First, it assumes every person on the planet wants a dog for the same reason. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Some people want guard dogs, others want loyal companions, still others want a working dog to save lives in war zones. When people look for a pet, and more specifically a dog, they have a set of characteristics in mind that they are looking to fulfill. And the most tried-and-true way of getting that consistent set of traits is by getting a particular breed, or at least a dog who has certain combination of breed characteristics. This is why people who have purse chihuahuas do not usually also have Dobermans at home (though it happens.)

One of the reasons the whole “there are no responsible breeders” statement gets me so much is that I don’t see anything positive coming out of it. People looking for pets of specific breeds aren’t going anywhere any time soon. The demand is not going anywhere. So now those people feel shame and guilt, and breeders trying to do the right thing feel shame and guilt or just flat out decide all rescue people are out of touch with reality, and then dialogue is completely shut down.

I distinctly remember talking to someone after the last BlogPaws, a blogger who I have gotten to know and like a lot, who is what I would count as a “responsible” breeder. She said how uncomfortable she felt in a room of rescue advocates, not because she was ashamed of what she does, but because she felt others implied that she should be. And that makes me sad.

Rescue isn’t for everyone

“So what about Petfinder?” you might ask. “There are tons of purebreds in shelters and rescues.” Are you kidding? I love Petfinder. Petfinder is amazing. I browse it all the time. I’m with you. I love rescue and I do it myself. But it isn’t for everyone. I remember being told when I put a feeler out that I couldn’t adopt from the local Boston Terrier rescue because I had a child under the age of 10 in my house.

I ended up with Kekoa instead- and that turned out just fine- but maybe other people wouldn’t want to wait 5 years for the possibility of maybe being approved for a senior dog with incontinence and one eye (which was the status of every Boston available for adoption in Southern California at the time). I think we could do a better job promoting rescue overall, but sometimes it just isn’t going to work for a particular situation.

Then there’s the health issue. I have had 4 rescue dogs in my life so far, dogs of indeterminate origin and breeding. Every single one of them has had cancer. Cancer, a disease with a strong genetic component. In the absence of breeder programs keeping track of these problems, strong programs like the AKC Canine Health Foundation which is doing some amazing research to pinpoint the genetic causes of disease in dogs and perhaps people, are we really better off?

Canine Companions for Independence is one of many service dog organizations that has a breeding program. They do this not because they are callous to the plight of shelter dogs. They do it because it is the most efficient way to consistently get dogs of the right temperament and degree of health to do their job, a job which begins the moment they are born through intensive socialization. Are they irresponsible too?

All breeders are not created equal

Let me clarify what portion of the breeding populace I am referring to when I say “responsible” breeder:

  • One whose primary concern is the health of the breed.

Not profit. Not championships. Not “aw, I want her to experience the joy of motherhood.” Not “I want to earn a few bucks to offset this/that/whatever.” Breeding a dog for health is expensive, with PennHip/OFA certifications, eye checks for CERF certification, heart disease checks, keeping a temperament consistent with that of the breed. That is hard to do.

They are also extremely protective of their dogs, sometimes to a fault. People continue to do a ridiculously poor job of picking a dog for the right reason. If you’re a housebound senior who wants a Jack Russell, any responsible breeder will tell them no, and explain why. And if they are dopey, they go to the mall and get one anyway. We don’t need less good breeders, we need more. Ones who will educate people. Every breed club I know of has a rescue arm, one that does work helping the breed they love in times of need. We need more of this collaboration, not less.

Most people who produce litters of puppies are not what I would call responsible breeders. I agree with this. But not all. Not all. But they are responding to a demand, and therein lies the problem. The public continues to approach dog ownership with a callous disregard and need for instant gratification that creates a never ending supply of poorly bred animals that wind up in shelters and dead.

We don’t need to beat up breeders trying to help keep a breed intact and healthy in order to solve the shelter problem. We need to educate our children to value pets of all kinds through humane education. We need to eliminate ridiculous breed specific legislation that forces people to put their animals into shelters when they are in a housing crunch. We need to improve shelter hours so it’s more convenient for people to go there to see the pets, and make it a positive experience so people aren’t so scared of the place they don’t even want to set foot in it. Better websites, better photos, trainers to help these animals become more adoptable and remain in their new homes.

So no, I don’t agree that there are no responsible breeders. There are some. I wish there were more. Because then there would be less of the crummy kind. But more than that, I just really shudder at drawing the battle lines that separate us from some really stellar advocates for pet health and companionship, because these people are not the enemy. And I really hate that people who conscientiously breed, and people who seek out a purebred from these people, are so nervous and worried about being lambasted for making a personal choice that they feel they can’t even enter into the discussion without being sneered back into the shadows. They love animals too.

