12/06/2024
Going Home -From Shelter to Breeder
For various reasons (mostly being I have enough dogs) I have sworn off adopting another shelter dog anytime in the near future, but have always said if a female Afghan Hound crossed my path, I wouldn't be able to pass one up.
For anyone who isn't aware, an Afghan Hound is a rare sighthound breed. They are sweet but entirely odd. They require lots of grooming. Most of them aren't particularly affectionate and they are known for being quite aloof. It's a bit like owning a rather introverted cat. They are weird and I adore them.
This past week an Afghan Hound was surrendered to the shelter. There is a long story (there often is), but miss Essence at a week shy of her 9th birthday, was now homeless.
She was in good health for her age, though entirely shut down at the shelter. Old dogs tend to have a harder time than most. She had lived with other dogs so I brought her home and began fostering her. I was smitten and kidding myself that I wasn't going to keep her. My house is busy but she would live a good life. I pictured snoods and sweaters and began looking into grooming tools.
But it nagged on me. Essence must have a breeder. If I was the breeder I'd want to know. I'd want the option to take her back. I'd not want a shelter responsible for a dog I brought into the world. Many breeders aren't like that, but it isn't fair to go assuming.
Though there was no secondary owner listed on the microchip to check in with, so legally she was property of the shelter, Afghan Hounds are pretty rare and at least in these parts, aren't exactly a hot commodity for backyard breeders.
So I went hunting. I was able to check through CKC Lost Pet Recovery and (to my susprise) a breeder did indeed pop up -just a name, phone number and city.
That was the start of the hunt, but there were quite a few more hoops to jump through.
The number was out of service -understandly so, 8 years is quite a period of time.
Facebook next. The name didn't yield any obvious facebook results. Lots of names but nothing with the general location of the listed name, nor any names with pictures of dogs on their pages -Afghans or others.
Onto google. There was no kennel name. So I had to google search. The name didnt yield any obvious results until 3 google pages in I found a mention of the breeder's name on another breeder's page. I assume what was one of Essence's siblings lived far away.
After some calling around I was luckily able to acquire the name of a retired Afghan breeder who would likely know something. Rare breeds certainly have small circles. That name yielded a very out of date business page with a new string of numbers. Of course that number was out of date too, but I managed to strike some gold and found the new business number that was in service
From there I learned the two had a falling out years ago, but the retired breeder dropped everything for twenty minutes to find me the number she had. Both of us hoped it was in service. The retired breeder noted that although she wasn't the breeder or able to take the dog on, that she would reach out to the community for help if requested. She did not want one of her breed at the shelter. They should take care of their own. Bless her.
It was two numbers later that by some small miracle I did find Essence's breeder. The words were barely out of my mouth before she said she would drive several hours to the shelter and pick Essence up within 48 hours.
Questions were asked later about condition, circumstances, vetting and more but at almost 9 years old, she said "I am coming to get my dog."
So Essence has now gone home to her breeder. I could have adopted her. She could have gone up for adoption at the shelter. But she is going home with her breeder.
If you are a breeder, or ever think you may become one, please realize that absolutely no one would need to jump through these hoops for you. These were several hours a shelter worker simply does not have. And a breeder does not mean registered owner.
So here are the things you need to be aware of, if you want the best chance at getting your dog back should they end up at the shelter.
*Check your state or province laws on what the hold times are. 3-10 days is the usual.
*Unless you are the registered owner, you do not have any rights. Even if your contract states they aren't to go to the shelter, once they are at the shelter they have been surrendered. You could sue the owner, but the shelter does not have a contract with you. The shelter only has a contract with a registered owner.
*You will need to be registered as an owner to ensure a shelter calls you if the dog comes in stray or is surrendered.
*That means you will want to microchip with your name as the co-owner, not just the breeder. We'd all like to hope being the breeder matters, but breeder does not equal any level of ownership. Even if the single piece of co-ownership is your microchip, make it happen. Or realize you are playing a much bigger lottery.
