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4 years ago
Why Breeding Pets Is Irresponsible. Period.
Image Credit: Kshitij Shah/Flickr
One thing pretty much everyone can agree on is that puppy mills (and kitten mills) are horrific places and they need to be put out of business immediately. Most puppy mill puppies are sold in pet stores, which means buying dogs from pet stores puts money directly into the pockets of puppy millers. In order to stop this horrendous animal abuse, many advocate for adopting homeless animals from animal shelters and rescues, rather than buying from a pet store or breeder.
Many are quick to argue, however, that buying from “responsible breeders” does not contribute to this problem, and that it’s much better than buying a “puppy mill” dog from a pet store. While, yes, it is definitely better than contributing to puppy mills, breeding is not “responsible,” regardless of how well the animals are cared for. Not only does buying from a breeder contribute to the problem of pet overpopulation, but purebred dogs face a host of health problems that mixed breeds are far less likely to develop.
Pet Overpopulation
Right now we have far too many cats and dogs living in shelters who need homes and not enough people willing to adopt them. Buying a dog, no matter the seller, is still a part of the problem.
Why? Because when one buys a dog, they’re paying for them to be born. We’re telling the seller to continue breeding more and more animals for our benefit and their profit. For every dog that is bought, there is another dog at the shelter who will not be adopted.
Animals have made it abundantly clear that they are capable of making babies without our help. We’re told to spay and neuter our dogs so that they don’t bring more puppies into the world, but breeders are bringing more puppies into the world every day.
Purebreds Are Prone to Health Problems
Did you know that English Bulldogs don’t usually deliver their puppies vaginally, nor are they likely to breed without assistance?
Labrador Retrievers also are prone to diseases such as hip dysplasia and bloat, a disease in which the stomach becomes too full of water, food, and air, leading to the stomach to twist. This easily leads to death.
Skin problems, cataracts, spinal disc issues, and a whole host of other conditions ail many purebred dogs. Dogs who are inbred are particularly susceptible to health problems, but this issue isn’t unique to inbred dogs. Purebred dogs who are not inbred face them too.
At the end of the day, the continuous overbreeding of purebred dogs is leading to the proliferation of sick animals. There is a lot of debate on whether mixed dogs are actually healthier than purebreds, but the fact of the matter is a dog who is mixed is far less likely to develop breed-specific diseases.
Tail-Docking and Ear-Cropping
Because we’re so used to specific breeds looking a certain way, a docked tail and cropped ears are rarely given a second thought. The practice of cutting of body parts really shouldn’t be taken so lightly. In most other countries, tail-docking and ear-cropping are either illegal or restricted. Not so, here in the United States.
Not only is it common, but it’s usually done without any form of anesthesia. While some claim that tail-docking prevents tail injury, there really seems to be little reason to perform such a procedure. Not only is it largely a cosmetic surgery, but it’s a painful one at that.
In addition, the American Veterinary Medical Association does not Support the practice, saying, “Performing a surgical procedure for cosmetic purposes…implies the procedure is not medically indicated. Because dogs have not been shown to derive self-esteem or pride in appearance from having their tails docked … there is no obvious benefit to our patients in performing this procedure.”
Mixed breed shelter puppies rarely if ever have their ears cropped or tails docked because they don’t have breed-specific standards by which they are measured.
Time for a Change
While most breeders treat their dogs far better than puppy millers do, we can’t continue to claim that breeding doesn’t come with its own set of problems because it’s just not true. For those who still really want a purebred dog, there are breed-specific rescues you can check out. Or, if a puppy is what you’re looking for, there are plenty of puppies in shelters who need homes too.
Even if we could disregard the other offenses that take place in these breeding facilities, the fact that 2.7 million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized every year is enough reason to refrain from purchasing a companion animal. If we really want to protect dogs and reduce the number of homeless animals living in shelters, buying from a breeder isn’t now and never will be a part of the solution. Regardless of whether you go for a purebred or mixed breed, adopting is really the best way to go. Remember, adopt, don’t shop!