You all know I feel passion deep in my bones for the plight of our shelter situation, right? I want nothing more than to help erase this massive wound in our national conscience. I just don’t think this particular angle is one that is helpful and might even be a little hurtful. I know it’s a sensitive topic but I know this is a very intelligent group who can talk about challenging topics with an open mind.

All right, fire at will.

Filed: Blog, Daily Life, Dogs, Health, Musings Tagged: , , ,
  • Wendy

    Amen! From a girl that has a few rescues, volunteers with a rescue AND knows some amazing breeders.

  • http://www.kusine.com Jessica

    I think you’re exactly right. :)

  • Tabitha W

    Ok, here it goes……..
    I have two purebred cats. Yes I am evil. We adopted them from the breeder who is also our neighbour. We adopted them as adults, and one has special needs. We adopted these cats for two reasons; 1 – I knew what kind of home they were coming from. I knew they were socialized and had medical attention when needed, 2- They had each had a litter and were now done breeding. They were also free. At that time we could not afford the $300.00 shelter fees and I won’t lie, I was lonely and feeling depressed. I was slowly sinking into sadness and my cats saved me. If I would have had to of waited to save up the $300.00 to adopt one cat it would have taken me months and months of saving and I don’t know if I could have waited that long, I don’t know if I would have made it. We also have one retired therapy cat who is a tabby. He is about 6 or 7 and loves belly rubs.

    I can relate to what the blogger is saying. I understand that by not rescuing cats and dogs from shelters we are in a way condemning SOME animals to death. But even if every single person was to adopt from a shelter there would still be animals without homes, animals in need and animals being put down for the simple reason that many humans do not value animals in the same way we value humans (however, I am sure we could argue that Humans do not value human life either, just look at war, genocide and child abuse). Animals are disposable, if they do not fit into your life, away they go. They ruin your 400 couch, off to the pound, they bite your child who was pulling, biting, kicking at them, say good bye. Perhaps the problem is not that we want purebred animals but that we do not value animal life enough to work through the problems.
    I am all for rescuing animals. I think that we NEED people in this world who will travel half way around the world and preform surgery in a pool hall, people who will take in special needs dogs and cats, people who will love our furry babies no matter what. But I also think that if we are to fully STOP animals going to shelters and being put down for no other reason then being abandoned or unwanted we need to look at systemically WHY we give up our pets and how to change that mind set.
    I see the argument more as why we need to clear out our shelters then why we need to stop breeders. If there were no animals in the shelters then breeding would be ok. Breeding would be the only way to obtain a pet. So lets take the blame off our breeders and focus on ourselves. Us as a collective and look at why we feel it is ok to abandon animals.

  • http://ineedorange.blogspot.com Vicki in Michigan

    Let’s not forget the genetic diseases/conditions that we can be sure our pet will not get if we acquire from a responsible breeder.

    My last corgi had degenerative myelopathy. There’s a DNA test. I can ensure that I never break my heart, watching my corgi die inch by inch, from DM, ever again, IF I get a corgi from a breeder who makes sure that none of their puppies will have it.

    I would argue that truly responsible breeders contribute only a tiny amount to the pet over-population problem, and would also argue that their puppies are far less likely to end up in shelters. Truly responsible breeders WANT every puppy to have a happy life. They will answer questions and provide other help to the people who buy their puppies, for the life of those puppies. They will take the dog back, no matter what, for the life of the dog. They are not the problem………

    That said, my current dog is a rescue. As far as we know, he was stray the first year of his life. He is a very good dog, with a stable, friendly disposition. Is it his fault no one knows who his parents were? Hardly. He is certainly worthy of a happy home.

    Finally — all those dogs are NOT dying because of me. They are dying because of the scumbags who don’t spay/neuter. Because of the people who sell un-neutered animals to the ignorant/selfish/greedy. Because of the people who let their dogs roam and procreate. None of this is my doing, or my fault, and it doesn’t make me very happy to be accused of bad things I have not done.

    It is horrible that so many perfectly nice animals are dying every day for no reason other than that people are stupid and/or greedy. Blaming me for that doesn’t help………….

    I think the blogger quoted would advance her case faster if she didn’t paint everyone with the same tarry brush.

    • http://www.pawcurious.com Dr. V

      Very important points- health is so key, and yes, the breeders I know would sooner drive cross country themselves than see one of their pets in a shelter.

