Adopt don’t Shop

Everyone has likely heard this phrase before.

Everyone seems to have an opinion about this topic.

A call has me checking on a property where the complainant claims the people are breeding dogs and believe it to be a puppy mill. Once making contact with the owner I find that he does in fact have several dogs and two litters of puppies. He is upset that someone would insinuate he is not a good owner or doesn’t care for his dogs. He admits he breeds his dogs (and yes you guessed they are “pitbulls”) and sells puppies. We go over the basics, do they have vet records, proper shelter, food and care. They do. In the county I work this is not illegal. While I cringe thinking about the many new dogs he is putting out there into our community, I can only educate him about the importance of spaying and neutering.

We have all seen the atrocious photos of puppy mills being raided by animal services. The dogs in tiny cages stacked four tall. Bodies that have matted fur, feces caked to their feet. Female dogs with deformed legs locked in small cages their entire lives and used simply to produce litter after litter for some human who only sees dollar signs. Pet shops who continue to buy puppies from these conditions and sell them for thousands. Puppies with genetic defects and costly health problems the buyer only finds out after taking them home. These puppy mills continue to thrive because there is a market for selling puppies. The average consumer does not see the horror behind the $3000 dog in the window.

Part of my duties is to inspect kennels in our county, and we have quite a few people who follow the rules and apply for a kennel license because they intend on breeding their dog and want to be a reputable breeder. They are passionate about the breed and furthering the proper genetics of that dog breed. They proudly display their show ribbons and awards. They typically know other reputable breeders and are part of an entire community of like minded dog enthusiasts.

And then there is the shelter. The always overcrowded shelter. The dumping ground for strays and unwanted animals. The place constantly begging for people to adopt a dog from them to free up a kennel for another needy animal coming in the back door. A place many people believe to only have broken or unwanted pets. A place where people have told me they don’t go to “because it’s too sad”. The place someone brings dogs after they had ‘an oops litter’ because they didn’t bother to get their dog spayed.

I have seen all of these scenarios first hand. I will admit I have obtained a puppy from a reputable breeder. I have also adopted a dog from the shelter.

We share our world with many animals, and it is not lost on anyone that there are not enough homes for all of the displaced domestic animals in this world. Many communities on this earth see stray cats reproducing and dying in mass amounts. Many places also have stray dogs roaming streets, starving and mange ridden, being hit by vehicles and left to die. The part of the world I live in is fortunate enough to, for the most part, help these souls. There is always a heated debate about adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue vs buying a pet, with passionate people on both sides. There are people who rescue outdoor cats and try to give them a better life and there are those who consider them a nuisance and simply look the other way.

I have seen people picket outside of a local pet store, trying to drive them out of business. Animal control received complaint after complaint about the conditions of the dogs in their store. I personally have taken calls where a puppy has come down with a debilitating illness and the new owner is now upset with the place they purchased their dog from. What they fail to realize is that the store, or shitty dog breeder, only exist because people like them continue to buy the $3000 dog. “Where did you get the dog from”? “A breeder I found online because I absolutely wanted to have a Pomapoo, Shorkie, Labradoodle…etc”. “Ok, well did they provide you with veterinary records”? “No, they insisted I meet them in the parking lot of the local hardware store and had some puppies in the car for me to choose from but did not give me a receipt or any veterinary records”. Insert face palm here. “They don’t seem like good breeders and I think you need to now locate them and charge them. At least I rescued this poor dog from those terrible people”. In fact, what you did is confirm to these terrible breeders that there is a market for selling puppies online, sight unseen, and they will continue this practice.

In the past decade I have seen people change to being more open minded about rescuing animals from a shelter. It has even gone so far as to be a fad. As long as people do it for the right reasons and not just to seem relevant or trendy. So many pets are returned or abandoned once the novelty wears off or the pet displays behaviors unbecoming. On the other hand, I come across many more adopted pets on calls these days and it warms my heart that people are willing to take a risk and open up their homes to these needy animals.

