Holli was on the euthanasia list at the shelter. She was just days away from going on "the truck." But she was lucky, she came home with us to wait for her forever home.
She's lucky she doesn't know she has to leave here eventually, because she seems quite content with her big yard, three playmates, and plenty of toys and bones.
And she's lucky she doesn't know about all the "breeders" who continue to produce puppies for no good reason. This, in a world where there are far more dogs than homes already. Where millions of dogs exist in shelters, and foster homes or worse yet, on euthanasia lists. And yet they feel the need to purposefully bring more puppies into the world.
And she's luckier still she doesn't know about all the families out there buying those puppies. People who want a younger puppy, one with "papers" or fancy pedigree or one that comes from a certain kennel or has a certain dog in it's heritage. People who don't think she's good enough, or frown upon a dog from a shelter because there must be something wrong with her.
Lucky for her we don't think any of those people are good enough. She can stay here with us until the perfect family comes along, the one who thinks she's the greatest dog in the world. The ones who can't believe how lucky they are to get to adopt her.
Meanwhile all those fancy, pedigreed puppies are getting to be less cute and more trouble. Some of them are ending up in the very same shelters dogs like Holli come from because their "breeders" didn't care enough to make sure they went to good homes and were taken care of and well-loved. They just wanted to collect their check.
So now, the little stray dog that nobody wanted really is the lucky one. Too bad they won't all be so lucky.
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Summer
4 months ago
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7 comments:
Powerful post. But on the flip side, we dont tell people not to have kids because there are all these children out their that need to be adopted.
I guess for one kids don't get put to sleep and when they are adults they can have their own life anyway. I think the fact that human adoption is made ridiculously difficult, risky, and expensive complicates the issue.
And I'm sure there are people that would argue it is no different. We don't have children nor want any so I can't speak much more on the topic.
I like to think that not all breeders are evil. I know some very caring ones. I also know some awful ones who shouldn't even be allowed to own a dog. But making breeders and pedigreed dogs the villains seems to give an excuse to the people who just don't care enough to keep their pets from reproducing and filling the streets and shelters.
There are some good breeders hence the quotation marks used in the post. I would consider those of whom I speak more producers than breeders. Even many of the ones that appear good and reputable are frequently not.
Good breeders will have to fend for themselves, they can, they have a voice. It's my job to speak up for those who can't.
Intriguing post, although, I think I'M the lucky one for finding my sweet girl :)
It's a tough issue for sure, and many sides to the story, but I'm glad that you are the voice for those that don't have one. I'll admit, I'm most likely getting a purebred for my next dog for various reasons, but I am a huge believer in rescue and have had my life changed by a rescue dog. There will definitely be more rescue pups in my future, that's for sure!
REALLY a great post and like you say the person who is smart enough to get her...will be the luckiest one in this situation.
Fancy papers or fancy names do not guarantee anything ;- ). I do think there are some great breeders but they are hard to find because they dont breed much and only when they really can improve the breed which with some of the crap that is bred out there we do have to keep some of the good traits and healthy dogs keeping the breed healthy, but sadly I dont believe that is the focus of a lot of breeders. It seems a HUGE advantage when you find a great rescue that is not a tiny pup, you already have a good idea of the structure of the dog, you can get a pretty good idea of the temperment if they are settled into a foster situation, you can see more accurately what their energy level will be...
Kathy I couldn't agree more. There is nothing wrong with breeding to produce healthy dogs that improve the breed but that is not the focus of most breeders or of many purchasers. But those less ethical breeders will keep breeding as long as people buy. If we change the demand for puppies by adopting then those breeders will be put out of business and we will be left with quality dogs produced by quality breeders for quality homes. But we are a long way from that. And I'm of the biased mindset that my dog can do anything your can, papered or not :)
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