  • Michelle

    I agree with you. You cannot lay the blame at one groups feet. It isn’t that simple. The problem is with the way man views animals as a whole. There simply are not enough people out there who care enough about these animals to spay/neuter, give them good homes, and keep them off the street. For this reason our shelters and rescues are overflowing with perfectly good animals who may never see a good home. Is this the fault of breeders? Not really. The breeders don’t force people to come to them to purchase a pet. Yes, there are uneducated breeders, as well as uneducated buyers. Until this is rectified we will continue to see the horrible puppy mills and people going to them.
    That being said, rescues aren’t always great either. When I went to adopt my cat I was turned away from the first rescue because of my kids. Despite the fact that I had owned 2 cats previously. They felt my kids were too young. Why is that the rescues choice? My kids are awesome with animals, but they refused to see that. So, I found a rescue who did. I also tried to rescue a Golden Retriever when my previous dog died. I waited for over a month just for a response! By that time I had figured they weren’t going to get back to me and had found a breeder to adopt Molly. If they had gotten back to me sooner I would have rescued one. Our 2nd dog is a rescue, and he’s just as awesome as our purebred (although a different breed).
    So, I’m with you. There is no black and white on this issue. But it’s going to be very hard to get people to see that, because now days people firmly believe in whatever their cause is and refuse to see or hear any other side.

  • http://furrydancecats.blogspot.com Teri and the Cats of Curlz and Swirlz

    Dr V, Thank you for this post! I so look forward to seeing you at BlogPaws, too! I am sure I have posted here before about the ‘breeder’ issue but I felt proud when you said ‘We don’t need less good breeders, we need more’ . After 22 years of breeding Cornish Rex, I have just ‘retired’. I have also been a vet tech since 1972 and in a way, breeding and owner education felt like an extension of my career. I charged a lot for my kittens, because I did a lot for them and my breeding cats–real vet visits, yearly labs including felv/fiv/fcv/toxo and 4 x a year fecal testing for ova/parasite/giardia antigen, as well as annual cardiology visits for heart scans. I had a 4 page adoption application and in 22 years, I only lost track of 2 cats, due to divorce and the families not letting me have their new contact info. I was a good breeder and continue to be there for the lifetime of the cats I have brought into the world. In fact, I am leaving my ‘cattery’ website up, with some changes, to reflect that although I am no longer breeding, that I am there to help anyone with questions or concerns about Cornish Rex, even if they didn’t get it from me. I typically get a couple of phone calls each week from people who found my website by googling HCM in Cornish Rex, as I talk about that on my website. I help people learn what questions to ask breeders, so they can make the wisest decision on where to get their cat. I have videos on YouTube that show how to groom a Cornish Rex and have had people write me thanking me for them as ‘their’ breeder never told them any care info. I, too, felt a little like that at BlogPaws in the midst of so many rescue advocates, but know by the comments that I get on my blog that people who get to know me and know how important all cats are to me, respect me for the fact that I was a ‘good breeder’ and not the opposite.

  • http://www.briarcliffanimal.com/blog Mary

    I’m so glad you mentioned military and service dogs – they were the first thing I thought of when I started reading. They have certain qualities that are a necessity for their line of work, and there is no way to tell if a shelter dog is going to have what it takes. I am also all for rescue, but I agree with your article wholeheartedly.

  • http://www.doggiestylish.com/store/blog/ Karen Friesecke

    Making a statement that there are no responsible breeders is like saying that all of humanity is a waste of skin. I know plenty of responsible breeders. In fact, I don’t know any irresponsible breeders, but a quick scan of Kijiji proves that there are plenty.

  • http://www.marriedupwithwine.com Mandy

    Thank you for this post!! We adopted our Wire Fox Terriers through a rescue group when they were taken out of a puppy mill. They were incredibly sick puppies when we got them and have had housebreaking issues their whole lives. We love them to death, of course, but we will probably go through a breeder next time because we’d like to ensure our dogs’ health. People make me feel so guilty about that–wanting healthy dogs! It’s so unfortunate that there is this divide because at the end of the day, we’re all animal lovers! I do wish there were more responsible owners in this world, but like you said…if there were more responsible breeders, the general public might be more educated.

    SO glad you wrote this. Thank you!

  • Lisa W

    I’ll just add my little +1 to what has been said. Both of my current furbabies are rescues. I adore rescue and volunteer with one in my area. I don’t plan to ever have anything BUT rescues, and as a matter of fact am inching (slowly) along with my plan to start a sanctuary for senior/terminally ill dogs. But if my health deteriorated and I needed a service dog, I would find a breeder or organization who does exactly the type of thing that CCI does. It’s the bad ones we need to get rid of, not the good ones.

