Peta is at it again

[IrisLove]

Surprisingly we are very similar to animals in many ways. When I took my classes they had pigs there that were used for cardiac research. We weren't involved in the research but it was the first (and only) time I have seen pigs running on a treadmill. I DO NOT justify mistreatment of research animals but letting them go can expose people and animals to dangerous situations. Imagine if you or your pets were bitten by an animal that was being used to research, say, rabies? (made that one up for an example) What we need for that is more oversight on animal researchers, just as we need more oversight on breeders. Don't get me wrong, i have nothing against responsible breeders but the AKC should be able to shut down puppy mills and backyard breeders. Take away the right to register these poor animals and the profit margin for those breeders goes away.

As for purebreds in shelters, rescue groups get most of them as soon as they come in. The sheltie rescue group in my area wouldn't even consider me for a dog because I don't have a fenced in yard. I live in a rural apartment complex that has plenty of room to run dogs outside but I still don't qualify. We run them around the field on a 20 foot lead

Sorry if I have stepped on any toes. this is an area i am concerned about as i am alive due to cardiac research.

hahah no toes stepped on , I can completely understand. Its actually very refreshing to be able to share opinions and not have someone get mad at me because I stick to my guns, I love hearing other points of view too haha I know its a bloody shame that the rescue groups arent more linient, I too live in a flat but we have a park the size of a small country across the road that we spend more time at than anywhere else. Then they wonder why their euthanasia level is soo high !!

 

[SheltieGuy]

I think if people want to look into lowering euthanasia rates, then you need to look to the people bringing the dogs to the shelters. It matters not where that dog came from.

There are some big reasons that people give dogs up:
1. I'm moving, and my new landlord doesn't allow pets.
2. My kid is allergic. (2 out of 3 times I think this is a convenient excuse)
3. I can't handle the dog.
4. It barks too much.
5. I can't afford it.
5. It's old, and I can't care for it any more.

So lets address these issues, rather than bring down all breeders. How about tax incentives for landlords to allow pets? How about low-cost behavior and training classes? We have arbitrary limit laws that stop people from adopting another animal, even when they can afford it and want to adopt. We have overly stringent adoption requirements that stop otherwise good people from adopting (that it sounds like some here have run into).

So I don't think this is a production issue, I think this is a business model issue. Good shelters don't have dogs, good rescues don't have dogs. They adopt them out, they have a waiting list just like breeders do. Those are organizations that have done all the right things to get the dogs placed. They have people that come back for dog after dog for 25 years. Those are the models we need to look at.

I think its a combination of both too many breeders and too many kids with allergies..(aka i dont want my dog anymore). I dont know what the answer is to the problem but breeding and breeding isnt the answer.

I do agree with you on the overly stringent adoption requirements... I would never be approved to have a dog due to the fact i dont have a fenced in yard. It doesnt matter to them that i have a huge yard and can have a 50-100 foot lead for my pup to zoom around on and i cant afford to fence in my yard at this time. I have a big house/yard and big heart ... isnt that enough??? Isnt that better than a dog in a shelter???

 

[Lovely]

While on the search for a Sheltie, I came across some rescue groups with the same disclaimer. However, (after I got Duncan of course) I found out that if you stick to your guns (the ones that say "I'm a good pet parent with or with out a yard") no yard isn't the huge stigma it used to be. I take my boys to the dog park 3-4 times a week, go on extended walk twice a weeks, and do a daily 20-40 minutes beyond all that. If you dogs are in good condition, that's what they want to see. I think they want to turn away the feint of heart. Of course, having an FAQ on the matter somewhere on their site would be a good thing...

 

[Megansmom]

Before we bought Megan, I was working with two different Golden Retriever rescue agency's hoping to rescue a Golden. It's interesting how they became 2 different rescues in that one was SO strict on using Heartgard, which I get, to the point that if you missed a month here and there, they would require you to agree to them calling you monthly to ensure you DID give HG. The other rescue was a little more realistic and looked at you the potential pet owner and the entire life span of your pets life to determine what was best. Which is also how they split into 2..

I missed a month here and there, and they did agree to adopt to me IF I agreed to a monthly call, uh, no thank you..

