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Subscribe to RSSSheriff’s officials in Washington state are investigating a case of alleged animal abuse involving dogs reportedly owned by a judge for the American Kennel Club.
No charges have been filed against the dogs’ owners or the owners of two houses in suburban Seattle where 100 animals were seized Oct. 6, according to the King County Sheriff’s office. At least a dozen dogs had to be euthanized, and the surviving animals were placed in foster homes.
A tip from Pasado’s Safe Haven, a Seattle-area animal sanctuary, sparked the investigation into conditions at a home in Burien, Wash. When officers arrived they found 38 Chihuahuas, Pomeranians and Chins “in relatively poor health and kept in extremely dirty dog crates,” according to a press release.
A man at the residence told authorities the “majority of the dogs were his, and claimed some were show dogs. Furthermore, he said there were additional dogs at a house near Issaquah.”
When officers arrived at the second house, east of Seattle, they found another 62 dogs.
“These animals were in relatively good health and in clean crates, but due to the condition of the house, the dogs were taken,” the press release said.
On Wednesday, Pasado’s Safe Haven posted details on its website, including the name of one of the alleged dog owners, Margi Hamilton, affiliated with the American Kennel Club.
Reached by phone on Thursday, Hamilton said, “My attorney has advised me not to discuss the case at this time. I look forward to working with the media at the appropriate time.”
Lisa Peterson, a spokeswoman at the AKC’s national headquarters in New York City, said the club was “aware of the situation,” and said the club had "placed Margi Hamilton on temporary referral until it is determined whether or not she has violated" AKC policies.
In effect, until the case is resolved, Hamilton cannot breed, sell or transfer dogs with the expectation of AKC paperwork, and she is prohibited from accepting AKC judging assignments, Peterson said.
Hamilton said it was “timely” that Pasado released more details about the case on Wednesday, but would not elaborate. She suggested the case may not be as straightforward as it appears.
“Very little of it has to do with dogs,” she said.
Amber Chenoweth, media manager of Pasado’s Safe Haven, said the group first alerted law enforcement about the case after they received video footage of the Burien dogs from a confidential source. She said individuals who feel overwhelmed by caring for animals should reach out for assistance.
"There are lots of shelters and sancutaries out there than can help," she said.
Sgt. Cindi West said King County Sheriff investigators are still working on the case.
“Our detectives will be meeting with the prosecutor’s office to determine if charges will be filed,” West said.
Many of the dogs seized were placed with Community Animal Resources Education Society in Burien or CARES, a non-profit group providing animal control services.
Debra George of CARES said the surviving animals were treated by veterinarians for a host of problems, including ear and skin infections. "Our concern right now is the dogs," she said, adding that the animals would remain in foster homes until the legal case is sorted out.
The group is actively seeking donations or grants to help cover the cost of their care, she said.
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Sounds like hoarding to me. Even if you are a reputable breeder, you do not need over 100 dogs to accomplish this.
STOP buying dogs from breeders and this kind of disgusting behavior will cease. There are literally thousands of beautiful wonderful dogs in rescues waiting for a normal loving home. You could save the life of your next best friend by adopting one of them.
these people don't view these animals the way most dog lovers do....they're merchandise
You went a touch overboard there. Most breeders are perfectly fine to do business with, and are way preferred to buying a dog at a pet store. But yes, if you're not looking for a particular breed, a shelter will provide anyone with a lovable pal.
Eugene: Please see comment #3 below.
Thank you.
I believe you are wrong Eugene Saxe. Backyard breeders are just as bad as pet stores. They are both in it primarily for the money. Otherwise, as with breeders like this judge with her AKC affiliation, they wouldn't breed dogs into these ridiculous physical characteristics ( and I know, they are all cute and wonderful) because of the dangerous health conditions attributable to many breeds. Difficulty breathing, stress on the heart, etc.
