First Weekend@BARC

[sereneorange]

I did my first volunteer stint at BARC this weekend. I really dig it and will be going back as many Saturdays as I can.

In addition to doing something that is needed, giving love, affection,  and scritches to these dogs, I got some much needed excersise by walking a fair share of Pitt Bulls, Chows, Boxers, and mixes of other large dogs. I was really feeling it later. There are some really wonderful animals there, and I really hope they find homes soon.

It is not that I just don't understand why someone would want to buy an animal from a breeder (I can do without all the inbreeding caused health and behavior problems) but it really does disgust me. There are hundreds of thousands of shelter animals killed each year, and I blame breeder buying and people neglecting to spay and neuter.

Pure breed argument doesn't stand either. I have two pure breed cats. One from Homeless Pet Placement League and one I found in a dumpster.  I get wanting a specific kind of dog. I personally want a yorkie. However, I will find one that needs to be adopted or I will get another dog when it is time for me to adopt a dog. There were some gorgeous purebread dogs at the pound. The two sweetest loving dogs were a Rottie (the largest one I have ever seen) and a Pitt.  

Next week, I am going to divide my time between walking dogs and playing with the cats.

Comments

[glowy-lovers.livejournal.com]

I would want to bring all the dogs home :)

[serene-orange.livejournal.com]

I do want to. However, I cannot afford to bring the dogs home and they would eat my cats. Instead, I can do this

Why I bought my dogs from a breeder

[rainygirl.livejournal.com]

I wanted a Yorkie puppy without health problems. Most dogs in rescues are not puppies or they have special needs. I respect people who want to take them in, but it wasn't for me. It was much easier for me to find a breeder I trusted, and pick out a puppy. It was just a personal choice. I've taken in plenty of strays and other animals in need in my life, but I just had specific wants when I decided to get my Yorkies.

Re: Why I bought my dogs from a breeder

[serene-orange.livejournal.com]

It wasn't a personal attack on you I promise. I wasn't even thinking of you, but I have always felt this way, and it isn't likely to change.

Re: Why I bought my dogs from a breeder

[rainygirl.livejournal.com]

I know it wasn't a personal attack. I was just trying to shed light on why someone would choose a breeder over a rescue. I'm not offended. :)

Re: Why I bought my dogs from a breeder

[psychgurl.livejournal.com]

I just have to say that this statement is so generalized and honestly not true:
Most dogs in rescues are not puppies or they have special needs.

I don't want to start a fight but those are the exact statements that make people believe that to be the case. I am on the Board of Directors for a national non-profit dachshund rescue and we have had about 20+ puppies born into our rescue (or brought into our rescue) just in the last YEAR. There are usually 100 dogs in our pure bred rescue at any given time and I would say that maybe 20% are considered seniors and maybe 5-10% are special needs.

I am not anti-breeder at all - I am very much supportive of the small amount of responsible breeders as without them, pure bred dogs would cease to exist. Responsible breeders help make our favorite breeds healthier. I give you kudos for doing research but please do not use that statement again as it cannot be the furthest from the truth.

Re: Why I bought my dogs from a breeder

[serene-orange.livejournal.com]

I am with you. There were about 30 adorable little puppies at the adoption last Saturday.

There were a few dogs that needed heart worm treatment or were skittish, but most of the dogs I interacted with were loving playful dogs with great temperament and health.

Re: Why I bought my dogs from a breeder

[rainygirl.livejournal.com]

That was not my experience. I have looked into several Yorkie rescues, and they had either no puppies or if they had puppies, they wouldn't adopt them out until 6 months of age because they had to be spayed/neutered first.

[meowvatar.livejournal.com]

Awwww. That's great you are doing that. :)

[eonblue21.livejournal.com]

my doggy is part chow part shepherd and all crazy :)

he was a rescue pup from CAPS that I got at a few months old and i'm glad I did

[psychgurl.livejournal.com]

It's so awesome you're doing this - you went up about 100 notches in my human scale :)

[serene-orange.livejournal.com]

I get a lot out of it.

[psychgurl.livejournal.com]

And you'll continue to get more and more - it's such an amazing feeling.

People often ask me why I spend the 10-20 hours a week on CCDR stuff and I tell them that it's actually relaxing to me. I help those who cannot help themseles - it's amazing the stories I can tell about just the ones I've personally had a part in their rescue - from transports to foster or forever homes, to a few fosters in my own home, to adoptions, fundraising - it's just amazing, really. I like to think I prefer to help dogs over people as people just don't appreciate it as much!

[pinkpunkpornsta.livejournal.com]

i totally agree with you about the "purebreed" dogs. A friend of mine has one that is inbred and all he does is try and sexually victimize their other dog. it's not a pretty sight. She keeps trying to pawn him off on me.

[serene-orange.livejournal.com]

AWW gross. Is he fixed?

There were these two boy dogs at the dog park and they took turns trying to hump each other. Was goofy