  • Trish

    Beautifully said, Dr. V! *applause*

  • Cathey

    VERY well said, Dr. V! RESPONSIBLE breeders are NOT the enemy. I think you hit it on the head when you alluded to irresponsible PURCHASERS – people who get a dog for the wrong reason and then can’t figure out how to keep it and take good care of their new friend.
    I agree with the other posters here who said that painting all breeders with the same brush will not fix the problem or educate and or correct the parts of the equation that are the problem. When people with no previous knowledge of a pet ask me where to get a dog, I first tell them that there are many fine pets at the rescue sites and give personal examples. If they insist on a “breed dog”, I instruct them to go to the Eukanuba Breed Selector (http://www.eukanuba.co.uk/en-UK/dog-breed-selector.jspx ) to figure out what breed actually will fit into their lifestyle. If you can get them to do that, they will at least see the questions they should be asking themselves before they invest their time and an animal’s LIFE.

  • Anastasia

    Consider this a standing ovation. I agree with what you’ve written completely, from the difference between responsible and irresponsible breeders to the need for better education on all levels. My hat’s off to you!

  • http://www.pupquest.org citydog

    Excellent post, Dr. V. Well done.

    I think one of the most important factors is educating the puppy/dog buyer/adopter as a *consumer*. Most people wouldn’t go to Shifty Sam’s Used Car lot and buy a vehicle that was obviously unsafe or mechanically unsound for double the price of that same model in perfect condition with a warranty from a reputable dealer, but people do that with dogs all the freakin’ time, and it’s bad for the dogs *and* the humans. (But especially the dogs.)

    There’s a neat, ad-free website ( http://www.pupquest.org ) put together by a vet as a resource for what to look for to be “puppy source savvy” when dealing with breeders (and shelters and rescues, too–some “rescues” are little more than puppy mills).

    Truly responsible breeders are sadly few and far between, but they *are* out there and they can be powerful allies and advocates for dogs–all dogs–and their welfare.

    Thanks for speaking up, Dr. V. Rock on.

  • http://abyaday.wordpress.com Talonvaki

    Also, there is nothing that says that “purebred” and “rescue” aren’t mutually exclusive concepts. We have three purebred cats (and one mixed breed); two are Abyssinians and one is an Asian (smoke European Burmese aka Burmilla). The boy Aby and the Burmese are from breeders. Tessie, our Burmese, is a retired breeding mother cat. She had one litter and was spayed. Jacoby, our ruddy Aby, came from our breeder, a woman who I met at a CFA show when I fell in love with her champion male. Jake was a gift because the cat we bought from her, Gun-Hee, died suddenly and tragically from FIP before his second birthday, and even though no one can predict FIP, she felt responsible because it could have a genetic component. I’m actually friends with both Jake and Tessie’s breeders, even though we adopted Tessie 6 years ago.

    Our other Aby, Angel, is a purebred red Aby, but I don’t know her pedigree. She is a rescue who was taken from a breeder in California who had everything go wrong at once – death in the family, job problems, FIP, ringworm, URIs and everything else you can think of. The breeder got so desperate, she took 5 of her cats to the “pound” to be euthanised because she was so overwhelmed she couldn’t wait for the rescue to come and get them, and Angel was one of those cats. Luckily, the shelter knew the rescue! Angel only has one eye and still has problems with FeHV.

    However, she’s still a purebred Aby. And she’s a rescue. You can have both. I have always loved purebred cats, but more than that, I have also had asthma my entire life and have always tested allergic to cats. But I am not allergic to all cats, as it happens; I am only allergic to certain breeds. American Shorthairs and Persians will set me off, but Siamese, Abys, Burmese and Maine Coons do not. If I want to have cats, I have to get only cats who are members of the breeds I am not allergic to (or known mixtures of those breeds; our mixed breed is part Maine Coon, and I’m sure I’d be okay with a Tonkinese, although I’ve never met one). For me, purebred cats – from responsible breeders – are the only way I can have a cat. But that doesn’t mean I just pop on down to the pet store and buy the first purebred I see.

  • Tamara

    You are such a wise woman and a wonderful advocate for animals, Dr. V. Keep up these kinds of ‘controversial’ posts, please! I agree 100% that there are wonderful breeders out there (not enough) who do everything to ensure the health of their litters, and who stand by their pups throughout their lives. Education of pet owners/potential pet owners is really what’s most needed. That is the root of the pet overpopulation problem in this country, not breeders. I too would cite CCI and other service dog organizations as examples of why we need breeders. I love it when organizations find shelter dogs for their work; I love it just as much when they breed healthy, successful dogs that will live enriching lives and provide for others in the meantime.

    Let’s keep the conversation open. That’s the only way to change things for the better!

