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OT: Venting- Adopt Don't Shop

zerostepdrama's picture

I'm a big supporter of Adopt Don't Shop. I believe in adopting a pet as opposed to buying from a pet store or breeder.

My neighbors own 4 Bernese Mountain dogs. These are big, hairy dogs. They mated 2 of the dogs for the purpose of breeding. The dog had a HUGE litter. Like 10 puppies. I think 3 died during childbirth or right after.

They sold a couple and now have 5 dogs that need a home. Soon they aren't going to be cute little puppies, they are going to be getting bigger, where people are less interested in them.

It makes me so sad that these dogs that really had no business being born- are now looking for a home and as time goes on it will be harder for them to have a home. The neighbor is begging people to take the dogs.

Sorry I just needed to vent about this... When I found out they were breeding in the first place I was annoyed but hey it's not my dogs, not my business. But knowing now that they are desperate to get rid of these dogs because they haven't sold just annoys me even more. Sad

Comments

ntm's picture

They probably thought they were going to make a small fortune. There is a very small market for big dogs. I hope they don't end up as dog fighting bait.

zerostepdrama's picture

Gross Sad

AJanie's picture

BM's family loves breeding animals. Animals everywhere.

Blue nose pit breeders... lol. That tells me everything I need to know about Succubus.

zerostepdrama's picture

Yes they did think they would come into some quick money.

They are animal lovers, so I don't think they will give them away to anyone who they don't think will give them a good home.

ishouldrun's picture

I adopted my dog from the local animal shelter and he is the best dog I've ever owned! I think he realizes I saved him and is very grateful or it could be that he his really spoiled Wink

Ninji's picture

Bringing home a pet is a very big decision. I think that anyone that is thinking about getting a pet needs to do their research. What you they looking for? What kind of expense can they take on? What is their lifestyle like?

I looked for my first dog (with DH) for 6 months. I couldn't find anything other than pit mixes in the local shelters and online. Nothing wrong with those dogs, but they weren't what I wanted and they couldn't deal with those type of dogs (I was living in a small apt). I found my baby Charlie on craigslist. Paid $400 for him.

A year later we were walking around the flea market and one of the shops has puppies. I found my baby Tito that day. I didn't intend on buying a puppy but he was the saddest looking little guy I had ever seen. He is the best dog I've ever had. The only thing I would do different is find him sooner. He is the same breed as Charlie and I've had that breed before, so I was well aware of what type of responsibility I was taking on.

I also have a little Yorkie that I fell in love with as soon as I saw her. She is only 5lbs but she runs the house.

We have rescued three cats.

We have also purchased two hamsters, two birds and one fish.

Most important thing to remember is do your research.

All three of my dogs need to be groomed every two months.
Every month I spend $64 just for the flea/heartworm medication
I walk them every single day
I socialize them at the dog park.

And I’m sure I could be doing even more.

Whether you decide to adopt or purchase a pet, THINK!! Remember, you may have a hard time renting or getting home owners insurance if you own certain breeds.

It's OK to want a puppy. Don't feel guilty. But remember, that pet is a going to hopefully live 13+ years. You will be their only voice. Treat them well.

secondplace's picture

A small addendum to your post Zero. Don't shop at a pet store unless you are buying a rescue animal. A lot of the rescue groups bring animals to the local pet stores here. Apparently a lot of them find their forever homes this way.

zerostepdrama's picture

Agree! Pet Smart does have cats that they adopt out and they are so cute! But it is through a shelter group and not really Pet Smart.

Monchichi's picture

Absolute idiots. I don't buy dogs and haven't done for over 15 years now. I only take in rescues or animals in desperate need. My little dog-a-logs was abandoned by her previous owners. They moved out and she had no home. My kitties are all rescues. Either abandoned or handed in to shelters.

I love all 6 of my babies and have done so for over 10 years now.

zerostepdrama's picture

Okay I will say if you are buying a dog to get as a puppy to then be a therapy dog then I can support that.

notsurehowtodeal's picture

When the time comes, also check with Bernese Mountain Dog rescues. They sometimes have puppies available.

AJanie's picture

English bulldogs are hands down my absolute favorite. My female (2 years old) is the light and love of my life.

AJanie's picture

I purchased my bulldog from a breeder. A personal choice and one I am happy with.

Both of my dogs are fixed. I've had countless people "suggest" I breed. No thanks. My dogs are with me to enjoy life and be part of the family, not make me a buck.

Tuff Noogies's picture

those poor pups.

any pet i've had as an adult has been a stray or a rescue in one form or another. both dogs as adults - i've got a soft spot for that, adults are MUCH harder to find homes for than cute widdle babies.

not saying choosing a specific breed for valid reasons, and from a reputable breeder, is a bad thing at all - but there are so many breeders (like zero's idiot neighbors) that are NOT reputable, compared to the many homeless and shelter animals who want nothing more than someone to love.

AshMar654's picture

MY SO bought his dog and it is a big dog. Do I wish he would have spent even more money to get the dog trained. He picked a breed that is hyper and needs a lot of attention and room to run. Part of the reason why we bought a house with a huge yard.

I adopted my two cats as kittens and will never regret it. I have had my cats for 5 years now. Things are not working out too great in our house right now with the animals. I strongly suggest if you get any dog shelter or breed people should have the time to spend training them and be around them all the time when they first get them.

Big mistake my SO and his family made was getting this dog when he was still traveling. He would try to train him and his parents would not always follow through or try different methods, nothing was consistent. We have a party at our house in July and already probably going to kennel the dog that day because he still jumps up on people. When kids run he runs after them to play.

