I have read in many places that people are always asking someone else to get their dogs spayed. I have a dog and I do plan to breed her but only one time. I do talk to my vet about her care. I feel that I am resopnsile enough to care for my pet. I use sites like this to gain information about the different problems my pet may have. I don't feel it's right for people to judge me by the questions I ask. I was just reading where someone told some one that they should have their pet spayed or give it to someone else because it semms they can not care for that pet, but the person responding to that question has also said that they never had any problem breeding their pet. So why it that person allowed to breed their pet but wanting everyone else to spay theirs??

There are too many uncared for pets, too many people have no skill or ability to care for what becomes unwanted puppies, Many take no time or care to see where their puppies go, many to homes that provide poor care or that will allow uncontrolled breeding which adds to all of the above problems, making a cycle of problems.

Many breed and can not even properly afford proper care, such as vets for their one pet.

I bred my dog for the usual reasons. He was so perfect, I want an offspring, baby... etc.

I read everything I could possibly read on the subject and even balked at the last minute because I worried about the Mama, but I still did it.

I was very ignorant and the Mama had 3 pups, one that I spent over $700.00 trying to save his life. Most people would not have gone that far or felt the need. The first born died. My pick from the 2 had half a uterus (found out when I went to get her spayed) I love her, but would never do it again.

At that time I didn't realize that the kennels were full of dogs (old and young) that could be adopted. I have always needed a puppy to love me from the beginning of their life, I felt that would make a better bond.

I can get a puppy at the kennel.
I can get a pure bred dog (not that it matters) at the kennel
I can save a life at the kennel.

When someone who is not a professional breeds, dogs will die. It may not be the ones you breed, but the ones waiting for a 'forever' home in the kennel will. :(

Go to the 'pictures of our pets' and look at Muttley:) He was a kennel dog and he was saved and now has his forever home.
He was lucky.

Hi again seikababy I am going to cut and paste my response to you from your other thread as I feel it applies here as well and honestly, it was a lot of typing I don't want to have to repeat ;)

Hi Seikababy. The questions Sariss asked may not sound important but they really are.

It sounds like your friend might be a backyard breeder, something most people don't take too kindly too.

When breeding dogs the whole purpose should be to 'better the breed' meaning to try and breed as close to the breed standard as you can get in the hopes of achieving perfection.
With bettering the breed you a) Are trying to breed as close to the standard as possible by selecting dgs with complimenting features, here's a link to the breed standard for Shih Tzus: American Kennel Club - Shih Tzu

Part b) of bettering the breed is with health. Shih Tzus are prone to several health problems, some of them are testable.
It is important to get testing done and not just a vet check before breeding so that any genetic 'imperfections' or diseases can be detected before they surface. If you breed a dog that is carrying a problem but not presenting it, it can still pass it on to the puppies. While Shih Tzus are a relatively healthy breed in general they do still have some genetic problems.

As for shoing your dog... yes, I know some people aren't interested in ribbons and grooming their dogs in show coat but it actually is very beneficial to a breeding program. If you don't show your dog, how do you know it fits the breed standard and you really are "bettering the breed"?
It's all very well and good to read the breed standard in the link I gave above, but how much can you interpret out of it without going to a dog show and having your dog judged by others?
Here's an snippet from the standard... could you look at your dog and say it follows this perfectly?
No, not many people who don't show their dogs could, it's pretty hard to interpret and decide what a good spring of rib is if you don't know what they are talking about.


Neck, Topline, Body
Of utmost importance is an overall well-balanced dog with no exaggerated features. Neck - Well set-on flowing smoothly into shoulders; of sufficient length to permit natural high head carriage and in balance with height and length of dog. Topline - Level. Body -Short-coupled and sturdy with no waist or tuck-up. The Shih Tzu is slightly longer than tall. Fault: Legginess. Chest -Broad and deep with good spring-of-rib, however, not barrel-chested. Depth of ribcage should extend to just below elbow. Distance from elbow to withers is a little greater than from elbow to ground. Croup - Flat. Tail - Set on high, heavily plumed, carried in curve well over back. Too loose, too tight, too flat, or too low set a tail is undesirable and should be penalized to extent of

That brings us to what is known as 'kennel blindless'. This is when someone owns a dog and thinks it's just the cutest little things ever and should be bred from... they have read the standard and think their dog fits it perfectly, when really, the dog is a pretty average example of the breed and should be desexed. It doesn't make it any less of a good and loving pet, it just means it doesn't fit the bill the be bred from.