  • Tamara

    Guilt and shame force me to add that my cats are also rescues ;) My bird was purchased, as was my fish, but I support rescue wholeheartedly!

  • Laura in KY

    Terrific post. You rock.

  • Amy

    I had a Golden Retriever that I loved. I’ve had other dogs, but the temperment, the playfulness and the character of this dog made me research the breed, and I realized that my next dog would also be a golden. (I admit, it was Brody that attracted me to your site. I miss her so much.) With that thought I have looked at the rescue sites and every time I read the words “must have fence” sometimes stating that it must be a 6 ft. fence. I can not have a puppy as my mother is 88 but I can not take on a senior dog as she doesn’t want a dog that will die before her (I live with her.) So I can not find a Golden rescue. I have check the local animal agencies, and unfortunately they are overrun with Pit Bulls. Because even today many of these dogs are as the result of breeding for fighting, I hesitate to adopt one – and as long as there are small children in my family I will not. So I am out of the market for a dog until after my mother dies. So rescues do not work for everyone. (I admit, I am not fond of little dogs. I want a dog, not a purse accessory. I feel more secure with a bigger dog.) And now I am trolling the web for a golden between 4 and 8 years of age. See what you made me do!

    • Lisa W

      Amy, I don’t know where you are located, but there is a wonderful Golden rescue organization here in NC called Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue. Their website is goldenrescuenc.org. Good luck!

    • Heather

      I also ran into The Fence Rule when I was looking for a dog- I was considering an older Golden but could not find a single rescue in my region that would adopt to a home without a fence. Instead I found a wonderful older Beagle at a local municipal shelter who is perfectly suited to my non-fenced lifestyle :) Still, I would like a Golden someday… I’m just finishing up veterinary school, and in a few years when I’m settled with a job (and probably still without a fence) I probably will be seeking out a responsible breeder for one. They really aren’t all evil.

  • http://www.howiseelife.com/blog Kari

    I feel this same way about horse breeding/breeders. I know people who take it seriously, who make sure that their breeding stock have genetics, conformation, and a show/work record that makes them worth reproducing, and who make sure that they’re breeding foals that have the best chance of being healthy, sound, and performing well in the show ring if that’s what the owners want. And then there are the “I have a colt, let’s not geld him and I can stand him for $250 and make money even though he’s never done anything and is parrot-mouthed and sway-backed” and the “I have a mare and I want her to have a baby because foals are SO CUTE and of course I’ll keep her baby FOREVER”… and then that doesn’t happen, and there’s yet another “trail horse $1000 OBO” for sale. Not that the horse world doesn’t need those… but there are a LOT of excellent horses out there that people are trying to sell and can’t.

    Let’s not even talk about the three-year-old futurities in the quarter horse world (for which Moose was bred and trained!), the “washed up at 4″ horse racing world (which isn’t even as bad as the quarter horse world, IMO, since they only will register foals bred via live cover, as opposed to the AQHA, which allows AI), the “color at any cost” Paint horse world… yeah.

    I also won’t get started on the loss of the outlet that the equine slaughter industry used to be. I don’t like it, but if people are going to keep breeding indiscriminately, it’s a better option for excess horses than letting them rot in someone’s back pasture–there’s just not enough rescue organizations out there for all of them, nor is it necessarily a good use of resources, and people just don’t euthanize unwanted horses like they do unwanted pets. So now instead of having a place for those horses to go within the US, that are regulated and have federal oversight, the horses are shipped to Canada (not too bad, but a long haul for a lot of horses) or Mexico (ummm, AWFUL conditions, and also a long haul) and slaughtered there.

    I paid $1500 for Moose. And he’s a horse with an excellent pedigree, a show record, who’s fairly bombproof, who pretty much anyone can ride, and who can go out and win at a jumping show one weekend, a competitive trail ride the next, a ranch horse show the next, and a gymkhana the next. I sure wouldn’t sell him for $1500… but that doesn’t change the fact that, in my insurance company’s eyes, he’s still a $1500 horse. And those are a dime a dozen.

    ANYWAY. So yeah, that’s my long-winded way of saying that horse-owning me agrees with your post. :-)

  • http://puppyraisingbythesword.blogspot.com/ Donna Sword

    Interesting stuff. While I do appreciate the passion for encouraging folk to consider a rescue, the blogger’s view is not a balanced one.
    Thank you for mentioning Canine Companions for Independence. They do indeed have a very specialized breeding program which has been very successful for providing smart, healthy assistance dogs with a strong work ethic. These dogs just love to have a job to do and bond closely with their partners (that magical Lab/Golden cross). I’m a volunteer puppy raiser for CCI, now raising my third pup. I write about the puppy raising experience at http://www.puppyraisingbythesword.blogspot.com. And you’ll see our family dog (a rescue) in the occasional post, too.

