Guilt

[Linds]

You know, I really haven't gotten flack at all for either direction I've gone. I don't know if it's because the Koolies are "rare" so people can't tell me I should have gotten one in a rescue or because they are too busy pretending they know what a Koolie is or what but I pretty much never hear, directly to my face, that I should have rescued.

I also never really get comments about Fergus being a rehome. Other than Julee wanting his clone.

I actually think I got more comments BEFORE I got Hiccup from Crested people on FB about how I should rescue one.

Also, when I looked at getting a greyhound I was literally chased off the greyhound board I asked questions on because I said I was going to go to a breeder. I'm talking pitchforks and so much anger I was honestly kinda horrified.

Maybe it's because in the disc world rescue dogs is the thing also, but I don't really see a lot of people looked down on for going rescue since most of the people in the sport do.

I do think rescues can cut their nose off the spite their face sometimes as far as adopting out to people. I know a lot of DOG people who get jaded because of their inability to adopt due to intact dogs, not fenced yard and so on. It's made me really hesitate to even look at them, I would rather just go through craigslist.

 

[Laurelin]

I do think rescue is much more common in disc. I don't see many 'serious' agility people choosing rescues. There are a few people that rescue and stick to it and a few people I know that went rescue for their first BC. But overall not nearly as much as I see in disc just looking in from the outside. A lot of the adoptable working and sport dogs groups seem to have a lot more disc dog folks. I'm not sure why the difference in the sports.

I did not go through a rescue for a reason though. Didn't want to go through hoops. Hank's shelter just basically hands out dogs to whoever.

 

[Southpaw]

I know a lot of DOG people who get jaded because of their inability to adopt due to intact dogs, not fenced yard and so on. It's made me really hesitate to even look at them, I would rather just go through craigslist.

This is huge for me.
I've said before that for this next dog, I was really really considering the rescue route. I looked on Petfinder every day but one of the things that finally got to me was.... it's doubtful I'd be able to have any of these dogs. For some, I wouldn't be the "breed experienced" home they wanted. I'll be in a townhouse with no fence and not much yard. My pets aren't UTD on vaccines. I don't want to have a home visit or jump through all these other hoops.

It took my sister MONTHS, of contacting multiple rescues and filling out multiple ridiculously long applications, before she finally got a dog out of it. She had home visits and after being told she was approved for X dog they would then change their mind and say jk. She did not want a puppy AT ALL and had no specific breed in mind, so rescue was really her only option (she also didn't want to gamble on a dog who wasn't in a foster home), but if this is a typical experience for people that's not okay.

I mean, I don't want to jump through hoops for a breeder either. There are at least options there though. I feel like most (all??) rescues are complicated. And they are more the norm here than little county shelters that will let anyone have a dog.

 

[Beanie]

And honestly I am not sure how I have said anything bad about breeders at all in this thread? I have really gone back and re-read and I don't see anything at all? People are reading into things that aren't there.

Yes, indeed they are, because I'm not sure where I said you specifically said something bad about breeders. This is the second time where I think you feel like you personally are being called out by me, I don't know if it's happened in the rest of this thread because I don't care to read it all, and you are obviously very sensitive on the subject to think it's directed at you. I honestly don't give a **** if you got Hank from a breeder or a box at the corner of a supermarket. Do you love him? Do you treat him well? Then it's nothing to me.

As far as what "direction" they went in, I don't really give a **** which "order" they got their dogs in. What they had to say on the subject and what I said they put well is that they wanted different things at different times so they made different choices.

I feel like you are so sensitive about this you're making attacks where there are none. Oh well BB and Sass are only smart because now they have breeder dogs...? What? Come on.

 

[Laurelin]

I'm actually not sensitive about it but just trying to figure out what people are taking offense to about what I said somewhere.

The order is something I have seen in general. Not this specific thread. It's kind of assumed most people start with the dog they have then go to a specific breeder/type for the next dog. Just a general observation.

I was actually looking for something more specific when I got my shelter dog than when I got my breeder dog. I guess I just do everything backwards? (<--- this is an attempt in levity)







Note: I will just start adding notations to my post when I'm being tongue in cheek or attempting (and apparently failing) to lighten the mood. I'd go back and edit but it's past being able to edit my other posts)

 

[Laurelin]

I feel like you are so sensitive about this you're making attacks where there are none. Oh well BB and Sass are only smart because now they have breeder dogs...? What? Come on.

Yeah... I didn't say that at all.

 

[Beanie]

Y'know, I changed my mind. This is obviously something you feel like you're personally attacked on. I like you and I like all of yours dogs, and I'm sorry you think everybody hates you and your dog because you rescued him. I honestly just don't care and it makes me sad that other people do. So I'm out.

 

[Laurelin]

I'll edit too. But that's not what I think at all. And I don't feel personally attacked at all. <--- smiley face because I'm legit not trying to be angry and have legit not meant to sound angry in this entire thread. Honest to god have not been trying to sound angry

 

[DogKisses]

LOL it's both sad and funny that people are getting bashed for ever saying their dog is rescued. So if you rescue a dog, your supposed to keep that part to yourself? So what, lie when people ask how you got your dog? This is so odd to me. Just as odd as rescue people getting mad that people with breeder dogs and telling people they came from a breeder. Nope, keep it secret!

If a dog is pulled from a high kill shelter by a rescue and someone buys it, that makes it a rescue dog to me. Maybe it's the 95% kill rates at my animal control that make me feel this way.

But I do get it when a person proclaims their dog as a rescue and acts snobby about it, but I honestly haven't met people like that in person.

I'm not touching the rest of this thread lol. Get dogs from great rescues or great breeders, educate the public, and don't dump dogs.

