Comments on: The Shelter Pet Project http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/ Green and Natural Parenting Thu, 24 May 2012 18:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tiffany http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13540 Tiffany Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:39:26 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13540 A good way to find a shelter pet that fits your needs is to foster different ones until you find the perfect one. A good way to find a shelter pet that fits your needs is to foster different ones until you find the perfect one.

]]> By: Tiffany http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13539 Tiffany Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:35:43 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13539 Abby, what you are saying is interesting but not really relevant to this conversation. My post was directed at people looking for a pet, not for people who need a specific breed for work reasons. I understand why a cattle rancher might go to a breeder for a border collie. I do not understand why 5 year Tammy who just wants a dog to love needs and animal from a breeder. The average family looking for a new pet does not need a breeder and should not even go to one IMO. That is what animal shleters are for. The idea that people NEED a specific breed or specific characteristsic for a family pet strikes me as selfish and silly. I have a soft spot for miniature dashunds since I had one as a kid but should that soft spot trump compassion and make me go to a breeder when there is a perfectly good mutt at my local shelter who needs me? No. If my choice to go to a breeder means an animal was put down... then I made the wrong choice. Abby, what you are saying is interesting but not really relevant to this conversation. My post was directed at people looking for a pet, not for people who need a specific breed for work reasons. I understand why a cattle rancher might go to a breeder for a border collie. I do not understand why 5 year Tammy who just wants a dog to love needs and animal from a breeder.

The average family looking for a new pet does not need a breeder and should not even go to one IMO. That is what animal shleters are for. The idea that people NEED a specific breed or specific characteristsic for a family pet strikes me as selfish and silly. I have a soft spot for miniature dashunds since I had one as a kid but should that soft spot trump compassion and make me go to a breeder when there is a perfectly good mutt at my local shelter who needs me? No. If my choice to go to a breeder means an animal was put down… then I made the wrong choice.

]]> By: abbyful http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13538 abbyful Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:32:23 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13538 And like I said, there's absolutely nothing wrong with shelter dogs. For most people, a shelter dog is great. But shelter dogs aren't for everyone's needs; nor is any specific breed for everyone's needs. Dogs are not "one-size-fits-all". What's important is that people research: research the breed/mix you're thinking about (temperament, size grooming requirements, activity level, etc.), research the place you're thinking about getting the dog from, etc. And like I said, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with shelter dogs. For most people, a shelter dog is great.
But shelter dogs aren’t for everyone’s needs; nor is any specific breed for everyone’s needs. Dogs are not “one-size-fits-all”.

What’s important is that people research: research the breed/mix you’re thinking about (temperament, size grooming requirements, activity level, etc.), research the place you’re thinking about getting the dog from, etc.

]]> By: abbyful http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13537 abbyful Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:22:30 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13537 That is why you make the distinction between responsible, reputable breeders versus puppymills and backyard breeders. A pharmacist and a drug dealer both deal with "drugs", but are *very different* from one another. You can't dump them into the same group, just like you can't dump reputable breeders into the same group as puppymillers. Also keep in mind that a good number of responsible breeders are also involved in rescue, especially breed specific rescue groups. They foster dogs, they refer people to rescue groups, etc. Often the AKC breed parent clubs have their own rescues as well. For example: my breed of choice is papillons, the Papillon Club of America has their own rescue. (And breed specific rescues don't only take purebreds, they also take mixed breeds if part the breed they represent.) Different breeds of dogs are not just different shells with the same thing on the inside. Breeds were developed for a reason, and if you want a working dog or a dog with very specific traits, a reputable breeder is the best bet. If you just want a pet and are flexible on the traits the dog has, you can probably find what you're looking for at a shelter. You can't just go to a shelter and pick out a random dog and expect it to be good at what you want it to be good at. There's a reason why border collies herd and labs retrieve, etc. Because they were bred for hundreds or in some cases even thousands of years for that specific trait and drive. Traits such as working ability still need to be actively bred for. If you breed labs and they don't have "soft mouths" and desire to retrieve, they won't be as good for working, so you can't just pick up a purebred at the shelter and expect it to do its job at the same level as a well-bred dog. In other words, you get a dog that comes from champion field lines, you'll likely have a good working dog. You get a dog from a backyard breeder or puppymills that just breeds whatever, you likely will not have a good working dog. I will say that 100% mutts and 95% of purebreds should never be bred. But that is why people need to research! (I can count on one hand the papillon breeders in my state that I know of that I would consider buying a dog from because those are the only ones that meet my standards.) I urge you to go talk to some reputable breeders about what they do; about how they decide if they should breed their dogs or not, about the screening for genetic health problems they do, etc. You will learn a lot. Oh, and if you're interested in the statistics of dogs euthanized in shelters, we have made great strides in the last several decades. While the overall number of pets in the USA has double, the number of animals euthanized in shelters is 1/3 of what it used to be. We still room for improvement, but we are actually on the rebound, not on a downward spiral. That is why you make the distinction between responsible, reputable breeders versus puppymills and backyard breeders.

