Ohio Chatter
Ohio Chatter

Forums

All Threads Serious Business Sports Politics Archive Pick 'ems
Log In Create Account

Thinking of getting a dog for Christmas? Read This

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ Thinking of getting a dog for Christmas? Read This
O-Trap's avatar

O-Trap

Chief Shenanigans Officer

14,994 posts
Dec 2, 2010 2:37 PM
I love her sentiment, but I'm equally as troubled NOT buying pets "produced" by puppy mills (I refused to call it "raised").

Over the long-term, it would be great, because the dogs would no longer be monetizeable to the stores, so they'd stop buying, which would then make them no longer monetizeable to the mills, so they'd close operations and cut their losses. However, my two problems in the meantime are these:

(a) If a dog is being held in such a terrible place, I WANT to get them out of that life.
(b) When these puppy mills first stop being productive, what do YOU think they're going to do with their "excess inventory?"
Dec 2, 2010 2:37pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Dec 2, 2010 2:55 PM
tl;dr
Dec 2, 2010 2:55pm
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Dec 2, 2010 4:21 PM
O-Trap;585151 wrote:(a) If a dog is being held in such a terrible place, I WANT to get them out of that life.
I get what you're saying, but by over paying for one of those pups you guarantee that more will be produced into that life.
O-Trap;585151 wrote:(b) When these puppy mills first stop being productive, what do YOU think they're going to do with their "excess inventory?"

The same thing they will do once that excessive inventory does not continue to spit out enough pups.

Tons of people are going to buy puppies/dogs they aren't prepared to care for. But there are better ways to get them that won't help perpetuate puppy mills.
Dec 2, 2010 4:21pm
CenterBHSFan's avatar

CenterBHSFan

333 - I'm only half evil

6,115 posts
Dec 2, 2010 5:32 PM
I have never bought a pedigreed dog/cat. I absolutely refuse to pay hundreds of dollars for an animal I can get free, or pick up at an animal shelter for $70 (shots/neutered). I've grown up around muttdogs/cats and to me, you just can't get a better pet. Any thoroughbred cat/dog we've ever had has been rescued.
*I can see exceptions for folks who have allergies and still want a pet, such as a sphinx or to a certain degree, sharpei's.
Dec 2, 2010 5:32pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Dec 2, 2010 5:33 PM
Shelter. Shelter shelter shelter.



Shelter.
Dec 2, 2010 5:33pm
martyirish's avatar

martyirish

Senior Member

490 posts
Dec 3, 2010 6:51 AM
FatHobbit,
Thanks
Dec 3, 2010 6:51am
M

Manhattan Buckeye

Senior Member

7,566 posts
Dec 3, 2010 9:15 AM
Our dog came from a shelter, but there are some incorrect assumptions in the blog post, particularly regarding "mixed breeds." Labradoodles are more a less a breed itself. They are bred often to serve as service animals since they combine the positives of each breed while maintaining the intellect and willingness to learn, while hedging some of the negatives (erratic behavior by poodles, health issues with Labs).
Dec 3, 2010 9:15am
Thunder70's avatar

Thunder70

Senior Member

748 posts
Dec 3, 2010 10:07 AM
We got our mix from the humane society and will get any future dogs from there as well. He's a lab/husky mix and a great dog. No health problems yet and was very easily trained.

+1 for shelter
Dec 3, 2010 10:07am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Dec 3, 2010 10:15 AM
People should focus on the "puppy mills" and making them be a healthy environment instead of trying to guilt loving dog owners into not buying from such a suppler.

Attack the head of the snake not the tail.

People who buy from pet stores are doing absolutely nothing wrong and should continue to do so if they desire. People who use and improperly treat animals for profit should be addressed appropriately.

There's a difference and a right way to go about solving problems. Do it the right way not the easy way. Often times they are opposite each other.
Dec 3, 2010 10:15am
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Dec 3, 2010 10:19 AM
Con_Alma;586194 wrote:There's a difference and a right way to go about solving problems. Do it the right way not the easy way. Often times they are opposite each other.

How is not buying a dog from a pet store that gets its pets from a puppy mill doing something the wrong way?
Dec 3, 2010 10:19am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Dec 3, 2010 10:28 AM
Buying a dog is not wrong in any fashion.

Improperly breeding or caring for an animal is wrong.

A consumer transaction isn't wrong.

Mistreating animals is.

Address the problem not at the root and a greater impact will be had.
Dec 3, 2010 10:28am
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Dec 3, 2010 10:39 AM
Con_Alma;586206 wrote:Buying a dog is not wrong in any fashion.

Improperly breeding or caring for an animal is wrong.

A consumer transaction isn't wrong.

Mistreating animals is.