I don't see anything wrong with going to a breeder, as long as they are reputable. I prefer rescues, myself, though. But here are the indicators to knowing if someone is one of those breeders you are supposed to go to, if you choose to go that route (but please rescue, if you can)
1. If they put you through the ringer, making sure you know about the breed, and if you are a good fit, they may or may not choose to put you on a waiting list. If they don't, sorry, BAD BREEDER!!!
2. Unless the dog is show quality, or is a REAL working dog, and is used as a working dog (ie. herding), there will be a spay/neuter contract. If not, they are a BAD BREEDER!!!
3. Reputable breeders never ship, and will never give you one of their puppies, unless there is a face to face meeting before deciding whether or not you are worthy of one of their puppies. If not, they are BAD BREEDERS!!!
4. In the event that something happens, an you no longer can keep the dog, a reputable breeder will take that dog back, and in most contracts, it is required for you to give that dog back to that breeder. If not, they are a BAD BREEDER!!!
5. In the event that the dog has a genetic health issue, they will either reimburse you, or give you another dog, if they take it back. That health guarantee will be at least one year. If it s isn't, you guessed it! BAD BREEDER!!! A reputable breeder will want to know if there is an issue with any puppy from that particular breeding, and will never breed the two dogs to each other again, or may even alter those tow dogs, as they carry poor genetics. By the way, bad breeders will only give you a guarantee of 48 hours or one week. If so, RUN FAR FAR AWAY!!!
6. A reputable breeder will not breed mixes and sell them for a fortune. ONLY BAD BREEDERS WILL BREED MUTTS AND SELL FOR A FORTUNE!!!! It is not true that if you breed two different breeds, their will be no health issues. If you breed one dog that has a family history of hip dysplasia, to a dog which is a breed that has no known issues with hip dysplasia, genetics dictate that those puppies will still carry the genetic issues with dysplasia, and on might have it.
7. A reputable breeder will not breed any dog before they are two years of age, and after testing. If not, and they are a BAD BREEDER. If there is an accident, and breeding happens before proper testing can occur, usually those puppies are given away, or sold for a much cheaper price.
Eugene, you are wrong about "most breeders". There are actually far fewer reputable breeders, then bad ones. No real breeder will ever advertise in newspapers or any classifieds section, breed indiscriminately, or breed the same female every heat, or sell over the internet (yahoo pets, craigslist, kiji). Most breeders do those things, therefore, most breeders are BAD BREEDERS!!!
Cindy, not everyone wants a mixed breed from a shelter or rescue! Many of us want a purebred dog and not all pure breed dogs from rescue are healthy or good temperament! My son got a purebred from rescue and the dog is extremely unhealthy. Another from a shelter and that one is vicious! The one from a breeder is sound in health, mentally and temperament! Not all dogs from shelters and rescue are good animals. Many come with baggage that needs a professional to work with. They are not necessarily safe with a family. It's nice if you had a good experience but not everyone has. Many shelters have many pit bulls and not much else now. Breed rescues can do a lot but many are not willing to admit there are some dogs that cannot be helped. Blanket statements do no good for anyone. There are great breeders out there and great dogs in shelters. Everyone chooses what is best for them!
"3. Reputable breeders never ship, and will never give you one of their puppies, and will demand a face to face before deciding whether or not you are worthy of one of their puppies. If not, they are BAD BREEDERS!!!"
This is catagorically NOT true. A person on the left coast can not go to the breeder on the right coast and see the breeder and get the dog. You are kidding me right? I have bought at least three Purebred AKC dogs from breeders that I did NOT go to their houses and meet everyone. I have had TWO shipped/flown to my house from Virginia to Alaska. Both of those dogs were AWESOME. So expecting one to meet the person in person is just nuts. I suppose if you are a major control freak - that would be something you would want to do and that you have LOTS of money would help too.
Telephone contact can tell you alot about a person and that's what I have used to determine to the greatest extent I could whether a breeder was on the up and up. I have always bought dogs from breeders who traditionally breed once a year or once every two years.
Eugene-People can adopt most any breed they want from breed-specific rescue organizations.