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Any bred dog displaces a potential home for a shelter dog. ALL breeding (no exceptions) is completely irresponsible during an overpopulation crisis. Period.
lisa kay – i’ll ask you the same question: but how are all pets going to get homes when people turn them in because they no longer care? and what about the people who don’t spay and neuter and have unwanted litters and just turn them into the shelter? how does making dog breeders responsible for those non-caring owners fix the problem? It won’t. Period.
lisa kay – i’ll ask you the same question: but how are all pets going to get homes when people turn them in because they no longer care? and what about the people who don’t spay and neuter and have unwanted litters and just turn them into the shelter? how does making dog breeders responsible for those non-caring owners fix the problem? It won’t. Period.
Lane Conrad The conditions you mentioned are all a part of the problem as well… Breeders aren’t wholly responsible for overpopulation – that is absurd. However, they contribute to a population of animals when there are too many already. This is a pretty simple concept. Period.
“The Question of Overpopulation
Reputable breeders have a passion for breeding dogs and many do genuinely love the animals they care for, but that does not address the very real problem of what breeding pets does to the existing pet overpopulation problem.
According to the ASPCA, 1.2 million dogs are euthanized in shelters every year because of lack of space, resources, and people who are willing to adopt these animals. No matter how you look at the issue, the idea of producing more dogs to meet the “demands” of people who are willing to pay thousands of dollars for a purebred pup while there are hundreds of thousands of purebred dogs waiting in overcrowded shelters is incredibly irresponsible.
The fact is, all dogs deserve a loving home, but when these dogs become commodities who are bred for profit, it doesn’t matter how well-meaning or qualified the breeders are. If we wish to put an end to the gross pet overpopulation problem and provide loving forever homes for dogs who truly need it, there is no real justification for the perpetuation of dog breeding.
So please, be a Green Monster and always adopt, don’t shop!”
Lisa Kay Lockwood wellllllll – how can you make us wrong for so many other peoples’ non-caring? We may be a small part of the problem – but don’t people have the right to have the breed they want without being made responsible for everyone else’s mistakes? Do you, yourself, feel that you are not responsible for the fact that someone driving a car drunk kills someone? If not, why? after all, you drive a car too!
lisa kay lockwood – i am still waiting for your answer to the above question…… but i have come to learn that after you people throw out all your rhetoric, actually learning is just not something you want to do. sort of sad for you, huh? so i’m pretty sure you’ve run away and will not have this dialogue, now that i’ve presented a situation that you can’t just throw bullshit at. Let’s see if I’m right!
I’m allergic to furr and for that reason has bought a pure breed. I just don’t buy the black and white worldview posted here, even though I agree a lot of what it says. But my cat has saved my life – and this all because of the possibility of breeding. You might think this is wrong as well Lisa, but I am quite sick of non-nuanced shit on fb which is why I decided to comment this! Cheers!
Bella Persson https://www.purebredcatrescue.org/sphynx-rex
Bella Persson more than half of all shelter/rescue animals are pure bred!
Bella Persson Also, your comment is a bit vague. Can you please explain? From your FB pics, it appears you *might* have a cat with hair/fur.
Most of the dogs in shelters are purebred…
Also most breeds have a network of ‘breed-specific’ rescues, French Bulldog Rescue, German Shepard Rescue etc. I don’t know if lab/poodle have their own rescue though, what with them actually just being just a run of the mill mongrel sold to stupid people with more money than sense?
Also most breeds have a network of ‘breed-specific’ rescues, French Bulldog Rescue, German Shepard Rescue etc. I don’t know if lab/poodle have their own rescue though, what with them actually just being just a run of the mill mongrel sold to stupid people with more money than sense?
Also, breeding dogs creates lots of health issues in those dogs because they are usually inbred.
Lisa Kay Lockwood i’d love to know where you come up with your information…… and i’d also like to read your answers to the questions i’ve asked. honestly – you appear ignorant in throwing out your statements without having the apparent ability to discourse on what you and others think. period.
I’m going to breed my dog and I’ll let you know why, because I want her offspring and want to have something to remember her by. Saying that those puppies are staying with me.
i understand, but that is at the expense of other wonderful dogs that you might have given a home to and loved too.
i understand, but that is at the expense of other wonderful dogs that you might have given a home to and loved too.