A pharmacist and a drug dealer both deal with “drugs”, but are *very different* from one another. You can’t dump them into the same group, just like you can’t dump reputable breeders into the same group as puppymillers.

Also keep in mind that a good number of responsible breeders are also involved in rescue, especially breed specific rescue groups. They foster dogs, they refer people to rescue groups, etc.
Often the AKC breed parent clubs have their own rescues as well. For example: my breed of choice is papillons, the Papillon Club of America has their own rescue. (And breed specific rescues don’t only take purebreds, they also take mixed breeds if part the breed they represent.)

Different breeds of dogs are not just different shells with the same thing on the inside. Breeds were developed for a reason, and if you want a working dog or a dog with very specific traits, a reputable breeder is the best bet.

If you just want a pet and are flexible on the traits the dog has, you can probably find what you’re looking for at a shelter.

You can’t just go to a shelter and pick out a random dog and expect it to be good at what you want it to be good at. There’s a reason why border collies herd and labs retrieve, etc. Because they were bred for hundreds or in some cases even thousands of years for that specific trait and drive.

Traits such as working ability still need to be actively bred for. If you breed labs and they don’t have “soft mouths” and desire to retrieve, they won’t be as good for working, so you can’t just pick up a purebred at the shelter and expect it to do its job at the same level as a well-bred dog. In other words, you get a dog that comes from champion field lines, you’ll likely have a good working dog. You get a dog from a backyard breeder or puppymills that just breeds whatever, you likely will not have a good working dog.

I will say that 100% mutts and 95% of purebreds should never be bred. But that is why people need to research! (I can count on one hand the papillon breeders in my state that I know of that I would consider buying a dog from because those are the only ones that meet my standards.)

I urge you to go talk to some reputable breeders about what they do; about how they decide if they should breed their dogs or not, about the screening for genetic health problems they do, etc. You will learn a lot.

Oh, and if you’re interested in the statistics of dogs euthanized in shelters, we have made great strides in the last several decades. While the overall number of pets in the USA has double, the number of animals euthanized in shelters is 1/3 of what it used to be. We still room for improvement, but we are actually on the rebound, not on a downward spiral.

]]> By: Tiffany http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13536 Tiffany Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:28:01 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13536 The argument that there would be no more dogs does not fly with me. If there was a NEED for dogs, since none could be had in shelters, than we would certainly find breeders popping back up. They would need never go away completely anyway. We have dogs that need homes in shelters and they are being killed while we shop "new". I doubt we could ever make dog owners become reponsible or puppy mills either. What we CAN do is choose not to patronize breeders or mills while there are available dogs in shelters. To do otherwise is to allow them to die for whatever reason we think is good enough. IMO there are no reasons good enough. The argument that there would be no more dogs does not fly with me. If there was a NEED for dogs, since none could be had in shelters, than we would certainly find breeders popping back up. They would need never go away completely anyway. We have dogs that need homes in shelters and they are being killed while we shop “new”.

I doubt we could ever make dog owners become reponsible or puppy mills either. What we CAN do is choose not to patronize breeders or mills while there are available dogs in shelters. To do otherwise is to allow them to die for whatever reason we think is good enough. IMO there are no reasons good enough.