I recently dealt with a call where someone had left a dog behind when she moved out. The people remaining in the house did not want to, or had the means to, care for the dog. I picked up this small breed dog and was told the original owner had bought him from a pet shop that is no longer there. Yes, all the picketing outside the local pet boutique finally drove them out of business. Surely this dog owner wouldn’t have paid all that money to just abandon the pet. I was able to locate the owner, who was now essentially homeless and couch surfing. She said the dog is almost a year old, had a neuter contract as part of his very expensive purchase price, but has never seen a vet since being brough home. She at least realized the animal had a better chance at the shelter and signed him over to me. A cute, small purebred dog has no problem finding an adopter at our local shelter so at least he was able to be neutered and immediately found a new home. In this case the dog falls into the category of puppy mill/pets store purchase, as well as shelter rescue. What angered me about that call is the lack of planning on the part of the owner. Why on earth would a young girl, living with several roommates, purchase a $2000 dog on a payment plan and then never bother to follow through with a neuter surgery, much less continue the necessary vaccinations? So often the fate of an animal, no matter their origin, hinges on decisions made by someone not qualified to own an animal.

I bought a puppy from a breeder. A breeder who has a litter or two a year and only allows dogs to breed that have gone through various, rigorous health checks. Someone who is passionate about the breed and has a reputation for putting good genetics of that breed into the world. Raising a puppy is an enormous amount of work and responsibility. After my amazing dog Rooster passed, I decided to do this all over again. It confirmed to my husband and I that this will be the last puppy we raise. While it is so amazing to form a bond with a little bundle of joy and teach them all of life’s lessons, it is also exhausting and expensive. The breeder we got our dog from insists on vetting each person buying a puppy. They are inundated with information and expectations, and she makes it very clear that the dog can always return to her if anything doesn’t work out.

One hot summer day many years ago, I was dispatched to a dumpster behind a business where the local police officer had cornered a dog. The skinny, filthy German Shepherd female cowered when I approached, and I used the catch pole just in case. A cornered and scared dog can become aggressive quickly if it feels threatened. As soon as I loaded her into my vehicle she seemed relieved and once at the shelter she allowed me to leash her easily and showed me what a sweet soul she was. She was unbelievably dirty, and at least 30 pounds underweight. I’m not sure how long she had been surviving on the streets alone, but she had a microchip that was not registered to anyone and once her stray hold was up she came home with me. She was the most gentle dog I have ever met. Although fearful and shy at first, she came out of her shell once she realized how much she was loved in our home. She followed the lead of our Rooster, who was a very social and easy going Shepherd, and lived her best life until old age. Rescuing a dog from the shelter was one of the most rewarding and fulfilling moments in my life.

If I was asked to give my honest opinion about the ‘Adopt don’t Shop’ debate, it would be this.

If you are someone who absolutely wants a specific breed of dog and are looking at breeders, that’s totally fine. But do your research! Ask questions, demand papers. Do not believe what you see on the internet. Don’t become part of the problem by falling in love with a photo online and agreeing to meet a stranger in the parking lot to hand over a wad of cash for a puppy. Any reputable breeder would vet you as much as you them. They would not simply allow their dogs to be sold to someone not serious about proper care and knowledge of that breed.

If you are not looking for a particular breed, I suggest checking your local animal shelter, humane society, or rescue first. They have gems you can’t even imagine. Staff and foster families can tell you all about the animals temperament and habits even before you adopt. Not only are you rescuing that one dog, but you open up space for another to be able to take their spot and be rescued as well.

If you are considering visiting the local puppy boutique and entering into a payment plan to pay off this very expensive dog, just don’t. Seriously. Don’t!

And if you are unsure about the responsibilities and costs associated with owning a dog, just adopt a cat. They’re uncomplicated and plentiful and much easier to care for.