StephAce - you are absolutely right! Unfortunately, there are many more "bad breeders" than good anymore. My mother bred Pomeranians and she practiced everything you have listed and more (she also wouldn't sell any puppies to anyone with very small children because they pull ears and tails. Lol!). I watched her turn away the majority of people that tried to buy - not because she was trying to be a bitch, but because she cared so much about the animals she raised. Bottom line is this, does the breeder care about the animals or the money? If it's the money, they are a bad breeder and you should go elsewhere.
Bevy-503017 I am glad you and your breeders had good experiences. However, I show and occasionally have a litter (3 in 8 years) for myself to have a show dog. I gave a pup away to a lady in another state who spun a good web of lies during a very stressful situation in which a natural disaster had destroyed my home. Later I found out she was a puppy mill masquerading as a "good show breeder" who bred the dog repeatedly using its pedigree and bloodlines to benefit her $$$ and I was hurt. I will never, ever allow another of my pups to go to a home I have not visited first. This same person has bred genetically defective pups but because our breed does not have a test for the particular leg issue, she tests for another eye issue we do have a test for while continuing to breed the known leg genetic issue while claiming she is "reputable" as she does genetic testing for eyes. One of the buyers who bought a pup needing a very expensive surgery for the leg issue contacted her only to be told "you did not fee the food I told you to feed." which is funny because food nor vitamins will prevent genetic inheritance of defects. Some of us have spoken out against this flying below the radar and AKC approved Breeder of Merit only to be threatened with law suits for defamation of character and liable. The only good thing is that she is on the watch list now for animal rights groups so she had to clean up the facilities in which she was keeping the dogs. My lesson learned! I will not ship unless you pay for my ticket to visit so I can see you are not a piece of scum like I have described.
Meezermom59, while you are right that dogs from rescues and shelters can have issues, that is true of any dog really. I worked with a privately owned nonprofit animal rescue and we screened the dogs as best as we could to make sure that dogs of all temperaments were being properly placed. We would absolutely not give a dog that might require extra handling to someone who was a brand new pet owner or someone that couldn't handle them. (and I don't ever recall EVER adopting out a dog with violent tendencies). Its not an exact science, but a reputable shelter or rescue goes to great lengths to make sure you're not getting a crazy, uncontrollable dog. Also, you would be surprised how many dogs came to us that were 100% normal, but their owners' lifestyles changed. The vast majority actually came because their owners passed away, had to move far away or had children and couldn't handle a puppy and a baby. Veery, verryyyy few came from abusive or neglectful situations. I'm sorry to hear that you know of situations that didn't work out, but please don't write off all rescues because of it!
Julia-3097932: I believe I am absolutely correct. Honest, serious, AKC-registered/recommended breeders are not a problem; if anything, they work towards improving the health and genetic future of the various breeds. This guy? There's always one in every crowd; generally speaking, true breeders do it for money yes, but they also put the dogs first. There's a huge difference between this type and Joe down the street trying to make a buck. Joe's not a breeder, he's a schmuck.
SandyHughes: Very true, TY for pointing that out.
Be Careful What You Wish For-You May Get It!: Indeed, that would be the ideal answer. It becomes a problem if you're into the rarer breeds, which is where a respectable breeder deserves a profit for providing an item not many people can.
Actually Eugene, it was quite obvious from your initial post that you are a BREEDER and DO NOT WANT people to know that they can ADOPT ANY KIND of breed from Humane Societies.
People with THE RAREST of breeds also ,unfortunately, lose their homes to foreclosure, move to other parts of the country for jobs, etc.., etc.
Have a nice evening.
1-I don't even own a dog.
2-I'm not stopping anyone from researching what should be treated as a very important purchase.
3-I am offering intelligent, informed advice. You are pig-headedly opposing anything that isn't exactly what you want. Face it-some people want Westminster best-in-show-calibre dogs. They want the pedigree and they're willing to pay for it. Some people just want a specific breed, and want to know the genetics of their prospective pup; if you're willing to spend the cash, you want to know back/knee problems aren't in the family tree. You cannot get that level of product/service at a shelter.
