One would think this is an unlikely happenstance, to go from Rescuer to Breeding.
Well, it happens and it certainly is eye opening.
For years I felt the guilt that many of us do who love all animals deeply. That poor pup or dog in the pound, with the volunteers stating "he will be destroyed tomorrow if he doesn't get adopted today" It is a truly tasteless manipulative way to push a person to adopt a pet he is not connecting with.
The people in the rescue organizations see too much, that is a given. But, they quite often become so jaded and harsh that all they have left is compassion for the animals and none but disdain for humans. All humans. Even the well intended adopting homes scouring the shelters for the right dog. Let them search and find that connection! Don't push those great loving homes into adopting something they didn't 'feel' right about! They will adopt, just maybe not that dog you are pushing on them!
I've been at the wrath receiving end of these rescue people who seem to have lost all manners!
What made me write this is an experience a lady had just this weekend who had been treated like that, with the guilt trip... She was so upset by their treatment she will have nothing to do with them now.
Which is Exactly my point!
When I brought rescues into my life over the years from shelters, nearly all were great experiences, and certainly all the dogs were deserving of a regular life. They were of all ages.
But when I became a rescuer that changed my attitude tremendously. I started to hate people, just like the rescuers you meet today.
You see too much.
I had to quit to save myself.
The things that people do out of sheer laziness, not care, no money, no education, no understanding of what another living thing needs. Its all compiled in one rescue experience. You feel great you took that dog out of that horrific situation, but you know full well these folks don't give a darn and will turn around and take in or breed the next dog at 6 months old.
So its a band aid on the problem action. Is it the right thing to do to take the dog, YES. But, it doesn't stop what you're fighting against.
When I as a Breeder am asked by some Rescuers (and usually in an insulting manner) "why am I adding to the problem?" I answer with: "my dogs are not the problem, nor the people who get them from me"
Dogs from reputable breeders SELDOM end up in a shelter. In our contracts it states the dogs are to come back to the Breeder for re-homing. You can not even put a dog down without my permission unless its due to old age, but I still need to know of it. Dogs from responsible breeding programs are micro chipped BY the Breeder so in an instance of being in a shelter, and the rightful owner does not claim it, the shelter can contact the Breeder. Dogs from responsible breeding programs are sold with Limited AKC registration as family companions, not as breeding stock. Breeders of Dogs from pure bred lineage know their lines, their possible 'health issues' and breed for the Betterment of their Breed.
The times I've heard an adopting home say the shelter said their dog was a Shepherd mix is beyond counting. They do this because it sounds 'cooler' than a Pitt mix, naturally. Most often there is no Shepherd in there, but nowadays, you can DNA test for breed specificity so if you want to know, you can. Its wise to do so BEFORE adopting the dog as genetically you will have a map of possible diseases this dog may be prone to. Thus a Mix Breed is not necessarily healthier than a Pure Bred as they'd like everyone to believe. If anything, it could have inherited from each different breed their worse diseases.
Which is one of the reasons why I am so motivated to make people understand the advantages of a Pure Bred dog. Trying to avoid a crap shoot.
However, aside from searching out a reputable breeder who are not 'cheap', there are also Breed Specific Rescue Groups which one can contact and get a pure bred still for those reasons. The dog may be perfect for you. You can test the dog before adopting it for hip health, and Degenerative Myelopathy in this Breeders case. With any Breed Specific Rescue Group you can research the breeds characteristics and health issues to see if this dog is for you. I highly recommend that you spend the $ upfront on these tests because IF you are on a small budget to begin with should the dog have a disease, you are likely unable to care for it properly.
Severely strict spay and neuter programs are popping up around the country in conjunction with these rescue organizations, as one would expect. They are making head way, indeed that is good, but its not enough. As I am against early spaying and neutering. Ask yourself: Would you sterilize your 3 year old child? Does that not sound crazy to you too? The research is out there but, your vet doesn't want you to know, often because your vet does not know. Seriously.
Yet there is so much info on this on the internet, here is one example.
http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
So that is not the entire answer, though spaying and neutering IS a 'way' to control the population it is only done by RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE! They do it mostly for convenience, not because they let their dog get knocked up by the neighbors dog(s).
Those folks who don't care, those are the ones to make understand that they are enhancing an already out of control pet population. Try to get through to that, I wish you would... You won't.
Though I happenstanced into breeding, I think it was meant to be. I was the first Breeder of German Shepherd dogs to test for Degenerative Myelopathy immediately after the test became available. I didn't do it for sales. I was about to stop breeding because of DM. I lost, first the Great Dian vom Baronewald to it, and then the equally Great Stella vom Trompetersprung. It broke my heart into a trillion pieces.
I believe two years later there are ONLY 2 more breeders who test, but like me, they are small time breeders and we need to get the big producers involved.
Its up to the pup buying public to start DEMANDING this or walk from the breeder. DM is prevalent in many breeds, not just German Shepherds.
Here a link with the OFFA statistics http://www.offa.org/dnateststats.html
So to all readers, dog lovers, humans and aliens ;) Please do your home work, don't be pushed into it, take your time to Adopt a Pet, Save a Pet, Love them for life and spread the word of responsible dog ownership.