I think there are to many dogs already that need homes and love and dogs shouldn't be breed. Spaying and neutering your pet is smart. However I do understand breeding pure breed dogs. I think the only people who should be breeding there dog is certified breeders and people who have been doing it for a long time. They sell there dogs before the litter is even born. My family friends had two beautiful pure beagles. They breed them and could not sell all the puppies, now they have 4 dogs. I think the dog should be registered if your going to breed it. You should try to get buyers before and during, so you don't have left over puppies. I don't think every **** and harry out there should be able to breed there dog because there dog is cute and they want to breed them. If you are responsible about the breeding you watch for temperament and health, and you give the puppies good homes there should be no problem. But don't go nuts and breed your dog too much remember there are other dogs that need homes.

I have to add some definitions:

There are puppy mills that breed and sell dogs as a commodity with no thought to the health or happiness of the animal. Care for the commodity is minimal, hopefully extending to at least food and water but seldom further.

There are backyard breeders that want to be puppy mills, making money from their pets but sometimes going as far as getting vaccines to inoculate the puppies.

Then there are responsible breeders who want their puppies to be better dogs than the parents were. Responsible breeders sometimes break even if they charge a thousand or two for their pups.

Puppy mills and backyard breeders are the causes of all these "designer" breeds like cockapoos and golden doodles and maltipoos when they try to profit from their own carelessness in allowing two different breeds to cross by accident.

So, seikababy, which would you like to be? Can you afford the ten grand it takes to raise a litter responsibly?

I have nothing more to add, but I just wanted to voice my opinion here too. I volunteer at a shelter, as do many of our pet people here, and the sad truth is, we watch lovely, amazing dogs and cats get put to sleep each day because no one wants them.

It all starts with the irresponsible pet owner, who just wants to breed one time. Lots of times these owners don't do any genetic testing, and basically slap two dogs together and hope for the best. Sometimes these pups are sick or have underlying health problems. The next owner may not want these issues and they either sell or surrender their dogs to local shelters, a lot of times these dogs end up abused, neglected or spending a miserable exsistance in a cage.

And then there are the people who sell their pups to pet stores, and these dogs are kept in glass boxes until they are sold and almost 99% of them have some sort of behavioral issues, house breaking, aggression or anxiety issues. Just read some of threads regarding pet store puppies.

There is an Expert here with a signature line that reads "Why breed or buy, while others die". Those are amazing words to live by.

A lot of time these backyard breeders are in it to make a quick buck, but to produce quality CKC or AKC registered dogs is quite costly, and even the most reputable breeder is not making any money.

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Right there is my reason. I had to work in a nightmare similar to that when I was in College. I had to walk down the rows of stray dogs and cats, with a list. On any given day, I'd have to pick a group of animals that had to be euthanised. They didn't have to be sick, they didn't have to be mean. We just didn't have the capacity, and they had to go.

I've seen purebred dogs, puppies, beloved family pets, you name it. I've seen them put to death on a daily basis.

Sure you think you have homes lined up for your pets, but unless you check on them every 6 months, who knows where they will end up? I once saw an entire litter of dogs (three dogs) eventually come to the shelter at varying ages. All but one were euthanised due to capacity issues.

That's the reality. No kill shelters are a pipe dream. Sure they exist, but it doesn't stop the thousands and thousands of dogs dying every day because irresponsible people choose to breed their dog "just once". And having to kill these dogs daily is NOT the shelters fault. Do you think they want to look at a room full of beautiful, friendly, young dogs and have to decide who to kill, and who gets another day? It absolutely kills you, and it doesn't take time before you get resentful towards the people who created the problem - backyard breeders.

This is why I have decided in my opinion, breeding should only be done by people who KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. Registered, health tested, shown and titled dogs. Nothing less. Otherwise, go to the shelter when your dog has puppies and pick out some dogs for the staff that they have to euthanize because you just brought irresistible puppies into the world, which screws the chances of a shelter dog finding a home in the end.

go to the shelter when your dog has puppies and pick out some dogs for the staff that they have to euthanize because you just brought irresistable puppies into the world, which screws the chances of a shelter dog finding a home in the end.

I love that part. You may not help the dogs but at least you've saved the shelter volunteers one day's heart wrenching decision.

Down East every rescue operator around here fills up in about three weeks.

I have read in many places that poeple are always asking someone else to get their dogs spayed. I have a dog and I do plan to breed her but only one time. I do talk to my vet about her care. I feel that I am resopnsile enough to care for my pet. I use sites like this to gain information about the different problems my pet may have. I don't feel it's right for people to judge me by the questions I ask. I was just reading where someone told some one that they should have their pet spayed or give it to someone else because it semms they can not care for that pet, but the person responding to that question has aslo said that they never had any problem breeding thier pet. So why it that person allowed to breed their pet but wanting everyone else to spay theirs???

Here's the reality.

You say you only plan to breed one time, so lets do the math. Let's say your dog has the average litter, which is around 5 puppies. So, you find those puppies good homes, and in the meantime, because you bred, 5 shelter dogs will die.