4-Save your dismissals for someone you're qualified to dismiss.
"The man doth protest too much, methinks."
:-)
Don't think he protested - just pointed out flaws in your blanket statements.
Look at it this way- any pet becomes a member of your family, even a dog kept in a run in the back yard. The best advice is to be careful who you let into your family. If you have kids, get a dog good with kids ( some breeds are better than others). Get a dog that you can afford the vet visits ( some need frequent visits, others once a year). Pit bulls have a bad name, but aren't any worse than Doberman's or Airedales. Decide between a dog with fur ( sheds), or hair ( not so much).
Any dog can be mean. One that has been abused is more likely to be so. Especially if it senses fear or hesitation.
if you buy from a breeder, check them out. if you buy from a shelter, check them out. Spend time with a pup, or a full grown dog. Play with it, see if it obeys commands ( one word). See if it is affectionate, not just cute ( Pugs aren't cute , but they may be the most loving dog there is). Choose wisely, and enjoy your new familty member.
Bevy, you say your dogs were AWSOME, but did your dogs enjoy an AWSOME trip from Virgina to Alaska? Would YOU enjoy being shipped from Alaska to Virginia in cargo? That's what reputable breeders are about, making sure their dogs have the best. My brother-in-law had a dog shipped to him one time. The airline took the crate off one plane to put it on another. The dog got loose and ran all over the airport and that has to have been terrifying. This was the brother-in-law I always thought was an idiot. He often confirmed my suspicions.
I'm not a major control freak by any means. . . . unless that includes wanting to meet my young children's friends and their parents. I enjoyed meeting the people we bought all our dogs from, even the ones that ended up in poor health. I met a small breed dog with his owner one time and we had a face to face talk. And then the dog bit me. I wasn't happy, but I'm glad I met him. He was a creep and his dog was a fear biter. The emergency room called the police, and they dealt with it.
Meezermom, what's with all the exclamation points? Your entire post seems determined to set the shelter rescue movement back a hundred years, just because you personally had a bad experience. Who cares about your personal experience. Did you not read the article? It's not about "how to get a good dog." It's about a breeder who was warehousing these poor dogs in horrible conditions... and all you care about is your personal experience??? You want to encourage people to buy dogs from breeders? Besides being factually incorrect (what kind of shelter is full of pit bulls? if a dog fighting ring is busted and dogs are confiscated, those dogs are generally put down, not offered for adoption), everything you said is irrelevant. I can give my own anecdotes - we've had four dogs, all rescues and all unbelievably wonderful - and tell people please do adopt from shelters, never from a breeder, because even though I would love a purebred golden retriever every time, my concern is more for the dogs themselves. I don't want to support bad breeders. And, just as importantly, I don't want to bring any more dogs into the world so more wind up in shelters and ultimately euthanized. My concern extends beyond me, me, me and me. Do us all a favor, Meezermom, and don't breed. I mean you personally. Don't breed. We don't need anyone else like you trying to own a dog.
Sure, why not. If a former sheriff is caught soliciting with meth, why not this? Geez.
For those intent on having only a "Purebred" dog, Humane Societies have lots of purebreds for adoption also! You can even put your name on a list to await a specific type dog, etc.
No need ever to contribute to the abuse of animals today by buying from a breeder who is IN IT FOR PROFIT!
Shelters have gorgeous dogs of every breed.
Thank you
Amen!!
Nothing "humane" about these breeders. Corruption runs in all kennels; some 2 legged and some 4 legged.
All my pets come from shelters. Tough to walk through there though when they're all looking at you...
Murder the dogs with Cocain.