]]> By: abby http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13535 abby Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:58:25 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13535 If nobody bred and the only dogs available were from shelters, there wouldn't be any more dogs within a few years. Some people (such as PETA) are all for the extinction of domestic animals, but the vast majority are not. For my show-quality papillon, it wasn't a choice of "should I get a dog from a breeder or a shelter", it was "I'm getting a show-prospect dog or no dog at all", and I was willing to wait months or even a year for that to happen. Many times, a reputable breeder will have all the puppies spoken for before the female is even bred. Here are the statistics of the dogs that end up in shelters: - The majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7%) were between 5 months and 3 years of age. - The majority of dogs (37.1%) had been owned from 7 months to 1 year. - Approximately half of the pets surrendered were not neutered. - Many of the pets relinquished (33% of dogs) had not been to a veterinarian. - Animals acquired from friends were relinquished in higher numbers (31.4% of dogs) than from any other source. - Most dogs (96%) had not received any obedience training. Those statistics scream "irresponsible owner" and "puppymill". Responsible owners take their dogs to the vet and train their dogs. A reputable breeder screens homes before placing a dog and is ready to say "no" if they feel the breed or individual puppy isn't a good fit for the family. A reputable breeder has a contract that the dog must be returned to the breeder if no longer wanted, that dogs sold as pets must be spayed/neutered, and that they must visit a vet within the first few days or week the new owner has them. If nobody bred and the only dogs available were from shelters, there wouldn’t be any more dogs within a few years.
Some people (such as PETA) are all for the extinction of domestic animals, but the vast majority are not.

For my show-quality papillon, it wasn’t a choice of “should I get a dog from a breeder or a shelter”, it was “I’m getting a show-prospect dog or no dog at all”, and I was willing to wait months or even a year for that to happen. Many times, a reputable breeder will have all the puppies spoken for before the female is even bred.

Here are the statistics of the dogs that end up in shelters:
- The majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7%) were between 5 months and 3 years of age.
- The majority of dogs (37.1%) had been owned from 7 months to 1 year.
- Approximately half of the pets surrendered were not neutered.
- Many of the pets relinquished (33% of dogs) had not been to a veterinarian.
- Animals acquired from friends were relinquished in higher numbers (31.4% of dogs) than from any other source.
- Most dogs (96%) had not received any obedience training.

Those statistics scream “irresponsible owner” and “puppymill”.
Responsible owners take their dogs to the vet and train their dogs.
A reputable breeder screens homes before placing a dog and is ready to say “no” if they feel the breed or individual puppy isn’t a good fit for the family. A reputable breeder has a contract that the dog must be returned to the breeder if no longer wanted, that dogs sold as pets must be spayed/neutered, and that they must visit a vet within the first few days or week the new owner has them.

]]> By: Tiffany http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13534 Tiffany Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:48:39 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13534 Abby, the fact still remains though that every time we choose to buy from a breeder... an animal in a shelter dies. No matter what "reason" we have for going with a breeder, if we there are shelter animals we could take then we are choosing to support the practice of bringing new life into the world and killing off what we don't want. Reputable breeders should only come into play (in a perfect world) when there are no shelter animals available. Abby, the fact still remains though that every time we choose to buy from a breeder… an animal in a shelter dies. No matter what “reason” we have for going with a breeder, if we there are shelter animals we could take then we are choosing to support the practice of bringing new life into the world and killing off what we don’t want. Reputable breeders should only come into play (in a perfect world) when there are no shelter animals available.

]]> By: abby http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13533 abby Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:45:10 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13533 That's actually a myth that purebreds have more health problems than mutts. What it really comes down to is poorly bred versus well bred. A well bred purebred (who's parents and grandparents were screened for genetic health issues) will be healthier than both a poorly bred purebred and a mutt, which mutts by nature are always poorly bred. Many purebreds and all mutts are the result of irresponsible breeding, which also follows that the dog's parents weren't screened for genetic health problems. As far as temperament problems; training and socialization are key, regardless of breed. I'm not trying to put down shelter dogs, they can be great pets. (I have a shelter dog myself.) But I see a lot of backyard breeders and puppymills trying to sell mixed-breed dogs saying they are "healthier" or have "hybrid vigor" as a selling point, and I don't want people to fall into that trap. That's why I bring it up. That’s actually a myth that purebreds have more health problems than mutts. What it really comes down to is poorly bred versus well bred. A well bred purebred (who’s parents and grandparents were screened for genetic health issues) will be healthier than both a poorly bred purebred and a mutt, which mutts by nature are always poorly bred.