*There is no requirement for shelters or rescue groups to contact breeders. They are required to contact owners. We hope that shelters are trying to unite dogs with breeders if they know about them, but it's a hope not a requirement.
*People who surrender their pets typically do not leave breeder information. If its left and easy to access shelters are more likely to contact. If they have to do much digging (like above) those chances plummet. Owners may forget where they purchased the dog from, or may feel a lot of shame for having to surrender a dog. Some may not want the dog to go back to you. There are many reasons your name or kennel name may not be included.
*There are so many more s**tty breeders than good ones. In shelter work it is a small miracle when a dog is reunited with its breeder. If they have a stack of work way past their eyeballs, tracking down breeders who most often don't give a s**t is quite low on the priority list.
*If you do get a call to pick up your dog -please come pick them up. Whether they are old, sick, have challenging behavior or are sweet and highly adoptable PLEASE COME PICK THEM UP. Euthanize yourself if you need to, but please come for them. If you physically can't (dog clear across the country), please donate to their care or euthanasia. The more the good breeders step up to create stories like Essence's, the more faith shelter workers have in breeders and the more likely they are to do those extra searching hours for the next breeder.
*Fees and fines will vary but many shelters will let dogs go free of charge back to their breeders. While that is good for your pocket book, realize your dog certainly wasn't free for the shelter. Please donate something back (I'm so happy to say Essence's breeder did just that). Even if it's small, thank your shelter. Thank them for spending those hours to reunite you. It may feel like you shouldn't have to. Do it anyway!
*Keep your information current! The easier you are to track down, the less time it takes to find you. Update your microchip information with phone number and email -for all your puppies! Even if you retire keep your site up-to-date with at least a current phone number to reach you. Do not make yourself hard to find.
*Keep updated with your puppy owners. It's a long 10-15 years with most breeds. Life certainly happens! Make it a priority to check in at least once a year, even if it's only to let them know your current contact information if they should ever need you.
*No questions asked. Many people surrender dogs even if their breeder may want them back. Surrendering or rehoming a dog comes with a lot of shame. While you may want to rip your hair out, stay open, connected and have an open door policy so that whatever happens, you are there for your dogs. The more open and connected you are with your puppy people, the less likelihood for shelter dumping. Remember life is long and we all get in a jam sometimes. We'd rather these dogs not have to come here at all and get back to you without needing us.
If you're a shelter worker or manager please know:
*There are good breeders out there! I know there are SO many crappy ones, but there are good ones out there too.
*Give the breeders the chance. Yes many of them won't care. But the ones that do are priceless and if at all possible the breeders are the best place for them to go live or find a home that fits their breed needs.
*Just because a dog is surrendered doesn't mean the breeder is s**tty! Life happens sometimes. Physical and mental health declines. Finances dive. Moves, children and behavior concerns happen. Breeders can not foresee every owner crisis, but they can be there when their dogs need them.
*Tools at your disposal include the CKC Lost Pet Recovery site, calling AKC if you have a breeder name, social media sites to track down the breeder, kennel pages and breed clubs. If you are able to get in contact with a local kennel club, they can be a great resource for helping track down breeders -and also blacklisting them slightly if they know they aren't coming for their animals.
*Breeders are not our enemies. Good breeders don't want to see dogs in shelters any more than we do. They see the world differently than we do, but learn to work together and let the good ones take responsibility when they can. Good breeders are mortified when their dogs are in the shelter. We need more like them.
For me, now that my sweet old lady is gone I'm feeling both very sad and very happy. She has gone to live a retired sighthound's dream with other senior dogs. This is better for her than here -breeder or not- but I will still miss her.
One day I will need my own Afghan (or maybe a Saluki or Silken Windhound with less grooming needs.) They will look entirely adorable in a snood and lay majestically on my couch. In that way maybe Essence will live on a little at my house.
Have a great life my hairy giraffe. I'm so happy I got to be apart of your story. ❤