Address the problem not at the root and a greater impact will be had.

I can agree that the puppy mills are the problem, but as a consumer I want to know that I am not doing something to support them. Why would I want to help create a market for something that I am opposed to? I don't see a problem with someone trying to educate consumers.
Dec 3, 2010 10:39am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Dec 3, 2010 10:54 AM
FatHobbit;586215 wrote:... Why would I want to help create a market for something that I am opposed to? ...
I don't know. It is only you that can answer that for yourself.
FatHobbit;586215 wrote:... I don't see a problem with someone trying to educate consumers.
Nor do I.
Dec 3, 2010 10:54am
M

Manhattan Buckeye

Senior Member

7,566 posts
Dec 3, 2010 11:01 AM
I see both of your points.

There's nothing wrong with adopting the child of a rape victim. But its a bit weird if you're paying a premium for the child of a rape victim, knowing (or even ignorant of the fact ) that there will be more profiteering off of rapes.

Perhaps a more practical method of consumer education is explaining that a lot of these shops can't guarantee bloodlines (as the blog post points out). I don't see anything wrong with wanting a pure bred. You aren't finding a cavalier king charles spaniel or even a boxer at a shelter. You have to get one from a respectable breeder, that can show health and disposition history.

But shelter dogs can make great pets - however where I volunteer 75% of the dogs are either lab mixes or hound mixes - probably another 15% are pit mixes, and the rest are random dogs that arrive at the shelter for various reasons (unfortunately often because their owers died or became incapacitated). There are few dogs that are pure bred, and even fewer that are under 20 lbs - and those that are usually get adopted in a matter of days if not hours. But again, if one has young children and wants a specific breed, I don't see anything wrong with buying from a respected breeder.
Dec 3, 2010 11:01am
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Dec 3, 2010 11:15 AM
Manhattan Buckeye;586235 wrote:I see both of your points.

There's nothing wrong with adopting the child of a rape victim. But its a bit weird if you're paying a premium for the child of a rape victim, knowing (or even ignorant of the fact ) that there will be more profiteering off of rapes.
That's a strange analogy, but if you were paying the rapist I guess it kinda fits. :)
Manhattan Buckeye;586235 wrote:Perhaps a more practical method of consumer education is explaining that a lot of these shops can't guarantee bloodlines (as the blog post points out). I don't see anything wrong with wanting a pure bred. You aren't finding a cavalier king charles spaniel or even a boxer at a shelter. You have to get one from a respectable breeder, that can show health and disposition history.
There are rescue groups for most breeds.
Manhattan Buckeye;586235 wrote:But shelter dogs can make great pets - however where I volunteer 75% of the dogs are either lab mixes or hound mixes - probably another 15% are pit mixes, and the rest are random dogs that arrive at the shelter for various reasons (unfortunately often because their owers died or became incapacitated). There are few dogs that are pure bred, and even fewer that are under 20 lbs - and those that are usually get adopted in a matter of days if not hours. But again, if one has young children and wants a specific breed, I don't see anything wrong with buying from a respected breeder.

I have no problem with pure breds or breeders. I don't like puppy mills.
Dec 3, 2010 11:15am
S

slingshot4ever

Senior Member

4,085 posts
Dec 4, 2010 8:21 AM
FatHobbit;586246 wrote:That's a strange analogy, but if you were paying the rapist I guess it kinda fits. :)



There are rescue groups for most breeds.



I have no problem with pure breds or breeders. I don't like puppy mills.

Breeders = puppy mills on a smaller scale, just as bad
Dec 4, 2010 8:21am
CenterBHSFan's avatar

CenterBHSFan

333 - I'm only half evil

6,115 posts
Dec 4, 2010 8:41 AM
Sling, I don't think that dog breeders are "just as bad". No more than people who breed horses. We don't hear too much about horse mills.
The problem with puppy mills is that there's alot of people out there who want "trendy" dogs to keep up with the Jones's. Most of them can't afford a fashionable dog from a reputable breeder, so they start looking for the cheaper alternative - mills.
Dec 4, 2010 8:41am
M

Manhattan Buckeye

Senior Member

7,566 posts
Dec 4, 2010 12:19 PM
slingshot4ever;587063 wrote:Breeders = puppy mills on a smaller scale, just as bad

Ridiculous sentiment. Respectable breeders continue the bloodlines and ensure a pet with a good health and disposition. And they keep their animals from breeding improperly. If everyone bought dogs from respectable breeders and followed the rules with spaying/neutering, we wouldn't even need dog shelters.
Dec 4, 2010 12:19pm
#1DBag's avatar

#1DBag

Nothing to see here.

786 posts
Dec 4, 2010 2:31 PM
Dec 4, 2010 2:31pm