Many purebreds and all mutts are the result of irresponsible breeding, which also follows that the dog’s parents weren’t screened for genetic health problems.

As far as temperament problems; training and socialization are key, regardless of breed.

I’m not trying to put down shelter dogs, they can be great pets. (I have a shelter dog myself.)
But I see a lot of backyard breeders and puppymills trying to sell mixed-breed dogs saying they are “healthier” or have “hybrid vigor” as a selling point, and I don’t want people to fall into that trap. That’s why I bring it up.

]]> By: abbyful http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13532 abbyful Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:21:48 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13532 I have 3 dogs, 2 papillons from breeders and 1 mixed-breed from a shelter. I don't feel guilty about my 2 from breeders at all, and here's why: I got them from reputable, responsible breeders. Breeders that only breed maybe 1 litter a year and breed for quality not quantity, have their dogs screened for genetic health problems, have a contract(if the new owner no longer wants to dogs or cannot take care of them for some reason, they must be returned to the breeder, never taken to a shelter or given away), among other qualities. One of my papillons is show-quality and will be shown in conformation beginning early next year. The only option for such a dog is a breeder that breeds for quality. My other papillon is mismarked for her breed, so the breeder sold her on limitted registration and with a spay contract, I had to send the breeder proof that she has been spayed by 6 months of age. I got her specificy to compete in agility with, and wanted to make sure I had a sound dog, which I had a much higher chance of getting since her parents were screened for genetic health problems such as luxating patellas. I would never buy from a puppymill, petstore, or backyard breeder. Irresponsible breeders and irresponsible owners are part of the problem. Reputable breeders and responsible owners are part of the solution, not the problem. Shelter dogs make great pets, but aren't the best fit for everyone. If someone wants a dog that is bred for a specific purpose and wants that dog to work (hunting dogs, herding dogs, etc.), a reputable breeder with dogs that have strong working drive is the way to go. Good places to get a dog: - shelter - breed rescue group - reputable breeder Bad places to get a dog: - puppymill - petstore (mostly puppymill dogs, and no good breeder would sell through a 3rd party!) - backyard breeder I have 3 dogs, 2 papillons from breeders and 1 mixed-breed from a shelter.

I don’t feel guilty about my 2 from breeders at all, and here’s why: I got them from reputable, responsible breeders. Breeders that only breed maybe 1 litter a year and breed for quality not quantity, have their dogs screened for genetic health problems, have a contract(if the new owner no longer wants to dogs or cannot take care of them for some reason, they must be returned to the breeder, never taken to a shelter or given away), among other qualities.
One of my papillons is show-quality and will be shown in conformation beginning early next year. The only option for such a dog is a breeder that breeds for quality.
My other papillon is mismarked for her breed, so the breeder sold her on limitted registration and with a spay contract, I had to send the breeder proof that she has been spayed by 6 months of age. I got her specificy to compete in agility with, and wanted to make sure I had a sound dog, which I had a much higher chance of getting since her parents were screened for genetic health problems such as luxating patellas.

I would never buy from a puppymill, petstore, or backyard breeder. Irresponsible breeders and irresponsible owners are part of the problem.
Reputable breeders and responsible owners are part of the solution, not the problem.

Shelter dogs make great pets, but aren’t the best fit for everyone. If someone wants a dog that is bred for a specific purpose and wants that dog to work (hunting dogs, herding dogs, etc.), a reputable breeder with dogs that have strong working drive is the way to go.