-Shane
While there are responsible breeders out there who breed to preserve the breed and not for profit, I am wary of anyone that breeds animals just for show, as show dogs are judged on what amounts to style over substance. They tend to overlook genetic defects that arise from inbreeding and breeding for specific physical traits. If you go to a breeder, make sure you know where those dogs have come from, meet the parents, and make sure the breeder has the parents and puppies tested for breed specific genetic issues apart from ensuring that the dogs are all healthy. Buying from a breeder is a mutual interview process. If they aren't grilling you as much as you are grilling them over the conditions the dog does/will live in, they are no one you need to get a dog from.
That said, you should always check your local rescues/shelters, and realize that a pedigree is not a requirement for a loyal friend and companion. There are so many animals out there that need homes and would appreciate you all the more for giving them one. All they want is love, respect, kindness, to be a part of a "pack", security, and regular meals. What you get in return is priceless.
People like the hoarder-freak in this article are an extreme of how bad things can get, and I would punch this idiot given the chance. It breaks my heart that the animals were subjected to this treatment and that any had to be put down at all, but at least the rest have a chance.
Well said, Evilbeagle. There's absolutely NO reason to buy your best friend from a pet store or a greedy backyard breeder. You're setting yourself up for potential heartbreak if you get a sick dog from someone in it only for the money and you'll be perpetuating cruelty in many forms. To add to Evilbeagle's point, there are soooooo many breed-specific rescue organizations out there now as well, so if you just have your heart set on a particular breed, GO SEE THEM FIRST. The best feeling in the world is giving a homeless pet the only thing they want in this world: love and care. Rescue your next pet, because the payback is immeasurable. I have two rescued Boston Terriers, one I raised from a baby and one who we rescued because her family had a baby. There's probably a breed-specific rescue organization in every city or in the next one over. These people do incredible work, AND most dogs you get from these organizations have been fostered in a home, so they aren't some poor scared soul sitting at the back of a shelter cage. You can see their true personalities and they just soak up the love. Don't breed or buy while shelter pets die!
Nicely put.
What people gotta keep in mind about breeders is that finding a decent one in the first place takes some research and asking around.
Thanks, OH PLEASE, and I'm glad that you mentioned the puppy mill/pet store issue. I forgot to slam them in my post. ;) Pet stores are horrific, and it really saddens me that they are allowed to sell dogs in this day and age given the places they source them from.
The major chain pet stores in this area don't sell dogs anymore. These days they bring in people with shelter and rescue dogs to meet and adopt. They don't adopt them out on the spot, but rather do a follow up with the potential buyer.
churchmouse3, that is good to hear. When I was still living in the US, there was a pet shop selling puppy mill pets down the road from the veterinary clinic where I worked. We used to have to euthanize a large number of animals from that horrible place due to genetic issues and a huge resurgence of parvo, which is very hard to treat when it gets to a certain point. We, at the clinic, as well as several residents of the area, made a big push to have them investigated and put out of business for their practices, though I moved away before the legal battle really got going.
Be Careful What You Wish For-You May Get It! ...and...
OH PLEASE!!!!! ...and... Evilbeagle ...
BLESS YOU, BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU, and the other kindhearted, selfless people who supported your comments about rescuing / adopting from shelters. We didn't have to go to a breeder for any of the four dogs we have welcomed into our family. Can you believed we have rescued two golden retrievers, a goldie-newfoundland mix, and a "mutt" who we were told was a papillon/dachsund mix and turns out is more likely a "borador" - a border collie / labrador "designer" breed? What wonderful, wonderful, loving, attentive, well-behaved, happy companions they have all been for us!!! If you want a purebred, all it takes is a little searching and a little patience. And if you rescue a "mutt" you are likely to get a wonderful surprise. There's nothing unique about my experience. Millions of "rescue" families have been similarly blessed. I have to chuckle every time I say "rescue" because it's like bragging about finding a dirty four-carat diamond that someone mistakenly threw away and going to allll thaaaatt trrroooouuuble to clean it up. Our "rescued" dogs have added so much to our lives that I don't know what I would ever do without any of them and their memories (my beloved Sophie, how I miss her even four years on).
