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Finding the Perfect Pet

This was a nice article on buying a puppy "from a breeder," but there are so many puppies (dogs, kittens and cats) at kennels that need homes desperately that one does not need to seek out a breeder to find "the perfect pet." A month ago, I adopted an older puppy from the APL (this was my third one from a kennel) and he is healthy, beautiful and smart! He is a Border Collie and Golden Retriever mix. He was neutered, vet checked, and tested for his temperment. I was screened to make sure he was also given to a good home. He also came house-broken, does not chew on things (other than his toys) and does not leave the yard. Please encourage people to seek shelters for their new best friends.
Cheryl

Save a Life

Get your pet from the local animal shelter. In an all out effort to prevent unwanted animals, your adoption fee gets you an animal that is already spayed/neutered and has its shots. Sadly, many of the animals that were purchased at great cost from "breeders" will end up in these shelters. If you are getting an animal for love and companionship, "papers" should not be a requirement. If you need the status boost that a purebred brings, perhaps you should consider a new wide screen TV or other expensive thing. Save a life and adopt.
Jill

Which Path Make the Most Sense?

The advice for where and how to "purchase" a puppy were sensible inasmuch as being careful and thoughtful about the decision is important in evaluating a prospective breeder.

However, having gotten our dog from the local humane society, I have to comment on the disgust I feel for an article that encourages people to support the "industry" of producing purebred and "specialty/designer" puppies as opposed to adopting a deserving pet from a rescue group or humane society. I don't remember the precise statistic, but the existence of so many breed rescue groups shows that there are plenty of purebred dogs that are abandoned every year that need loving homes. Most people don't realize that puppies are a ton of work, and continue to require a lot of care as they become adults, which is how they end up at the pound sooner or later because the owners get tired of them, they aren't cute anymore, or they've developed bad habits or behaviors due to breeding or lack of socialization or training.

Millions of former pets are euthanized every year because people automatically try to find the cute little puppy as opposed to finding a dog (or cat) at the humane society that may already be house/obedience trained and beyond the chewing stage. Yes, some of them may have ongoing behavioral issues due to abuse or neglect (ours does!), but just as many are there through no real fault of their own, and they give just as much love, perhaps more, as any puppy ever could.

The demand for purebred puppies has resulted in just as many "backyard breeders" and places of filth and horror that masquerade as breeding facilities in order to supply pet stores with puppies (search for "dog breeders" and "Missouri", commonly referred to as "Misery" by rescue groups) in addition to those breeders who use it as a source for extra income or as a family hobby. Medically speaking, pets need to be spayed before entering their first heat. Having a single litter of puppies raises the risk of numerous medical conditions for female dogs. An unneutered male dog is at risk for its own medical as well as behavioral issues. By breeding their dogs for profit at possible medical risk, how "responsible" are these dog owners?

Why spend $200, $300, or even a thousand dollars on a purebred puppy that you might end up abandoning anyway? This is supposed to be a "dollar and sense" newsletter. It rarely costs more than $200 (and usually less than $100 at most county humane societies) to adopt from most shelters or rescue groups, and those dogs are generally fully vetted and evaluated for behavior! Which "purchase" makes more sense, both ethically and financially?
Katherine R.

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