Good places to get a dog:
- shelter
- breed rescue group
- reputable breeder
Bad places to get a dog:
- puppymill
- petstore (mostly puppymill dogs, and no good breeder would sell through a 3rd party!)
- backyard breeder

]]> By: trisha http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13531 trisha Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:38:27 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13531 thank you so much for this, I love your blog -- and this post spoke of a cause very near and dear to my heart. I have one dog who I got from a breeder on a spay/neuter contract, she is truly wonderful, but my other three dogs are older dogs rescued from shelters and they are all so wonderful too. I wouldn't get another dog from a breeder because I have since learned of the millions of dogs that need to be rescued, as your post so vividly points out. Had I known the statistics I would likely not have purchased from a breeder -- so anything we can do to get the word out is great. I have been active in rescue (I have fostered and rehomed dogs, and served on the board of a regional animal rescue org) for nearly 5 years now. It breaks my heart to see the dogs in shelters but it breaks my heart more not to do anything about it. thanks again, trish thank you so much for this, I love your blog — and this post spoke of a cause very near and dear to my heart. I have one dog who I got from a breeder on a spay/neuter contract, she is truly wonderful, but my other three dogs are older dogs rescued from shelters and they are all so wonderful too. I wouldn’t get another dog from a breeder because I have since learned of the millions of dogs that need to be rescued, as your post so vividly points out. Had I known the statistics I would likely not have purchased from a breeder — so anything we can do to get the word out is great. I have been active in rescue (I have fostered and rehomed dogs, and served on the board of a regional animal rescue org) for nearly 5 years now. It breaks my heart to see the dogs in shelters but it breaks my heart more not to do anything about it. thanks again, trish

]]> By: Angie http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13530 Angie Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:43:58 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13530 My family is proud to claim parenthood to two shelter kitties (Save Our Strays kittens) and one SPCA-adopted puppy (he's now 7 years old and a 105 pound dog). We'd like to have another dog, but most shelters (other than the SPCA) won't adopt to us, as I have two young ones under the age of three. I dream of the day that they (the kids) are all over the age of three so I can make the trip to Harlequin Haven for a beautiful saved Great Dane...someday. Until then, I convince myself and the rest of my clan that we do not need another puppy in the house - afterall, I still have two in diapers!!! My family is proud to claim parenthood to two shelter kitties (Save Our Strays kittens) and one SPCA-adopted puppy (he’s now 7 years old and a 105 pound dog). We’d like to have another dog, but most shelters (other than the SPCA) won’t adopt to us, as I have two young ones under the age of three. I dream of the day that they (the kids) are all over the age of three so I can make the trip to Harlequin Haven for a beautiful saved Great Dane…someday. Until then, I convince myself and the rest of my clan that we do not need another puppy in the house – afterall, I still have two in diapers!!!

]]> By: Noa http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13529 Noa Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:41:27 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13529 Cookie sits at my feet as a write; a sweet Border Collie who joined us in July from a local shelter. She is the best dog I have lived with. She is great with kids and other dogs and we all find it such a joy to have her in our lives. My 10 year old daughter was doing the math today and she said, "Wow, Cookie has only been living with us for four months, I can't even remember what it was like without her." She is docile, loving, and clearly has never been abused. (if you make a sudden move to bring your arm up as if you were going to strike her she only looks at you questioningly and does not flinch.) We certainly looked carefully at many dogs before choosing her. Our shelter has a meet and greet room where dogs and future families can play and the staff did not bat an eye at me having both of my children there too. I asked the staff for suggestions on which dog they thought would be best since they spend time with the animals. All in all it has been an amazing journey and such a great new part of our family life that I too can hardly remember a time without her. Adopt a pet, but do your research first and wait for the right fit. Cookie sits at my feet as a write; a sweet Border Collie who joined us in July from a local shelter. She is the best dog I have lived with. She is great with kids and other dogs and we all find it such a joy to have her in our lives. My 10 year old daughter was doing the math today and she said, “Wow, Cookie has only been living with us for four months, I can’t even remember what it was like without her.” She is docile, loving, and clearly has never been abused. (if you make a sudden move to bring your arm up as if you were going to strike her she only looks at you questioningly and does not flinch.) We certainly looked carefully at many dogs before choosing her. Our shelter has a meet and greet room where dogs and future families can play and the staff did not bat an eye at me having both of my children there too. I asked the staff for suggestions on which dog they thought would be best since they spend time with the animals. All in all it has been an amazing journey and such a great new part of our family life that I too can hardly remember a time without her. Adopt a pet, but do your research first and wait for the right fit.