  • Leah

    Thank you for this posting. I have mixed feelings about this, because I grew up in a family that bred and showed purebred Briards. I’d hate to call my parents irresponsible, because I don’t think they were. To them showing and breeding one litter every couple of years was a passion, not a business. When I was ready to own a dog myself I trawled the local shelters and didn’t feel that connection with any of the puppies or adult dogs I saw, but what really angered me was the process of adopting a shelter animal. I had two cats, so I was told I wasn’t a good candidate, my backyard wasn’t large enough, and so on. It seemed easier (at the time) to adopt a child from China. I was discouraged because I know that there are a lot of animals in local shelters that need homes, but the process has become a nightmare, and those animals suffer. I realize that the shelters want to make sure that the animal is placed in a forever home, but I feel the process is prohibitive.

    That’s not to say that obtaining a purebred doesn’t entail something similar, but after meeting with and talking to the breeder it was apparent that I was a earnest person, who wanted to give a non-show quality dog a home. I think it’s more about responsible pet owners shouldering the load with responsible breeders and local shelters and rescue groups. I have a purebred dog, and 2 cats from the shelter, and I do not feel guilty about my purebred nor will I be made to feel that way.

    Hey, it’s just my opinion.

  • Chile

    While not a breeder myself (and no plans to ever be one), I’ve always stood behind “Breeding for the betterment of the breed.” My male Rottie was from a breeder, my female is from the local shelter. My foster is from a rescue.

    Sadly living in the state that I do, there are thousands of irresponsible backyard breeders that breed their animals because of reasons you mentioned (oh I just want another one like him, oh I want the female to live out her mothering dreams, oh [insert ridiculous reason here].) I wish there were more regulations on breeders to weed out the irresponsible, backyard breeders.

  • http://www.k9diabetes.com Natalie

    “Breeding is a hobby for humans.”

    I agree with this, though. Breeds are an incredibly artificial construct of human making and in many, if not most, cases, are now created and maintained strictly as a vanity or for appearance. Once dog shows and breed standards were created, it’s hard to argue convincingly that we have maintained all of these breeds – and created new ones – for anything but appearance. To the great detriment of so many dogs.

    Can it be undone now? I don’t know but I personally think it’s worth trying. Maybe we would, in the process, not only see far fewer dogs killed because they have no home to go to, but would also see fewer dog bites because we would stop seeing dogs as show pieces or a living version of a stuffed plush toy that horrifies us when it acts ike a living animal.

    A shift in our entire perspective on dogs and what it means to keep them. I personally don’t thinking “showing” dogs has been good for the species in the long run. Maybe in the short run but not the long. It was once unthinkable to keep and breed and sell human slaves too but we managed to get past that. Anything is possible.

    Making that shift is not so different from denouncing slavery or even from shifting from punishment based training practices to positive ones. It comes from putting the creatures’ welfare first and putting our human desire for entertainment and vanity pieces – not to mention financial gain – aside. We can find kinder ways to amuse ourselves.

  • http://www.kirbythedorkie.com Debby and Kirby

    Excellent article! Long story short – almost seven years after my last amazing dog died I took in a Dorkie (dachshund/Yorkie) a man had purchased for his wife who didn’t want it. At 7 months he was hit by a car and died in my arms. I was heart broken and pushed by some friends to get another dog. I made it tough on God demanding exactly what this dog had to be and He still found Kirby for me from someone who breeds a litter of dorkies each year with her “pets” who live in her home. This little dog has changed my entire life in such positive ways. I now find it amusing that we went to some puppy training classes where everyone else had a shelter dog and looked down on us. Then we started rally and agility training where the majority of the dogs were pure bred and again they looked down on us. Kirby is a CKC Registered Dorkie so we laughingly say he’s half pure bred and half mutt. He’s a dog!

    I have two cats that were rescues and I foster one dog at a time for Homeward Bound. I firmly believe there is good and bad in every area of life whether it be owners, breeders, or rescuers. If I ever get another dog, will it be another Dorkie from a breeder or a shelter dog? I’m a good person who honestly doesn’t know the answer. A dog is a dog and regardless of their background I love them all!