These Kennels must be owned by Michael Vick!
Did I read the end of the story correctly? This Hamilton woman says "Very little of this has to do with the dogs" Come on. All of the people involved should have their licenses taken away. No excuse or investigation should matter? What you see is what you get. Some of the dogs had to be euthanized! No one who loves animals would let an animal in their care suffer or live in filthy conditions. Just one more story of humans exploiting animals, and the animals lose everytime. Sad.
You are so correct! Very little of it has to do with dogs??????!! She should be euthanized! The sad truth is that the world is increasingly peopled with these scum. So sad.
I don't care how many breeders I piss off by saying this. Breeding dogs is wrong. It is akin to breeding humans so they can all be white blondes with blue eyes. Dogs are not accessories, they have souls just people. Anyone that doesn't feel that way is full of themselves. The owners of these dogs and others with similar tastes should be destroyed.
You, sir, are ridiculous! Do you think dogs are just supposed to be allowed to run around and breed indiscriminately? Good breeders spend more time than you can imagine making sure the dogs they breed are healthy and they will only breed from healthy dogs. The dogs that are not very healthy are never bred from. They are sold with the condition they be neutered or spayed. Dogs are not a one size fits all. Dogs are bred to be a helper to man and for that, there are characteristics that need to be developed. Humans and cats are not. They are both self centered and convinced they are perfect as they are, a dog does not have that inflated sense of self. And before you get too carried away, there are enough humans out there trying very hard to make sure their offspring are just what they wanted. And it was done before all the genetic testing available today.
However, narrow minded people should refrain from making idiot statements on boards especially about subjects they know nothing about....
blah, blah, ba, ba, ba, blah, im a nerd, blah, blah
How is what he said ridiculous?? He wasn't talking about the health of the dogs.... breeders breed dogs when there are plenty of homeless dogs that need homes. It's irresponsible and yes, wrong.
Only true animal lovers know of the soul of an animal.... they are unique and special and not toys or objects that can be mutilated to fit a human, with their inflated sense of self....
Hey, I like your style. Save the dogs and slay the people. Now how ridiculous is that?
Meezermom, You are a perfect example of what we are railing against. Your concern is not for the dogs, it's about me, me, meezermom. As I said above, please DON'T BREED. There are too many people like you in the world already.
It's a puppy mill.
Dog shows, AKC, purebred dogs, these are not about the animals, these are about the egos' of the people involved and the money. A dog or cat for that matter, is not capable of undertstanding human rules and regulations govering these shows and clubs. It is a disgrace and very barbaric. But, we do the same to humans dont we when shows like Victoria's Secret or beauty shows are concerned. Ego, money, it's all about lables and power.
I still believe in capital punishment for anyone who abuses an animal or a child.
Anytime you buy from a breeder, a shelter animal gets put to sleep. All because you wanted a pure breed? For an extra $400?????? People amaze me sometimes.... These people should all be punished to full extent of the law.
argi Hamilton Click here for Group/Breed Detail Dates
Judge's Number: 66429 Judge Type: Conformation, Junior Showmanship
Address:
5901 189th Ave SE
Issaquah, WA 98027-8637
Home Telephone:
(425) 747-7557
CEL Telephone:
(425) 785-7513
Work Telephone:
(206) 607-7250
Email:
baroquechis@juno.com
Initial Breed: Chihuahuas
Breed/Group/Class
Status
Chihuahuas
Approved
Havanese
Approved
Japanese Chin
Approved
Miniature Pinschers
Approved
Pomeranians
Approved
Pugs
Approved
Norwegian Lundehunds
Provisional
Junior Showmanship - All Breeds
Provisional - Mar, 08 2011
I disagree Bevy. You need to see the conditions the dogs were born and raised in. That is the only true way to know you are not buying from a backyard breeder, puppy mill breeder, hoarding breeder whatever you want to call them. You get about as much assurance over the phone as you do when you deal with a craigslist advertiser. And yes, there are plenty of good craigslist advertisers out there, but there too many not so good. In your case the dogs turned out healthy and I am happy for that and it is not impossible to "buy/adopt" dogs this way, but the best way is to SEE for yourself where they come from. For each of your dogs who are healthy and happy there are thousands more who are sick and dying when a disreputable breeder is involved. Living conditions are everything.