]]> By: Tracey http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13528 Tracey Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:55:11 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13528 HI Tiffany, Just wanted to thank you for posting about this subject. I am a strong advocate of adopting from shelters and even off-the-street strays. Some of our most beloved pets have just shown up at our door. After every effort was made to find their owners, they eventually settled in to become valuable members of our family. With so many wonderful animals needing homes, to me, it seems such an enormous waste to breed and sell them through puppy mills and the like. Thanks again for highlighting this important subject (and good luck with your move!). Warmly, Tracey HI Tiffany,

Just wanted to thank you for posting about this subject. I am a strong advocate of adopting from shelters and even off-the-street strays. Some of our most beloved pets have just shown up at our door. After every effort was made to find their owners, they eventually settled in to become valuable members of our family. With so many wonderful animals needing homes, to me, it seems such an enormous waste to breed and sell them through puppy mills and the like. Thanks again for highlighting this important subject (and good luck with your move!).

Warmly,
Tracey

]]> By: Lori http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13527 Lori Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:37:56 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13527 I'm all for adopting shelter pets - I have several myself. However I also have several purebred cats that I bought from responsible ethical breeders. These cats came with spay/neuter, vaccinations, health guarantee, etc. They were raised in home by breeders who completely devote themselves to them and would take them back if for some reason I could no longer care for them. Most of the cats of this particular breed listed in shelters/rescues are actually regular domestics. I'm not a bad person for purchasing these cats and I don't feel guilty. I love my rescue/shelter dogs and cats just as much, but wanted something specific this time around and couldn't find it in a shelter. If everyone bought their pets from breeders like mine, we wouldn't need shelters. And if everyone got their pets from shelters, pets would eventually cease to exist. I’m all for adopting shelter pets – I have several myself. However I also have several purebred cats that I bought from responsible ethical breeders. These cats came with spay/neuter, vaccinations, health guarantee, etc. They were raised in home by breeders who completely devote themselves to them and would take them back if for some reason I could no longer care for them. Most of the cats of this particular breed listed in shelters/rescues are actually regular domestics. I’m not a bad person for purchasing these cats and I don’t feel guilty. I love my rescue/shelter dogs and cats just as much, but wanted something specific this time around and couldn’t find it in a shelter.

If everyone bought their pets from breeders like mine, we wouldn’t need shelters. And if everyone got their pets from shelters, pets would eventually cease to exist.

]]> By: Ashley http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13526 Ashley Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:41:11 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13526 Thank you so much for posting about this! And I try not to be rude, but Im all about guilt tripping everyone I know about it because there is just no excuse. All my pets are rescues, adoptions, or strays Ive taken in. I couldnt see it any other way :) AND they are all spayed/neutered! Thank you so much for posting about this! And I try not to be rude, but Im all about guilt tripping everyone I know about it because there is just no excuse. All my pets are rescues, adoptions, or strays Ive taken in. I couldnt see it any other way :) AND they are all spayed/neutered!

]]> By: Casual Friday Every Day http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13525 Casual Friday Every Day Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:27:24 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13525 All our dogs were/are pure breeds from breeders. And we bread pups when I was a child.Oh I just loved it. It was so much fun and what a learning process it was! I helped the Mama give birth to her babies, helped clean them up, watched as they nursed, and then helped the Mama when the pups were older. I loved every moment of it. But now that I'm an adult - who cares so much for society's throw aways {the homeless, orphans} - I can safely say that if we were to have another dog down the road I would vote for a shelter dog. I don't know if I'd win the vote, but I would do whatever I could to try and sway the family. My problem is I'd likely walk in wanting one and leave with several - or leave broken hearted that I had to pass up so many pups who wanted to come home with me. Nell All our dogs were/are pure breeds from breeders. And we bread pups when I was a child.Oh I just loved it. It was so much fun and what a learning process it was! I helped the Mama give birth to her babies, helped clean them up, watched as they nursed, and then helped the Mama when the pups were older. I loved every moment of it.