It’s not like I can’t buy more dogs, it just means I have to convince my husband. And I’ve been looking for a dog to suit my family, but nothing at the pound would be good. They either don’t do other dogs or don’t do small children.
It’s not like I can’t buy more dogs, it just means I have to convince my husband. And I’ve been looking for a dog to suit my family, but nothing at the pound would be good. They either don’t do other dogs or don’t do small children.
Wow. Your absolutely mind boggling. I have had and met MANY dogs from shelters who are excellent with kids and other dogs and cats. There are also rescue groups who foster the animal until they go to their new family. While in foster care, any behaviour issues are addressed.
So….you are keeping the whole littler when you breed your dog? What if she has 12 poppies? I adopted a 1 year old dog who was pregnant and she had 13 puppies.
Wow. Your absolutely mind boggling. I have had and met MANY dogs from shelters who are excellent with kids and other dogs and cats. There are also rescue groups who foster the animal until they go to their new family. While in foster care, any behaviour issues are addressed.
So….you are keeping the whole littler when you breed your dog? What if she has 12 poppies? I adopted a 1 year old dog who was pregnant and she had 13 puppies.
i have to admit, morgan sprague – that seems like a bit of a stretch to breed your dog because you want something to remember her by……. however, i stand for personal liberty, and if you are keeping (all?) her puppies, i can’t complain.
i have to admit, morgan sprague – that seems like a bit of a stretch to breed your dog because you want something to remember her by……. however, i stand for personal liberty, and if you are keeping (all?) her puppies, i can’t complain.
Uhm I am giving some to my family to. Also it would be her first and last litter which means she wouldn’t have much, she’s a Pekingese so I won’t have a problem taking care of her puppies. And they put warnings on the cages if you read them, they’ve already put them in foster to see how well they would do with other dogs and children. I am sorry if I’m actually listening to the warnings they give because they’ve already tested them on other animals and small children.
Uhm I am giving some to my family to. Also it would be her first and last litter which means she wouldn’t have much, she’s a Pekingese so I won’t have a problem taking care of her puppies. And they put warnings on the cages if you read them, they’ve already put them in foster to see how well they would do with other dogs and children. I am sorry if I’m actually listening to the warnings they give because they’ve already tested them on other animals and small children.
So you’re trying to say every dog in every cage in every shelter are not good with other dogs and kids? Sounds to me that you’ve not actually been to a shelter or spoken with any rescue groups…… Please don’t spread fear of rescue animals. Most make excellent family members and the ones who do need special attention have strict re homing rules.
Actually I have, I said they either don’t do well with other dogs OR small kids. Some actually say in capital letters NO KIDS. So yes I have read them. I need one that will do good with both because my son is a little too, lovable.
Also not there only a couple shelters close to wear I live. So yes I have been to them and that’s when I decided on my dog will have puppies and my kids can have their own special friends growing up. Then when we find a shelter dog good with both kids and other dominite dogs then I will be getting them. Thanks for the “I don’t know you but I’ll judge you” comment.
But that’s your personal experience and you shouldn’t feel like you need to defend yourself, that’s true. However, not everyone will have the same issues with shelters. Hence the “please don’t spread fear of adoption”, which I think is a valid point.
But that’s your personal experience and you shouldn’t feel like you need to defend yourself, that’s true. However, not everyone will have the same issues with shelters. Hence the “please don’t spread fear of adoption”, which I think is a valid point.
I am not, I’m spreading to read the paper they put out so they can get a perfect dog for their home, so many miss it and don’t realize it doesn’t do good with dogs, cats, or kids. And most people don’t pay attention. Then they have to go put it down because it killed a child or because it killed their cat or other dog. It’s great to adopt. But find one that fits your family. Not just picking the prettiest ones in there.
i don’t think anyone means to judge you. i think most good shelters want each adoption to be successful and will work with you to find the right dog. i have had quite a few cats and some dogs since i have been an adult and remember them all well and will always love them even though i am allergic to them. have you talked with the shelter people about your concerns?
I have, and I’ve also searched online. There isn’t many in the kennels where I live. But j just found one not to far that I didn’t know about that isn’t run by the government.
Breeding humans is even more irresponsible since we are by far the more destructive.