The majority of people posting here are decrying breeders and only go with rescue shelter dogs. The thing is not everyone wants a rescue. When I was like 5 I found a stary dog that was really nice and wandered over to me. She was full grown and my parents had let me keep her. She lived to a ripe old age. My mom likes @!$%#z-sue poodle mixs. I have gotten three dogs (different times, all three still alive), one of which my parents have, that a person was giving away. I guess one point I am trying to make is that for a few years my husband and I lived on a farm. We had gone to our local shelter to get a dog but because we did not have a fenced in yard (five achers with some fencing) we could not get the dog. I ended up getting 2 free dogs from the paper (from different people) and they just loved to go out running. Now I also have 2 AKC registerd Chihuahuas. I got them from two breeders. Why you may ask? Because I wanted an AKC registered chihuahua. I did not want a rescue. The breeder of the female dog that I got does show her dogs and the female dog I got is showable execpt that her nose is too long. Also I have not had the two chihauhau's fixed because I would like for my female to have ONE (and only ONE) litter of puppies and experience motherhood. I do know the risks involved, have talked with my vet. After that they are both getting fixed.
condemn me if you want but not everyone wants a rescue (thogh that is a good way to go), and people should not feel ashamed for wanting a pure bred dog.
Also I would like to add that when my husband and I were looking for another dog, we were going through a small town and stopped at a gas station. There was a posting that a female pit bull had been found and that if the owners did not come forward to claim the dog it was going to be put down the next day. We went to go look at her because we did not want to see her put down. unfortunetly she was mean (she had gotten used to the guy who fed her after she was picked up but to us she growled and barked), also pregnant, and then she got loose and had to be chased down. when we left they were still trying to catch her.
An Akita is not a Chihuahua. A Golden Retriever is not a Dachshund. Any dog lover who loves a particular breed, loves them for certain breed characteristics.
My last two dogs have been Akitas, because they are my favorite breed, yes because of how they look, but more because of the charisma, temperament, and loyalty the dogs display. A chihuahua is not the animal I want in my house, no matter how many thousands of them are sitting homeless in a kennel.
Likewise I will not take a half breed pittbull who has been abused and raised as a guard dog by some half brained drug head.
I can't stand dog rescue bleeding hearts. It's sad yes, that so many dogs get abandoned. And there are plenty of dogs out there for you to take into your home. But I will choose and raise the dog I have in my home, around my family and friends, based on my criteria, not by the quantity of leftovers that stupid people have left to the world to manage.
That's harsh. But this is the real world, which is equally as harsh.
Next time a person tells me where i should or shouldn't get my dog, they better not have any children, because there are plenty of fly babies in poor countries that "need" homes as well.
Your pathetic narrow-minded attitude is definitely part of the problem and not the solution. Lots of beautiful purebred dogs are suddenly without homes due to divorce, foreclosures, allergies and many more reasons. And it's well-documented that puppy mills and even backyard breeders manufacture countless unhealthy dogs and contribute even more to the number of homeless pets.
I'm the one that calls YOU stupid.
RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS sell dogs with a contract that the dog MUST be returned to them in the event of a divorce, foreclosure, allergies, whatever other reasons you want to use. The breeder then is responsible for finding a suitable new home. There would ultimately be no need for "rescue" if "backyard breeders" who only care about making a buck did not exist, and idiots who just don't fix their dogs didn't exist. Those kinds of 'breeders' are entirely separate from the people that truly care about and love their animals.
Oh, I get it. Its all about meeeeee!