I do not sleep anymore because my cats sleep all day long from the time I leave until the dog is crated at night, they are kept in the basement. They are up all night keeping me up. I love animals so much but seriously debating getting rid of all of them. Sorry end rant.

Adopting or buying is personal choice but people should really think things through.

Tuff Noogies's picture

oh dear, a large, untrained, wild-child jumper. oy vey.

he can still be trained. it might be easier now that you are all under one roof w/o his parents' changing up or dropping the ball on training. if i recall, you stay home w/ ss right? can you switch to crate him during the day instead, with a few potty and run-around breaks? my dog was already day-crated when i brought him home, so even on weekends i'd be sitting down watching tv and he'd be sacked out in his crate with the door wide open - he viewed it as his bedroom, his personal space.

after i'd get home from work, i'd take him for a good walk. but i also knew to find a very low-energy breed due to my own temperament. i had a few other training tricks if you want to PM me.

AshMar654's picture

He use to only be crated when they would leave the house. His dad has been retired for years so the dog was never really created that much. He goes into easy enough. He is let out during the day because SO is home and it is his dog, SO works nights right now. Right now since he goes after my cats the cats are onlylet up when he is crated.

It is just not a good situation right now. No matter when we crate him the only interaction I get with my fur balls is when I go down in the basement and play with them.

SM12's picture

My DH and I adopted two dogs...One from a shelter and one from a person who had moved and was going to have to put down her lab because she couldn't find a home for him. He was 10 yrs old. They had him from a puppy and were willing to put him down rather than keep him all because the Mom started shacking up with a man who didn't want dogs.
So sad. He ended up being the best dog I have ever had. He was smart, sweet, loyal and so loving. He passed away a year ago and my heart was broken.

I see really cute "designer" dogs out there for sale but after having my precious furbaby, I don't think I could ever go back to getting a puppy. I would adopt another senior dog in a heartbeat. I want to give a senior dog a "forever" home in their final days.

Ninji's picture

We thought about studding one of our little guys. After a lot of back and forth, I decided I couldn't do it. I'd be to afraid that someone irresponsible would get one of the puppies and abuse/neglect it. Sounds like your breeder is doing a great job keeping an eye on their puppies.

Tuff Noogies's picture

valid reasons, reputable breeder - GREAT. at two different times when i was growing up, my parents purchased from reputable breeders, but rejected paperwork and had them fixed. one of them was the dog i grew up with, unfortunately he did end up with a physical deformity that was no fault of the breeder (never fixed it, it never bothered him - but aside from that, he was a beautiful, beautiful boy, show-quality.)

keeping the blood-lines intact and well-breed is vital.

it's the unqualified idiot backyard breeders who phuc it up. i have no desire to purchase a pure-bred at this time, tho' whose to say, that may change sometime down the road. but in the meantime, i'll adopt before anything else (oddly enough, our vet seems to think that one of my dogs *is* a purebred, even tho' he came here as a total stray!)

z3girl's picture

I totally agree.

My DH adopted a shepherd mix from a local shelter who had been returned twice. DH was told that if he returned the dog, he would be put down. I met the dog when he was almost 7, and he lived to be 15. He was the healthiest dog ever, and ended up so amazing with our young children in his old age. Still miss him.

I have friends who bought their dogs from breeders, and they've had so many health problems.

I also rescued my cat from the streets. She was an angel. She adopted me. One morning she was under my car crying. She was skin and bones, and surrounded by the typical strays that lived around there. Each morning she would run to me crying. By the third day, I brought her in, and she was with me for the next 14 years. I still miss her terribly.

momjeans's picture

I agree 110%, Zero!

I think I've mentioned it here before, but my FIL and MIL have SIX indoor Jack Russell dogs. Most all of the are from the same breeder, at $1k each, purchased as very young puppies. I've questioned if there isn't a little hoarding behavior going on or emotional issues. Because it seems once a puppy reaches a certain age, they're shopping for another one on the breeder's website.

When they do get a new puppy, they act like they're bringing a newborn home from the hospital. Wrap it all up, take photos of each other holding the puppy with tears running down MIL's and FIL's faces, usually while one of them is behind the wheel driving. They post said photos and announce it all over social media. Just bizarre.

I truly believe my inlaws see nothing glamorous about pet adoption or rescue. It serves them in no way to go that route. It's just super icky feeling behavior on their part. Definitely makes me dislike them more than I already do.

My inlaws claim to be such huge animal lovers, but what they want is what they want. They want cute, they want a new puppy, and they want a mob of like dogs - because is so cute the way they destroy furniture, shoes, walls, blankets with such an adorable group effort.

(Like Ninji pointed-out) People like this can turn a bad situation even worse without proper research and rational thought put into the situation.

My inlaws don't live a lifestyle for this breed. They aren't overly active people. They don't have a safe, enclosed yard for these dogs to go out and run and jump. They don't take these dogs to the dog park to exercise or socialize - because these dogs have had ZERO obedience training. These dogs only see the outside world when they need to go potty - if they haven't already gone in the house.

AJanie's picture

This is SIL. She hoards dogs. Once one ages, it is forgotten and cast outside to be infested with fleas, and she starts shopping for another puppy. They've also done some breeding over the years. They feed them whatever is on sale at the store. I get sick to my stomach being there.

I am obsessive about my dogs getting their daily exercise and also eating quality food. I can't imagine just collecting dogs like trophies.