  • http://dawgbusiness.blogspot.com/ Jana Rade

    Actually, Patricia McConnell published some interesting statistics in her article “Responsible Breeding” an Oxymoron?
    http://www.theotherendoftheleash.com/breeders-versus-rescues

    Based on the extensive research of Gary Patronek & Andrew Rowan, there are about 7.3 million dogs acquired by households in the U.S. each year and about 6.2 million puppies produced every year by breeders, amateurs and puppy mills. Hmmmm…. Interesting math here, yes? So where do those 1.8 to 2.1 million dogs killed in shelters every year come from? They estimate that about 4 + million dogs enter shelters every year, 400,000 from amateur breeders who don’t find a home for the litter, 2,2 million strays (.6 million are reclaimed) and 1.8 million owner surrenders.

    • http://www.pawcurious.com Dr. V

      Thanks for that link. That is a great article.

  • Alisha

    Thank you for sharing your nuanced and well-thought out post.

  • Jeanne

    There’s a lot to be said about responsible breeders (and I could go on and on about mine) and shelters and rescues. Getting a pet is very personal, very emotional thing to most people. I think pretty much everyone agrees that puppy mills are bad, but not all breeders are puppy mills. Many rescues, while trying to do the right thing for their breeds, are often a barrier to adoption. They have so many rules, regulations and paperwork, that good people give up, thinking it’s too much of hassle. Shelters often can’t provide with a health or socialization background for a pet you’re interested in. They’re under-staffed, over-crowded and under-funded. In the end, it doesn’t matter how you get your pet. What matters is that you love them, respect them, care for them…and that you’re a responsible owner. That means spaying or neutering (unless you’re one of those responsible breeders). And no, my puppy has not been altered yet, but that’s because we’re spending some time in the show ring. But once we’re done with that, off she goes.

    Personally, I think everyone should stop criticizing everyone else and try working together. In my family, we have a mix of dogs breeders and from shelters. And you know what? They’re all wonderful dogs.

  • http://leemakennels.com/blog Tegan

    Thank-you for your post. I am a breeder, and though the idea of ‘no responsible breeders’ is not a strong idea here, in Australia, the constant online, mostly American, insistence makes me feel uncomfortable.

    I am all for rescue, but it’s erroneous to believe that all people would get their dogs from rescue if breeders did not exist. Indeed, if there were no breeders, there would soon never be dogs in rescue.

    Furthermore, the idea that pets are dying in shelters because of lack of homes is not a consistent trend across the globe. I used to work in a shelter here, in South Australia, and we had more demand for our dogs than we had dogs available. Dogs weren’t dying due to lack of homes – they were dying from health issues and temperament issues that made them unsuitable for adoption. We could argue whether this is ‘ok’ or not, but the simple fact remains: We had more homes than we had dogs.

    And as a final note, I love and support rescue. I have had 5 foster dogs, 1 adult cat, and 9 foster kittens in my time. This far exceeds the 3 puppies that I have bred myself, with 2 I have placed in loving, devoted, breed-enthusiast homes which will never see the inside of a shelter (the other 1 puppy lives with me). I also donate to rescues on a regular basis. Though I don’t plan to keep track of these numbers forever, I hope to remain in the negative – with more rescue animals that bred animals – for as long as I can.

    I support rescue by fostering and donating, and by placing any animals I breed into homes that are forever.

  • http://www.dogtime.com/readers-respond-responsible-breeders-exist.html leslie

    Hey Dr. V,
    Thanks much for reading my series and for taking the time to post your thoughts on the topic. Great to have your readers chime in too…

    A quick response: My intention wasn’t to bash breeders – rather, it was to point out that there are many factors contributing to the problem of overpopulation. I didn’t mean to imply that breeders are solely and directly responsible for the millions of deaths each year. When it comes to this particular dilemma — too many animals, too few homes — breeders are not the only problem. They may not even be the biggest problem, but they are adding to the problem. And I’m attempting to raise awareness around EVERY angle of this problem (thus, my 8-part series on the matter) in hopes of reducing death and suffering. Even if only a little.

    I do recognize that there are breeders who care deeply about the animals they bring into this world. Many of my readers reported they even know breeders involved in rescue and rehoming. Still, even while trying to help, they are contributing to an epidemic: They are adding to the population of animals in need of homes. Why bring more animals into the world when there are millions already here? I can’t bring myself to call that responsible when so many animals, through no fault of their own, spend their last days — or weeks or months – in an under-resourced shelter, bored out of their mind, frightened, and alone.

    So, what if the option to buy from a breeder wasn’t there at all or wasn’t convenient? Perhaps not every person would then consider adoption, but MANY would. A significant number of people would instead turn to a shelter or rescue to acquire their animal.

