03/07/2022
ADOPT VS SHOP
This slogan has been around for years in the animal rescue community, but it has been a cause for a lot of debates. While it may seem like a very black and white issue, it's actually a lot more complicated than that. Here's why.
As animal lovers, no one likes how many pets in the world are becoming homeless and ending up in shelters each day. As an animal rescuer and rehabber, I strive every day to make sure I can make a difference in the lives and futures of animals now and for the ones to come. Over the years, I've come to learn how animals end up in the care of rescues like EARS.
There is a serious problem with overpopulation of animals, especially cats and dogs, on the streets. But not only are strays adding to the population, but people are too. What does this mean exactly? Well, I'm sure a lot of people have looked at their pet and thought, "wow, you're the best pet ever, you'd have really cute babies." Most people just keep it as a thought, but a lot of people have gone the extra step and decided to breed just because they want to see what cute puppies/kittens their pet could have. Or even worse, they decide to do it for profit. These people are what we would call, Backyard Breeders. Backyard Breeders don't health test their animals and often breed mixed breeds they like to call Designer Breeds by mixing 2 dog breeds together or off standard purebreds that likely have undisclosed and untested for genetic health issues. Common issues include: Allergies, skin issues, eye issues and blindness, stomach issues, hip and elbow dysplasia and arthritis, and higher risk of cancer and tumors. All of which, decrease life span. They likely bred their animals before they turned 2 years old. Some people will say they had an Oops Litter, where they irresponsibly kept their 2 unspayed and un-neutered animals together unseparated and unsupervised, causing pregnancy with lack of health testing and care.
So now, I bet you're thinking, "with all of these risks, shame on anyone who breeds animals!" But, Puppy mills, Backyard Breeders, and Greeders (those who breed animals for money) are the ones to blame.
We will discuss the importance of adopting shelter pets very soon, but first, let's talk about the reason why "Adopt, don't Shop" isn't a productive slogan to improve the quality of life of future animals that'll come into this world.
"Shopping" is a negative term used for buying an animal instead of rescuing. But, this term does not apply to Ethical, Responsible Breeders. An Ethical Breeder is someone who spends thousands of dollars health testing their animals and training them before even considering breeding them. They breed because they have a passion for the purebred breed and want to make sure their breed can continue to get healthier and live longer, for future generations to love and adore. Because of how much it costs to health test, vaccinate all of the babies, and ensure proper prenatal care, Ethical Breeders don't make a profit and often lose money when deciding to have a litter, but they do it all for the love of their breed. They don't breed their dogs until 2 years of age minimum. They preserve the breed and make better dogs that are less likely to end up in shelters due to being "too much to handle" because of behavior or too high of energy level. Ethical breeders make sure to place dogs in homes that are suited for caring for that individual animal's needs. They have contracts in place to make sure their babies won't end up in shelters and are spayed and neutered so they don't contribute to overpopulation. They create animals with stable temperaments and ethical dog breeders often produce puppies that go on to be service dogs and guide dogs for the blind! The extensive health testing and training that goes into the generations of dogs before puppies are even a thought is what ends up creating dogs that save lives. They breed these purebreds for a purpose. Every breed was created to serve a purpose and work a job. Whether it was hunting waterfowl (Poodles), diving into icy waters to save people from drowning (Newfoundland), or even to just be a hot water bottle (Chihuahuas), these breeds have their own purpose, and the choice to support Responsible Breeders is going to improve the longevity of dogs for future generations. It is very rare to find a Well Bred Purebred in a shelter, but dogs are getting lost every year and ending up on the streets. Ethical Breeders often have contracts to make sure their puppies don't end up in shelters, but contracts aren't always followed. Despite this, we know that they are reducing homelessness in the pets they produced, whereas Backyard Breeders/Greeders/Puppy mills just breed animals to sell for their own personal gain, and don't care as much about the longevity and future of the pets they've brought into this world, which then adds to overpopulation due to lack of regulation.
That all being said, not everyone needs a purebred animal. For those who are just looking for a pet to love and cherish for years to come, adoption is an amazing way to go, and I always suggest to consider adoption first! There are so many animals that I, and so many other rescues and shelters, are currently helping and trying to find amazing homes for. If you only want a purebred because of how it looks, please research the energy level, grooming maintenance, prey drive, behavior, and training requirements of that breed, before getting one, and then check local shelters first! There are tons of breed specific dog rescues out there that can match you with the perfect pet. Rescue pets can also do amazing jobs! I know of several dogs from shelters that went on to become therapy dogs and some have become service dogs, but the wash out rate is typically higher because of what some rescue dogs have been through in their past, which is why ethical breeders bring puppies into the world specifically to become service dogs, search and rescue dogs, hunting dogs, etc. All pets in shelters just want a nice cozy home and a bed to call their own. Finding a home can help them heal, and dog sports are a super fun thing for rescue dogs to participate in! They have competitions for frisbee catching, dock diving, agility, scentwork, lure coursing, obedience, herding, all sorts of things! Your local dog club can help you learn more about these things.
To wrap things up, Adopt don't Shop is about not supporting puppy mills and Backyard Breeders. This does not apply to the amazing people striving to health test and breed Ethically and Purposefully in a responsible way. If someone you know is looking for a purebred, instead of saying Adopt, don't Shop, ask them why they are wanting that breed, if they know the breed's energy level and maintenance requirements, and what health testing the parents have had. This education will help reduce scams and giving money to puppy mills and Backyard Breeders. If we reduce support on puppy mills and backyard breeders, we can lower the overpopulation and overflow of homeless pets in our shelters and improve the health of animals in the future.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) has a program called the CHIC program, which documents the prevalent issues in specific dog breeds and gives a CHIC Number to the dogs that have passed all required health testing for the breed, ensuring healthier offspring. Having dogs with CHIC Numbers is a sign of an Ethical Breeder.
Read more here about the CHIC Program and how about we start a new slogan,
Support Rescues and Responsible Breeders!
https://ofa.org/chic-programs/
The OFA created the CHIC Program by partnering with participating parent clubs to research and maintain information on the health issues prevalent in specific breeds.