 

[IrisLove]

Before we bought Megan, I was working with two different Golden Retriever rescue agency's hoping to rescue a Golden. It's interesting how they became 2 different rescues in that one was SO strict on using Heartgard, which I get, to the point that if you missed a month here and there, they would require you to agree to them calling you monthly to ensure you DID give HG. The other rescue was a little more realistic and looked at you the potential pet owner and the entire life span of your pets life to determine what was best. Which is also how they split into 2..

I missed a month here and there, and they did agree to adopt to me IF I agreed to a monthly call, uh, no thank you..

yeah I would not be up for a monthly call, I mean, what happens if the one time they call youre not home ? Also, if they feel using up the manpower to call all adopters once a month for heartguard, they could be using that energy elsewhere like on the animals. I can understand maybe the first year or soemthign but I am imaginign here 10 years + of monthly calls, when you move or change number its adding aonther organisation/company/ect that you have to notify ... Whatever works though, they are not evil in this idea they just want to be sure their dogs are well cared for. I dont know goldens that well, maybe their more prone to heartworm or what not

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

I always give rescues a hard time about being soooo restrictive to potential adopters. If our rescue had decided not to adopt to a smoker with no yard, who lives near a freeway (three strikes for many rescues), then I would have not met my landlord. So I am thankful that our rescue director works based on common sense, and not on a stringent set of rules.

 

[Megansmom]

yeah I would not be up for a monthly call, I mean, what happens if the one time they call youre not home ? Also, if they feel using up the manpower to call all adopters once a month for heartguard, they could be using that energy elsewhere like on the animals. I can understand maybe the first year or soemthign but I am imaginign here 10 years + of monthly calls, when you move or change number its adding aonther organisation/company/ect that you have to notify ... Whatever works though, they are not evil in this idea they just want to be sure their dogs are well cared for. I dont know goldens that well, maybe their more prone to heartworm or what not

Yes we kind of got into a heated discussion about it. Unfortunately heartworm is VERY prevalent down with any breed of dog here on the gulfcoast so I do understand. Heartworm is treatable but very hard on the dog going through it. But still, you have to look at the owners entire picture not just a piece of it..

OHWELL, haha, hey, I got my little rockstar Megan instead

 

[IrisLove]

exactly, everything happens for a reason !! Thats how I feel about having gotten Iris after dealing with very fickle breeders who dont return phone calls when you are trying to get their address because you are ready to go pick up your puppy and who then call you back 2 days later after being unreachable saying all their puppies are sold and told to "suck it up" ... mmhmmm hahah sorry for mini rant

 

[Megansmom]

exactly, everything happens for a reason !! Thats how I feel about having gotten Iris after dealing with very fickle breeders who dont return phone calls when you are trying to get their address because you are ready to go pick up your puppy and who then call you back 2 days later after being unreachable saying all their puppies are sold and told to "suck it up" ... mmhmmm hahah sorry for mini rant

, I totally understand..And then there are the rescues who keep offering sickly pets to you and get a little huffy when you don't want to adopt a wormy with issues dog .

Haha, okay I'll stop ranting now too!!

 

[SheltieGuy]

So I was browsing Petfinder.com just to look for shelties in my area... sooo many gorgeous dogs in shelters or foster care... (i dont want one right now since I just got a puppy) but maybe somewhere down the road I will want a buddy for Snickers... BUT I WONT BE ABLE TO GET ONE... because 99.9% of the shelties on petfinder have a MUST HAVE A FENCED IN YARD TO BE CONSIDERED. That totally angers me!!

I am not good enough for a sheltie because i dont have a fence??

As I have said I have a huge yard ,....my pup has at least 50 feet of lead to run his little A S S off. HE loves it. ZOOMIES all day and nite!! Sure I would like to have a fenced in yard... Id like 20 milllion dollars and a personal chef as well..but some of us cant have these things. I have a big house for them too play in (an older home) and family with other shelties to visit only 2 miles away..... But all they care about is a fenced in yard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So they would give a sheltie to a potential psycho as long as he has a FENCED IN YARD!!!

I would give a sheltie puppy/dog a great home instead of him/her being at a rescue but I dont "qualify". Sure I can buy a sheltie but what if i wanna help a rescue find a forever home!!! That is just sooo wrong.

Sorry for the rant ... but seeing all those shelties on petfinder and knowing I cant have one got me fired up.