    I agree that people have different reasons for wanting a dog – as you point out, many have a specific set of characteristics they want to fulfill. But for 99% of the pet-acquiring population, there is an animal already out there who is probably perfect for them. (And if there isn’t, should we really be creating one? What it comes down to for me is, these are companion animals, not commodities.) So I’m asking for anyone who considers him- or herself a responsible breeder: Would you be willing to abstain from breeding for some period of time to see if this reduction in supply would result in a dent in the number of deaths or a decrease in the burden on our shelters?

    All this to say that I don’t mean to offend – I just hope to elicit and continue dialogue around an issue that breaks my heart. I see, on a weekly basis, adoptable animal after adoptable animal being led to the euthanasia room, and I want the suffering to stop. I want the needless euthanasia to come to an end. And so I’m asking everyone who might possibly be able to make a difference to do so — even those who are breeding with care and compassion.

    Thanks so much again for your respectful post,
    Leslie Smith

    • http://www.pawcurious.com Dr. V

      Thank YOU for taking the time to respond, Leslie. It is *such* an important topic, and really, I think we are in total agreement on 99% of the stuff you’re saying. To be honest, I think if “responsible” breeders were to abstain, there wouldn’t be a big difference because they are unfortunately a small minority in a sea of people who are out for a buck, who care not a bit for health and death. For all of them to abstain from breeding? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes, please.
      I love your series and it’s so important. Thank you for opening the dialogue. I learn new things every day from all the responses.

  • http://casacaudill.blogspot.com casacaudill

    As you know, Dakota is a purebreed cat. We got her from a breeder and it never occured to me to feel bad that I had deprived a shelter cat of its life by choosing her. Later in life as I became more of an animal advocate we adopted Miles from a Fix Our Ferals program. I also felt like I had somehow evened the score – for one luxury cat, I also had one street cat. Sometimes I encounter those that don’t know the first thing about our situation who give me grief because I have “a designer pet.” When I tell them that I regularly donate to the Humane Society and a local cat rescue, they tell me I wouldn’t have to if I had just adopted a cat from a shelter instead of buying a blood line. I look at those people much the same way I do other crackpots – with pity. They are so narrowly focused in their understanding of the world that they can’t see beyond their own small viewpoints. And it’s sad because rather than helping to encourage the adoption of pets, instead they can turn people off of rescue or shelter adoption because then you’re left thinking, “I don’t want to deal with those nutjobs.”

    As an aside, we investigated getting a rescue when we ultimately got Dakota. The process was terrible. I understand the reason behind it, but it was cost and time prohibitive. The rescue cat was going to cost the same amount as the purebreed. The purebreed owner had to meet us and approve of us and our experience with cats. All in all, it was a three day process. With the rescue they wanted to do all of that, plus a home inspection, plus see our schedule, and have it be a temporary fostership that they then had to approve at the end of two weeks, or they could take the cat back. As someone that needed the love and affection of a cat at that moment in time, the merest possibility that after getting attached to a pet only to have it taken away from me on the whim of someone who decided I was somehow incapable of loving and caring for an animal was too much. I couldn’t take that chance. So we went with the breeder. I would make the same decision today if placed in that same position (although I’d probably adopt a shelter kitten at the same time if I were going through the process today.)

  • Shawn Finch, DVM

    Dr. V – Here is my discussion cop-out – I agree with everything you’ve said here. Most impressive of all to me though is that you said exactly what and Leslie could come in to the conversation without so much as a hurt feeling. It makes me want to give you both a big hug. (Don’t worry, I won’t.)

    If we as pet lovers across the spectrum on ethical issues can treat each other like THAT we will be (as Gary Vee said…) ants moving picnic tables. I really think we are approaching a day when near every pet is kept and loved. When that day comes, we are going to need our excellent breeders even more than we do now.

    • http://www.pawcurious.com Dr. V

      Thanks Dr. Finch! Hugs welcome any time. :)

      I believe in my heart of hearts that the only way this will ever be improved is if we involve everyone in civil debate. But we live in such an uncivil society. :(

  • Lacy

    Thank you for addressing this viewpoint. Since buying my two cats from a responsible breeder, I have felt that many people think that I should be ashamed. Although it is more of an issue with dogs, the breed of a cat can also be a strong indicator of temperment. After having one Himalayan die of PKD and one die of cancer, I made sure to search out a responsible breeder for my next Himalayans,

  • http://www.ctmofo.com The Mofo

    I trained service dogs and I can completely vouch for the fact that breeding makes a different. It’s not that there aren’t great mutts out there who could be fantastic assistance dogs. It’s just that they are HARD TO FIND. When you’re a charity, every dollar counts, and if you’re paying a trainer to put thousands of hours into each dog produced, you want the best chance of success possible. HENCE: breeding program.