Poor Decisions By Gsd Foster Home - Page 4

Keith I agree that alot of rescues do NOT have extensive experience working with dogs esp shepherds. I work with a rescue now that DOES place working dogs into working homes. But the alternative unfortunately is alot more dogs dying and honestly some dogs should never leave the shelter. So we take the good with the bad. The best I personally can ask from a rescue, that although they may disagree, respects where I am coming from and I do the same for them.

If it makes you feel any better, try finding a rescue who has experience with Neo's.

It is truly sad, because I am certain no one involved wanted this kind of thing to happen. Hopefully lessons have been learned from this experience and the outcome will be good for Alex.

Couldn't agree more Keith.  It's funny how we hear almost daily here in the States about how breeders are "supposed" to be responsible for a puppy/dog basically for it's entire life.  About how their kennels/property are to be open for inspection to even the most novice of prospective clients.  About how despicable and disgusting puppy mills are (and believe me, I'm not condoning the existence of puppy mills) yet we rarely mention that the majority of dogs in shelters are adults and were placed/dumped there by irresponsible pet owners who in most cases, lie about why the dogs are really there.  How many times do we hear the "We're moving and can't take the dog" excuse, or the "My daughter developed an allergy" excuse when we really should hear "I'm a knucklehead and because I've had dogs before, I'm an expert trainer and I refuse to seek help" or "This dog is biting me and my family and runs through the door and chases bicycles and cars and people on the street"?

I'm sorry but I believe that a huge part of the problem with dogs in rescues is the fact that we actually have rescues.  I know that sounds harsh but think about it.  If you have no place to dispose of your trash, wouldn't you cut down on your usage?  If you knew that you were absolutely going to be responsible for the life of a dog, no handouts, no bailouts, wouldn't you really think long and hard about initially getting one?  People know that they can get out of a bad or uncomfortable situation by just dumping the dog on someone else's doorstep and walking away.


Last week I had a family drive up to our doorstep (not our kennel but right up to our house) and inquire about boarding their male Yorkie, their female Yorkie/Westie mix, their (Yorkie x Yorkie/Westie) litter of puppies and their 8 mo. old female from a previous litter.  Why?  Why have you bred these dogs?  And more than once?  Why do we allow pet owners to promote the breeding and selling of mixed breed dogs?  Why are not all dogs that come from pet stores and puppy mills neutered right from the get go?  Why do we promote designer breeds here in America?  Because we are probably one of the most selfish, self serving societies on this planet.  I do it because I choose to and no one can stop me or tell me different.  How's that mentality working in England right now?

I agree with most of what you said, but I have to disagree with you on one (only one, I promise!) thing Duderino. If there were no rescues the dogs would suffer terribly. In countries where there are no rescues the dogs are on the streets starving to death and being abused when trying to seek shelter and food. It's a horrific situation. 

I understand your view and I don't have a solution.

Yes, I know. There are some solutions. Stiff laws would have to be established and from what I've seen the proposal of the laws would cause an uproar with the breeders. It is sad, but yes, the good breeders would suffer at the expense of the bad breeders (puppy mills, irresponsible BYB, etc.) that have caused all the problems. I know from a health standpoint it is not the best thing to neuter and spay early in life, but there are more irresponsible pet owners than responsible pet owners, so it would really be best to spay and neuter early on to prevent unwanted litters, BUT again, the responsible pet owners suffer. They want what is best from a health standpoint for their dogs and I completely respect that and actaully agree with waiting to alter pets, if at all. AND even if laws were established, where is the money going to come from to enforce them?  No easy answer. I do think breeders in general need to be extremely discriminating about who they sell their pups to and to educate extensively as well, along with providing support for their puppy buyers. The good breeders do this, but there are way to many bad breeders out there who just breed to make money. Truthfully, I don't think good, ethical, responsible breeders really make all that much because they invest so much time, effort and money into their dogs.