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by starrchar on 10 September 2012 - 18:09
I made the mistake of looking at www.petfinder.com today. There are thousands of GSDs in the US in need of homes (yes, I know this is nothing new), many of them on death row. It breaks my heart.
Here are just a few of the GSDs at animal control facilities:
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23872558?rvp=1
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24008601
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23957676
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24044717
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24036660
The lucky ones have been pulled by the rescue groups or at Humane Societies that are not high kill. I know that the breeders are against any kind of regulations on breeding, neutering and spaying, but something has to be done. For every responsible breeder, there are hundreds of irresponsible breeders, not to mention the multitude of careless pet owners who end up with their dogs accidentally breeding and reproducing. Something has to give....
Here are just a few of the GSDs at animal control facilities:
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23872558?rvp=1
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24008601
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23957676
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24044717
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24036660
The lucky ones have been pulled by the rescue groups or at Humane Societies that are not high kill. I know that the breeders are against any kind of regulations on breeding, neutering and spaying, but something has to be done. For every responsible breeder, there are hundreds of irresponsible breeders, not to mention the multitude of careless pet owners who end up with their dogs accidentally breeding and reproducing. Something has to give....
by marjorie on 10 September 2012 - 22:09
yep- its just awful :(
by Abby Normal on 11 September 2012 - 05:09
You are so right Char. For many a long year I have promised that my next GSD will be a rescue and probably an oldie at that. I do hope others who are looking for a loving companion will consider rescue. It's heartbreaking.
by kitkat3478 on 11 September 2012 - 10:09
It certainly is heartbreaking, and I agree, something must be done. Since I got involved trying to help rescue a few, it has become painfully clear, how big a problem it is. I must say, Marjorie and Steph "GO ABOVE AND BEYOND,"for these dogs.
I am trying to step up to the plate, and I am so happy to see many members here also helping. A little effort goes a long way. ReALLY, think of how much more could be done, IF everyone that loves their own dogs, helped one less fortunate dog.
by Gustav on 11 September 2012 - 10:09
As long as the policies and procedures are so inflexible at rescues for people to wade through.....the numbers are not going to increase. JMO! People are vetted like they are running for office. You would think that 90% of GS owners are abusive or negligent, instead of 10%. So we save them from the 10% and we alienate much of the 90%. Emotion wins over common sense and more dogs lose out on a family home...again just my opinion.
by Rass on 11 September 2012 - 11:09
As long as the uneducated public continues to buy impulsively from Back Yard Breeders there will be a problem. It is not just this breed.. it is many breeds.
As long as there are breeders who do not require their breeding dogs to meet some basic standards health wise and work/title wise there is going to be a problem. Again, not just German Shepherds but many breeds.
As long as there are breeders who do not follow their puppies and who do not take responsibility for every dog they sell, there will be a problem. Not just German Shepherds but many breeds.
No breeder should be intentionally breeding for the pet market. There are plenty of pets out there in shelters. Not just German Shepherds, but many breeds.
Educate the public.. every chance you get.
As long as there are breeders who do not require their breeding dogs to meet some basic standards health wise and work/title wise there is going to be a problem. Again, not just German Shepherds but many breeds.
As long as there are breeders who do not follow their puppies and who do not take responsibility for every dog they sell, there will be a problem. Not just German Shepherds but many breeds.
No breeder should be intentionally breeding for the pet market. There are plenty of pets out there in shelters. Not just German Shepherds, but many breeds.
Educate the public.. every chance you get.
by starrchar on 11 September 2012 - 15:09
Yes, the problem is definitely multifaceted.
If there were enforcable regulations in place for breeders the BYB would likely not exist. Unfortunately the people that are trying to put regulations in place for breeders generally don't seem to have a clue and that doesn't help. But, it seems to me that breeders are against ANY kind of regulations, which I don't get. Please correct me if I am wrong.
If the registries would get on board and only register puppies from parents that are health tested, that would help. If breeders sold pups on limited registration that would also help. I understand that most people don't like rules and want their freedoms, but I think that we, as dog lovers, need to put the welfare of the animals first. Thousands of dogs die daily because of human selfishness and carelessness, both with the breeders and owners. Dogs have no voice...
