Who Do you blame for the rescues?

[Ron]

This was posted on DH and i thought it would make for a good discussion here

You know it is sad when we have so many dogs in rescues. Some say breeders shouldn't be breeding at all with dogs without homes. I can see this logic but dang! Ethical breeders did not cause those dogs to be in rescue. They health test, take all their puppies back if there is a problem, and they take good care of their dogs. Should they not be breeding, and just give up trying to produce healthier and better dogs and just rescue?

Who is to blame for this in your opinion? Who creates the rescues? And why?

How can we prevent dogs from being dumped in rescues and who needs to step up?

[Marylou Mader]

Rescue dogs aren't always the breeder (as in Back yard or puppy mill) but the owners. I worked for many years in humane and rescue work, I saw a big trend:

Husband buys dog, wife ends up caring for dog, wife wants dog out.

Kids want a dog, wife/mom ends up caring for dog, mom wants dog out.

couple buys dog, wife has baby, wife wants dog out

Older kids living at home buy dog, mom ends up caring for dog and then wants the dog out.

husband and dog bond wife gets jealous, wants dog out.

Now it looks like I'm putting all the blame on the wife/mom/girlfriend, but these are the facts.

As far as breeding goes, people not being ethical or belonging to a club will sell or give their dogs away and that is a very common excuse, "my cousin gave me the dog, now we can't keep it" so if you are a dummy breeding dogs, you wouldn't know all this stuff and you would sell your dogs to all of the above.

So, who's problem is it???????

[Ruby Red]

I agree with all the reasons Marylou gives, but coupled with this, some people buy puppies and have no idea what they are letting themselves in for - they don't do any breed research, they don't take them to training classes, they don't socialise them, they don't walk them - stupid people fail as owners all the time so when the dog doesn't do what they want because it hasn't been trained or attacks other dogs because it wasn't socialised properly or wrecks the house because it isn't being walked - they think get rid of it and pass the 'problem dog' into rescue. Makes me so angry.............

I think you all know I am passionate about rescues and have only ever had rescue dogs, but I do not think it's right to say that you should stop responsible breeders from breeding - why should people be 'forced' to take a rescue dog? You simple cannot legislate for this - it defies basic freedom of choice. However, the law does need to tighten up - demand health testing from breeders - responsible breeders do this anyway so they have nothing to fear. Close down the back yard breeders and the puppy mills that couldn't care less who buys the puppy nor about the health and welfare of the breeding bitches and just mass-produce puppies for profit. A lot of the time these puppies end up with 'problems' - health wise and temperment wise due to the bad start they have in life, couple this with an irresponsible owner and where do you think the puppy will end up?

[Doreen]

I agree with all of the above.... another thought just came to me... A law should be passed not to be able to sell puppies in the shopping malls. That is where many spur of the moment decisions are made. And if you couldn't buy puppies in pet shops, that would affect the puppy mills too, which would be a good thing, but maybe I am pressing to far with that one?

[Erin251]

i agree with everyone so far. i also think that shelters need to start doing more tests on the dogs they have and who they are going to. i hear all the time about people who go and rescue a dog but for whatever reason the dog misbehaves in a way that the person cant deal with and the dog just goes back to the shelter. i also think that there should be a company that goes to everyones house that breeds at least once a year and makes sure that all the dogs are healthy and all the right tests are done. i know i got Bo from a breeder but that doesnt mean im agaisnt adopting, it just wasnt right for me at this moment. when my son gets older we will adopt instead but right now he is only 2 and i just cant risk getting an adult that ends up not liking kids. i aslo kind of think that there should be a law that makes every dog that is not going to be breed in a responsible way has to get fixed by the time they are 1. so that the amount of unwanted breeding is cut way back.

[Doreen]

Originally Posted by Erin251

i agree with everyone so far. i also think that shelters need to start doing more tests on the dogs they have and who they are going to. i hear all the time about people who go and rescue a dog but for whatever reason the dog misbehaves in a way that the person cant deal with and the dog just goes back to the shelter. i also think that there should be a company that goes to everyones house that breeds at least once a year and makes sure that all the dogs are healthy and all the right tests are done. i know i got Bo from a breeder but that doesnt mean im agaisnt adopting, it just wasnt right for me at this moment. when my son gets older we will adopt instead but right now he is only 2 and i just cant risk getting an adult that ends up not liking kids. i aslo kind of think that there should be a law that makes every dog that is not going to be breed in a responsible way has to get fixed by the time they are 1. so that the amount of unwanted breeding is cut way back.

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by Doreen

I agree with all of the above.... another thought just came to me... A law should be passed not to be able to sell puppies in the shopping malls. That is where many spur of the moment decisions are made. And if you couldn't buy puppies in pet shops, that would affect the puppy mills too, which would be a good thing, but maybe I am pressing to far with that one?

I have no idea what the ratio of successful long term adoptions in pet stores is but some must make it? It would be an interestign number to know...

I imagine there are some people who return dogs to breeders because they bought with out doing their homework although I woudl assume way less.

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by Marylou Mader

Rescue dogs aren't always the breeder (as in Back yard or puppy mill) but the owners. I worked for many years in humane and rescue work, I saw a big trend:

Husband buys dog, wife ends up caring for dog, wife wants dog out.

Kids want a dog, wife/mom ends up caring for dog, mom wants dog out.

couple buys dog, wife has baby, wife wants dog out

Older kids living at home buy dog, mom ends up caring for dog and then wants the dog out.

husband and dog bond wife gets jealous, wants dog out.

Now it looks like I'm putting all the blame on the wife/mom/girlfriend, but these are the facts.

As far as breeding goes, people not being ethical or belonging to a club will sell or give their dogs away and that is a very common excuse, "my cousin gave me the dog, now we can't keep it" so if you are a dummy breeding dogs, you wouldn't know all this stuff and you would sell your dogs to all of the above.

So, who's problem is it???????

It's all our problem but the question is who is the cause?


you forgot to mention 2 of the most ANNOYING excuses for surrendering dogs.


Couple gets dog, couple breaks up dog is surrendered because neither of them can take care of it

Family buys dog... family member had allergies but thought they were going to be ok.... dog is surrendered.

[JoeV]

I think Bob Barker had the answer.

[Ron]

lol yep