Angry dog rescue on my soap box

I am a huge dog rescuer, I prefer dogs to people 99% of the time, I crosspost daily and volunteer with local rescues and shelters but as a child my family showed dogs. Good, responsible dog show people/breeders are not to blame for all the shelter dogs in the world. Puppy mills and backyard breeders yes but not all the dedicated dog show people. I do not believe in breeding to make money for pups because it’s morally wrong (in my opinion) and if you do it correctly, the breeder wouldn’t break even. Breeders I know/have known in the past have a contract that the puppy/dog must be spayed/neutered as soon as the vet said it was safe to do so or the pup will be/was reprocessed. My family always took dogs back if it didn’t work out, if years later the circumstances were they couldn’t keep the dog as any responsible breeder should have the well being of the dog and breed in mind and heart from day one forward. I know not all breeders felt that strongly, that there’s breeders that breed sick, weak or genetically unstable puppies but they’re on opposite sides of the spectrum. I hate for everyone in the dog show world to be looked down on for the mistakes, ignorance, greed and abuse of others. Yes, there are show people that are looking to better the breed, there are people that only breed a litter or two a year to continue the strong bloodline and show quality their kennel stands for and behind.

Has anyone considered the Westminster Dog Show is trying to save the dogs in shelters? There were commercials in every break promoting shelters, donations and adoptions. How many people that watched the dog show the past two nights will get on the Internet looking for a breed specific rescue now to save a dog? How many will go to their local humane society or animal control in the near future because they saw a dog they were drawn to? How many will remember the announcer repeatedly mentioning research in a breed is key into finding the right dog for your family/home so purebreds do not end up in rescues and shelters? It WAS mentioned multiple times a night, it WAS mentioned searching the Internet for information on a breed, it WAS mentioned where the breed came from, what it’s traits and/or strengths were…a working dog doesn’t belong in an apartment unless it receives extensive exercise daily or a certain breed is better suited for a colder/warmer climate… the message to EDUCATE yourself was there all throughout the two nights of the dog show. Research should be done on a breed or the breeds a mix is/could be are key into a successful adoption of any dog.

I believe strongly in don't breed or buy when shelter pets die! And it breaks my heart to see any dog in animal control, shelters or humane societies...but those who don't deserve a bashing I feel for today as well as every pet in puppy jail that doesn't deserve to be there.

As long as there are puppy mills, backyard breeders, ignorant people that don’t spay/neuter their pets and people that throw their dogs outside to become stray dogs there will be a need for rescues, shelters and animal control. Selfish people that have no compassion for animals is why there’s a need for these facilities. The battle to save those that can be saved will be a continuing battle because of that ignorance, lack of education, lack of compassion and the majority of the show people I know personally do not belong in that category or deserve the bad mouthing and protesting that goes on outside dog shows.

I’m stepping off my soap box now but I’m still disappointed in the comments I’ve heard and single mindedness involved in them. Humans domesticated dogs so they’re our responsibility. The people that should be protested and bashed should be the people that throw dogs away like trash, that neglect and abuse them, that breed them every time they come in heat, that don’t provide the basic needs to maintain a healthy, happy life for the duration of their lives.


Puppy mill


Extreme state of the art facility