I agree with "That One Guy Who Calls You Stupid" about chosing a breed you love and a breed that is right for your family in your home. I'm also sorry about the all the homeless dogs who never get a forever home, but not one of us can save the world. By a certain kind of thinking going on here today, I'm thinking that everybody advocating shelter and rescue dogs should own a couple dozen each since rehoming dogs is so important to them. Maybe a three or four dozen shelter/rescue dogs. We'd have all the homeless dogs rehomed in no time.
But no, we all have to draw the line somewhere and decide what comes first, rescuing all the homeless dogs in the world or raising our families with the dog we love most and prefer in our homes, the breed we think is the safest and best for our families. I wrote a piece I'm going to publish next about why I recently bought a purebred dog from an excellent breeder.
I think getting a rescue dog is a lovely idea. It just isn't always the most practical.
And hey, I think buying Sony, RCA, Toshiba and other famous brands of electronics is a crock. Go for the cheap unknown brands, the ones no one else wants, the stuff left on the shelves covered with dust, the ones returned because someone didn't like them. You'll save a bucket of money and you might get lucky enough to get a decent product.
We wanted a specific breed (Giant Maso Mastiff). I found a breeder who had her own website, watched over 4 years as she stayed "up and running" (and she was local at the time I found her). We conversed via email when it was time to get a puppy - after our child was out of diapers - and also by phone. Our contract specifies that the puppy HAD to be spayed, is to be returned to the breeder if we can't keep her, has a 5 year health guarantee on hip displaysia ... I trust this breeder. She WANTED to keep in contact as the puppy grew and wanted pictures as she grew.
I also have 2 kitties who I rescued from shelters - one half-Bengal cat at the age of 8 weeks (who is now 9 and I successfully trained to not scratch the furniture) and one at the age of approximately 1 year who is a purebred Ragdoll (now approximately 2) who apparently got out and was taken in as a stray by the local animal shelter and scratches the **** out of our furniture. The kitty I had previously was another shelter kitty who lived to the age of 11 before liver cancer took him. I have loved all of my rescue kitties to pieces.
There are times when a family needs a specific breed that is good with kids. We waited until our son was older before we got our puppy (she turned 1 in Sept. and he turned 5 in October) and could understand instruction on how to treat a puppy/dog. We decided to get a Giant breed dog because they usually are more laid-back, better with kids and protective of the family in a DEFENSIVE way without ever needing to be "trained" since they all tend to have been historically bred to stand in herds of livestock to keep the animal predators away. My husband and I have previous experience with large and Giant breeds - having been raised with them ourselves (mine was a German Shepherd and my husband's family had several Saint Bernards). Families need to be able to trust that their dog won't go after their kids and unfortunately shelter dogs are frequently formerly abused so they are not as trustworthy with kids.
everything is going to the dogs
Reading this just makes me sick. It is up to the States and Counties to regulate and follow up on these facilities. I hope that Judge is punished to the Max. He or she is a disgusting human being!!!
Every member of the AKC is guilty of animal cruelty. The "breed standards" they promulgate cause inbreeding and result in millions of unhealthy animals that suffer a poor quality of life. It's a haven for social misfits and self-loathing d-bags who take their frustrations out on canines. Good luck in Hell y'all!
Breeding dogs should be a crime when there are millions killed in shelters every year. I'm not at all surprised by this. Breeders are irresponsible and do absolutely nothing to help with animal overpopulation. Don't support breeders - adopt from a shelter. If you want a purebred dog, adopt one from a breed-specific rescue group.
Read my lips.
Once again, those looking for PUREBRED puppies and/or dogs, CAN adopt them at Humane Societies. If the exact dog you are looking for isn't currently available, when your desired dog does arrive, you will be phoned immediately from their list of people seeking "specific" dogs.
And every time you DO ADOPT, you are stopping the killing of MANS BEST FRIEND, as illustrated below.
SAVE INNOCENT LIVES: ADOPT
Senator George Graham Vest – Tribute to Dogs (c. 1855) after winning a case against a man who killed a dog
Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.
The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings, and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.
If fortune drives the master forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.
A very awesome post.