"Adopt, Don't Shop"...

[pixie374]

Just wondering if anyone has any views on this current mantra?

While I can see the idea of it...... controversially, maybe... I don't think it is always the case. For me, the most important point, is the right "match" between a dog and the family. Someone who may be a perfect person for one dog, may well not suit another. And especially inexperienced people, or those with small children etc...

Anyone have any views?

[naomi24]

I've been looking at dogs for a while now and have no doubt that rising prices of puppies are due to Covid... and they've risen even more in the past few weeks .... Christmas I suppose.

[barry1010]

I think that reaction is because so many healthy dogs are put to sleep by rescue centres every year, pixie.
I know not all rescue centres have that policy but I know one centre that claims never to destroy dogs and that is true. What they fail to mention is that they pass some dogs on to another rescue centre that does, for a fee of course.

[Zacs-Master]

If everyone bought a rescue......what happens to the puppies?

I’ll tell you......they become rescue dogs.

[AuntPollyGrey]

I have strong views on rescue animals of any sort. Anything with 'issues' should be PTS.

[pixie374]

I'm sure, Barry, but also persuading people to get a dog that may not suit them, doesn't seem much better.
Young children growing up with a puppy, learn to love and look after dogs (I'm sure that a lot of problems are more ignorance than anything). A good experience all round, and these are the next generation of rescuers.
Although I don't know what to suggest about unscrupulous sellers, who aren't bothered where the puppies end up.

[pixie374]

Congratulations, apg, BTW x

[barry1010]

It's not just the selling of puppies to unsuitable owners that bothers me, it is the overbreeding and health problems the puppies from 'puppy farms' have to endure.
I was three when we got our first rescue puppy (a good old fashioned mongrel that would probably have a fancy pants name and high price tag today) and she lived a very long and happy life with us. I can no longer have a dog but the rest of the family still adopt their dogs. I've adopted 7 dogs over the years and would love another but it is not to be.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Thanks Pixie - this is not a quick decision, been over a year looking for the right breeder with the right *** and dog.

[woofgang]

barry, I absolutely agree....kind of.....there is an organisation in Sri Lanka called Dogstar. It works within local communities to stabilise the street and beach animal population and to keep them healthy. There are also charities like Galgos de Sol who do rescue and rehome dogs outside of Spain because of the way that galgos and podencos are viewed in Spain. GDS are very clear about what a galgo or pod is like (hunter!) and won't allow just anyone to have one of their dogs.
https://www.dogstarfoundation.com
https://galgosdelsol.org/what-is-a-galgo

I think that naomi's point about scarcity of dogs to adopt in lockdown is an important one....people feel ENTITLED to have a pet when they want one and if they can't get one from a rescue then they feel entitled to buy one from a fake rescue, a puppy farm, a greedy backyard breeder.....just anywhere they can.

again I agree with barry about using animals in advertising or films. Its not as bad as it was but there was a huge problem when the live action version of 101 dalmations was made. The eithcal breeders were against it and still wouldn't breed more litters or sell to anybody but the backyard scum really coined it.

finally yes Zac, I have been there too and again I kind of agree....some rescues are ridiculous in their requirements....some (like the Galgo one) appear picky but that is because they have both experience with the breeds they specialise in and with idiot humans who will be told very clearly how to deal with the dog in the first weeks that they are in their new home and who will completely ignore the advice and get bitten or the dog will escape and so on.

Like may things its not simple.....

[pixie374]

Apg, if you are willing, I'd love to see a photo when you have her. My dad used to have about 4 rescue GSDs at any one time, plus a "random" lol.

I say I didn't have any bad experiences... but there was one rescue that came from Tunisia (i think) and was passed onto me within a couple of days, as she was an escape artist. I could see she wasn't comfortable and took her to the vets (within 24 hours of her arriving). By the time we got there, she was writhing around on the floor and was PTS quite quickly. It turned out, that being a street dog, her intestines had so much worm damage, they were basically falling apart. She was only about 18 months old.
Tbf, the charity did refund me for her and the vet's bills. But it was an awful experience.

[pixie374]

I doubt anyone condones puppy farms, or abuse, Barry. How do you stop it?

[woofgang]

pixie you have to change the "entitled" attitude. Even before lockdown it was a thing (remember "a dog is for life") Its not just dogs. I have got tortoises and belong to a well respected group on FB. every single week we get posts from people saying they have bought a tortoise and how do they look after it, what should they feed it? Again there are people out there coining it. Tortoises are not easy to care for especially not in the UK. One of mine is my pet from childhood, my other one was passed to me from someone who loves her dearly but couldn't keep her when she moved house and once you have one, then two of the same sex and species are no more difficult to look after. They cost me a fortune in heating in spring and autumn and have got about 1/5 of my garden fenced off for their exclusive use. people are told you can keep them in a vivarium indoors and feed them on pellet food and the little ones suffer and die.....all because people feel entitled and other people prey on them.

[pixie374]

Yes, it does often seem to be more about what people can afford, than the welfare of the animal.
I really wanted a tortoise when I was about 12. We were told we couldn't get one, as they were no longer imported? We got an aviary instead.

[woofgang]

They should no longer be taken from the wild pixie. Spur thighed tortoises (the protected ones) now need to be cites registered as captive bred and microchipped before being sold but there are still no welfare rules or breeding limitations. they really aren't pets for children...in fact I don't think they are pets in the "cuddle and interact" sense for anybody.

[burlyshirley]

Always had rescue dogs as did my parents before me. My latest little beauty, Jill, was a Spanish street dog. When I went to meet her at the rescue centre, I didn't know she was from abroad until I decided to have her. Made no difference to me whatsoever, she needed me and I needed her and now I couldn't imagine life without her.