 

[sassafras]

Telling people that shelter dogs are someone else's problem and that you shouldn't worry about them is hurting dogs that are already in the shelter.

Who said THAT?

And to stop referring to breeder vs rescue as a war, but that's because I find it so incredibly obnoxious.

It's fine if you don't care about individual dogs in shelters, but some of us do, and it really hurts that hardcore breeder people want the general public to turn away from shelters and dislike them. You are never going to get people to like responsible breeders if the responsible breeders make it clear that they don't care about shelter dogs.

Gee, I wonder why it's a war?

Bostonbanker and Sass both went the 'right' direction though as far as dog people tend to be concerned.

I didn't "go" in a direction. A puppy became available who I fell in love with who happened to be a purebred from a breeder I trusted. I didn't want "a" mal, I wanted Toast.

 

[Locke]

I'm starting to plan for a second dog, and as much as I want a specific breed puppy, I think I'll end up adopting from a rescue or shelter because to me, it feels like the right thing to do. I want to do what I can for dogs at risk, whether that be fostering, adopting, donations, etc.

I feel that giving a dog at risk a happy second chance at life takes priority over getting a responsible breeder's dog that will have a happy life no matter what. I think I will feel guilty getting a dog from a responsible breeder.


That's just how I feel. I know lots of other people who feel differently, and I respect that. I completely understand wanting the dog of your dreams.

 

[Laurelin]

I didn't "go" in a direction. A puppy became available who I fell in love with who happened to be a purebred from a breeder I trusted. I didn't want "a" mal, I wanted Toast.

I think I worded that poorly. I meant kind of what you said earlier in that there's an idea among SOME (not all) that you had Squash and then you were doing sports 'for reals' because you got Toast.

I think Toast is perfect for you and I'm glad you have him (if that isn't obvious).

 

[iriskai]

educate the public

+1




You can ask four different people what they see in regards to rescues and breeders. One may say they see breeders bashing rescues, the second could say they see rescues bashing breeders, the third sees both, the fourth doesn't see any bashing. Doesn't mean any of them are incorrect in their observations, nor does it mean any of them think discrimination doesn't exist. Different lifestyles, different experiences. It isn't a black and white issue and just because someone mentions one side of the coin doesn't necessarily mean they deny the other side exists.

 

[Picklepaige]

I am silly and stupid and emotional and bad with words, so I'm going to stop making myself look like a wacko

Toast and Auggie and Payton are awesome dogs. Beanie and Sass are really cool people.

Time for bed, I've been up way too long and don't really know what I'm typing anymore haha

 

[Beanie]

I am silly and stupid and emotional and bad with words, so I'm going to stop making myself look like a wacko

Toast and Auggie and Payton are awesome dogs. Beanie and Sass are really cool people.

Time for bed, I've been up way too long and don't really know what I'm typing anymore haha

*HUGS*
I know you're in a really tough emotional spot right now. I know it coloured how you're feeling and how things came out. I have nothing but love for anybody here. And I am 100% honest that it makes me sad anybody should ever feel like they are judged for where they got their dog, breeder or rescue or Mars.

 

[Laurelin]

Group hug?

 

[amberdyan]

I just read this whole conversation and impressed with how it turned out. It's nice to see people disagree about a topic and still be able to just say at the end of the day, our dogs are awesome.

I have a shelter dog, and I don't think it makes me morally superior. Did I help the homeless dog problem a little bit? Sure. But the whole rescue vs good breeder war is just horrifically misplaced. I think the real problem is people who create dogs and take no responsibility for where those dogs end up. If you are breeding dogs and selling them to people and making sure those dogs don't end up in shelters (agreeing to take them back if they end up not being a good fit, etc) you're not contributing to the problem. If you buy a dog from a good breeder, you're not contributing to the problem. I do think, though it's hard to be level headed when you know dogs die regularly. I know that's why I had to quit working and volunteering at a shelter for awhile. It made me hate EVERYONE. It's tough and emotional and it's easy to point the blame at breeders and people who buy from them. And it's no wonder that people who buy from breeders retaliate because you're literally saying that that person's dog should never have existed. Which is cruel and wrong and sad. My dog isn't better or more deserving of a good home because he was at a shelter. Ideally, only good breeders would breed and everyone who couldn't keep their dog would just return it to the breeder who has a waiting list of loving homes but that can't happen (and probably never will) while the dog lovers of the world are stuck blaming the wrong people. If you get a dog and make sure that dog doesn't end up dumped in a shelter, I have no problem with you.

 

[MericoX]

I'm somewhat jealous of the people that are able to choose a specific breed and know it will be good for them. Other than the two older Schnauzers and Lincoln, I've just been kinda lucky with the other dogs I've owned. Charlie came from a transport group outta Kentucky and adopted by my sister, but when that didn't work out I took her. I admit she's not what I would have chosen in a dog, but I love her nonetheless. Nimbus is from our shelter (for all of two days), and she's most likely from the same breeder as my other Schnauzers.

Nextdog was almost a little shih tzu mix puppy I fostered a few weeks back, but it wasn't until I had to give him back did I know I wanted him, and by then it was too late to call dibs. I will probably end up with a puppy from our shelter (most likely a transfer from Georgia) in a year or two unless a specific breed/dog really catches my eye.

 

[LostAndConfused]

I like dogs. Sometimes they end up in bad places, sometimes they don't. Either way, they are cute and snuggly and awesome, and we should all have 6.

previous dog was from a rescue. Current dog is not. Both were awesome

 

[sassafras]

To be clear, I'm not upset with anyone or anything in this thread. I enjoy a spirited debate but I rarely actually get upset.