Gustav, Both of my dogs are rescues. One dog we got because the owner passed away and the people fostering him were close friends and knew how we cared for our dogs. The other dog I adopted from a shelter and they did put me through an application process. Nothing seemed out of line and extreme. I thought is was a good thing that they screened me so carefully. I had nothing to hide and I knew they just wanted to be sure that the dog was going to a good forever home. If breeders would put there puppy buyers through the same process fewer dogs would be in shelters and euthanized. I'm not saying that some rescues aren't extreme, but I think we have to keep in mind that their intentions are good and the fact is that many people have no business having a dog. The number of dogs up for adoption is evidence of this. At this time on petfinder.com alone there are 189,000 dogs in need of a home. These dogs were at one time either purchased or adopted by someone, but they ended up in shelters and rescues for a variety of reasons. A small precentage are there due to a death, illness of the owner or other extreme circumstances, but most of those dogs are there because they were treated as disposable items.
Anyway, to blame the rescues, in my opinion, is absolutely ridiclous. That is where the dogs end up and they are trying to be part of the solution. The rescues are NOT not where the problem began. It's the multitude of intact animals running around and irresponsible, careless owners and breeders that are causing the problem. JMO
If there were enforcable regulations in place for breeders the BYB would likely not exist. Unfortunately the people that are trying to put regulations in place for breeders generally don't seem to have a clue and that doesn't help. But, it seems to me that breeders are against ANY kind of regulations, which I don't get. Please correct me if I am wrong.
If the registries would get on board and only register puppies from parents that are health tested, that would help. If breeders sold pups on limited registration that would also help. I understand that most people don't like rules and want their freedoms, but I think that we, as dog lovers, need to put the welfare of the animals first. Thousands of dogs die daily because of human selfishness and carelessness, both with the breeders and owners. Dogs have no voice...
Gustav, Both of my dogs are rescues. One dog we got because the owner passed away and the people fostering him were close friends and knew how we cared for our dogs. The other dog I adopted from a shelter and they did put me through an application process. Nothing seemed out of line and extreme. I thought is was a good thing that they screened me so carefully. I had nothing to hide and I knew they just wanted to be sure that the dog was going to a good forever home. If breeders would put there puppy buyers through the same process fewer dogs would be in shelters and euthanized. I'm not saying that some rescues aren't extreme, but I think we have to keep in mind that their intentions are good and the fact is that many people have no business having a dog. The number of dogs up for adoption is evidence of this. At this time on petfinder.com alone there are 189,000 dogs in need of a home. These dogs were at one time either purchased or adopted by someone, but they ended up in shelters and rescues for a variety of reasons. A small precentage are there due to a death, illness of the owner or other extreme circumstances, but most of those dogs are there because they were treated as disposable items.
Anyway, to blame the rescues, in my opinion, is absolutely ridiclous. That is where the dogs end up and they are trying to be part of the solution. The rescues are NOT not where the problem began. It's the multitude of intact animals running around and irresponsible, careless owners and breeders that are causing the problem. JMO
by destiny4u on 11 September 2012 - 15:09
my friends 2 rescue dogs seem to be much better mellow easy to handle house pets then my working line import they didnt lose couches and carpets from their dog lol. For a novice owner maybe finding the right rescue is a good idea?
by Gregc on 11 September 2012 - 15:09
My last 2 dogs were rescues. I just took in a new puppy and I'm very happy about it. This is probably my last puppy though since I'm 55 now. From here on in, it'll likely be rescues.... more my own age...:-)
by marjorie on 11 September 2012 - 15:09
--- > As long as the policies and procedures are so inflexible at rescues for people to wade through.....the numbers are not going to increase. JMO! People are vetted like they are running for office. You would think that 90% of GS owners are abusive or negligent, instead of 10%.
I have to agree. I know the rescues feel they dont want theor dogs ending up in a shelter again, however, they go too damn far. I have a friend who has had GSS all his life. His 2 passed on and he wanted to takle a rescue. Nop one in his are will adopt because (get this) he has a dog door in his house for the dog to go outside! The dog door leads to a very very large fenced in yard, but because he has a dog door, no one will adopt to him. This is an owner of 2 previous DM dogs who went the mile for his dogs :( Thats just nuts!
Marjorie
http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry (a health registry for registered German Shepherds)
BE PROACTIVE!
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group http://www.mzjf.info/hgate Heaven's Gate
I have to agree. I know the rescues feel they dont want theor dogs ending up in a shelter again, however, they go too damn far. I have a friend who has had GSS all his life. His 2 passed on and he wanted to takle a rescue. Nop one in his are will adopt because (get this) he has a dog door in his house for the dog to go outside! The dog door leads to a very very large fenced in yard, but because he has a dog door, no one will adopt to him. This is an owner of 2 previous DM dogs who went the mile for his dogs :( Thats just nuts!
Marjorie
http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry (a health registry for registered German Shepherds)
BE PROACTIVE!
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group http://www.mzjf.info/hgate Heaven's Gate
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