But now that I’m an adult – who cares so much for society’s throw aways {the homeless, orphans} – I can safely say that if we were to have another dog down the road I would vote for a shelter dog. I don’t know if I’d win the vote, but I would do whatever I could to try and sway the family.

My problem is I’d likely walk in wanting one and leave with several – or leave broken hearted that I had to pass up so many pups who wanted to come home with me.

Nell

]]> By: Keith Wilcox http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13524 Keith Wilcox Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:13:34 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13524 I am 100% totally on board with you on this one. I can't believe people still buy dogs from breeders and pet stores. Every dog I've ever owned has been from a pound. I think they're more grateful anyway and make better pets. the breeder ones tend to be a little mental in the head. We always get the mutts. My wife likes the really ugly ones because she thinks they have more awareness of their precarious position and are thus more likely to behave! HAHAHAHAH Anyway, Excellent PSA and shout out for the Pound. Thanks! I am 100% totally on board with you on this one. I can’t believe people still buy dogs from breeders and pet stores. Every dog I’ve ever owned has been from a pound. I think they’re more grateful anyway and make better pets. the breeder ones tend to be a little mental in the head. We always get the mutts. My wife likes the really ugly ones because she thinks they have more awareness of their precarious position and are thus more likely to behave! HAHAHAHAH

Anyway, Excellent PSA and shout out for the Pound. Thanks!

]]> By: Toni http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13523 Toni Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:58:25 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13523 One last thing. Dogs are much more likely to be reclaimed or adopted from a shleter. About 95% of all cats entereing shelters/humane societies are euthanized. This is in part due to the large number or feral cats. Feral cats are those truely "wild' cats that have never been owned. They are a necessary part of the ecosystem...while many people scream they kill song birds, they also kill mices, rats, voles and other undesirable rodents roaming our neighborhoods. I could site many references to large cities that have unsuccessfully tried to elimiante them ( and none that I could find were successful)...check out http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=434 for feral cat info. Also there are many people who believe that a cat will survive if they take it out to a more rural area and abandon it..."Farmers always need cats" seems to be the philosophy. Or if a cat has a behavior problem, they just move it out of doors to become one of the neighborhood breeding Tom cats or females having kittens out of doors. Those of you doing your part, BRAVO! Help spread the word. Thank you for your time and patience. One last thing. Dogs are much more likely to be reclaimed or adopted from a shleter. About 95% of all cats entereing shelters/humane societies are euthanized.
This is in part due to the large number or feral cats. Feral cats are those truely “wild’ cats that have never been owned. They are a necessary part of the ecosystem…while many people scream they kill song birds, they also kill mices, rats, voles and other undesirable rodents roaming our neighborhoods. I could site many references to large cities that have unsuccessfully tried to elimiante them ( and none that I could find were successful)…check out http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=434 for feral cat info.
Also there are many people who believe that a cat will survive if they take it out to a more rural area and abandon it…”Farmers always need cats” seems to be the philosophy.
Or if a cat has a behavior problem, they just move it out of doors to become one of the neighborhood breeding Tom cats or females having kittens out of doors.
Those of you doing your part, BRAVO! Help spread the word.
Thank you for your time and patience.

]]> By: julie http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13522 julie Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:47:28 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13522 Sorry, I wanted to add that your local shelter is a great place to donate/recycle your old pillows/towels/blankets. (We also donate gently used dog toys that our dog doesn't play with, tennis balls, and stuffed baby toys/animals.) A great way to recycle and help out the animals. Sorry, I wanted to add that your local shelter is a great place to donate/recycle your old pillows/towels/blankets. (We also donate gently used dog toys that our dog doesn’t play with, tennis balls, and stuffed baby toys/animals.) A great way to recycle and help out the animals.

]]> By: Toni http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/10/19/the-shelter-pet-project/#comment-13521 Toni Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:45:14 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=3658#comment-13521 SORRY FOR THE SPELLING ERRORS IN THE PREVIOUS REPLY...GOT A BIT AHEAD OF MYSELF! SORRY FOR THE SPELLING ERRORS IN THE PREVIOUS REPLY…GOT A BIT AHEAD OF MYSELF!

]]>