Now, out of the people that adopted your puppies, 2 (only 2) decide they want to have "only one litter". Each of their dogs has 5 puppies. That's another 10 shelter dogs that will die.

Those 10 puppies find homes, and out of the 10 only 4 will be allowed to have "only one litter". Another 5 puppies each, another 20 shelter dogs dead.

Continue doing the math, because the reality is, the numbers aren't even accurate, most people that purchase from a backyard breeder also backyard breed and most times they don't only have one litter. The numbers will actually be higher than the examples I've given.

So, by having "only one litter" you will eventually be responsible for 100's if not 1000's of dogs dying.

The reality, over 5 million dogs are euthanized in shelters every year in the US alone. Five million dogs! Why? Because of over breeding. It all starts with "only one litter".

I know you don't want to hear it, no one does. No one wants to believe that they're part of the problem, because you're only thinking of your one litter, just like every other backyard breeder out there. If only one person decides not to breed because of what we've said, that's 1000's of dogs saved. So please think about it, read what we've written and see the truth. You decision will have an impact either way.

Everybody goes on and on about the dogs in the shelter and the perceived pet overpopulation issue. Here's the deal, the reason for the pet overpopulation issue is not because of backyard breeders or puppy mills or irresponsible owners. It is because of animal welfarists and animal rightists. A little history if you will.

Henry Bergh is the founder of the ASPCA. Bergh disagreed with how some people were treating the animals. Since Bergh had money, was a socialite and had the ear of the political elite, he decided it would be best to impose his beliefs upon the populace through the passage of laws. And this is exactly what he did. In the past when the city had a problem with stray animals they caught the animals, caged them up and drowned them in the river. Responsible owners who no longer wanted their animals, killed them (or sold them or gave them away, but it was problem solved without state intervention). Sure, some were probably dumped to go fend for themselves, but that in and of itself is the very premise of animal rights.

So with the passage of Bergh's laws, animal shelters started cropping up. These shelters initially were funded by private donations (all well and good), but the animal welfarists convinced the state it would be in the public good to have the state manage these shelters through taxpayer dollars. Then more laws were passed which made it illegal for one to dump their animal on the side of the road. Or to even kill their own animal. The owner is encouraged to bring the animal to the shelter where it can be killed and where people on internet forum boards, from atop their moral pedestal, can spit their vitriol in vilifying and deriding these people as irresponsible pet owners.

And now we have laws which prohibit unnecessary cruelty (pretty subjective term), abandonment and a host of other activities.

Listen,dude. It's your dog, your property. Do with it as you will as you will always find somebody, somewhere who's more than willing to control you and your property.

Ironic thing here. I'm sure that most of you are against cruelty. Then why do you advocate for the permanent mutilation of an animals genitalia (spaying/neutering)?

Okay festoids, for one thing, have you ever volunteered YOUR time in a shelter? From your post above I would say no.


Here's the deal, the reason for the pet overpopulation issue is not because of backyard breeders or puppy mills or irresponsible owners. It is because of animal welfarists and animal rightists. A little history if you will.

No actually it's because of irresponsible pet owners and BYB's. Do a little current research. We have obviously come a long way in rescue since Henry Bergh time. No, we no longer drown our animals, in fact we give them every fighting chance that they deserve. It's not like they come in and three days later they are killed. SPCA's run on very little of "your" tax payers dollars, and most of the funds come solely from donations. Whether it's a vet donating their time and supplies or a person off the street donating their time.


Then more laws were passed which made it illegal for one to dump their animal on the side of the road. Or to even kill their own animal. The owner is encouraged to bring the animal to the shelter where it can be killed and where people on internet forum boards, from atop their moral pedestal, can spit their vitriol in vilifying and deriding these people as irresponsible pet owners.

Not entirely true, while it is illegal to dump an animal on the side of the road, as it should be, it is NOT illegal to take your animals life in your hands for a good cause. Example Rabies, an animal suffering etc... The sad truth is, if they were responsible pet owners, they wouldn't grow tired of their pet and decide to surrender it because they were bored. An animal is a living being, and a life time decision. How dare you point YOUR nasty finger at shelter workers and the people on this forum, who have a complete passion for animals and their well being. And yes people who breed with no health concern to the dog and pups, ARE IRRESPONSIBLE!


And now we have laws which prohibit unnecessary cruelty (pretty subjective term), abandonment and a host of other activities

And you oppose this? Why? You think people have the right to do what they please to an animal? You think they should have the right to abuse and torture animals? Hmm sounds like the makings of a psycho killer to me...


ronic thing here. I'm sure that most of you are against cruelty. Then why do you advocate for the permanent mutilation of an animals genitalia (spaying/neutering)?

LOL are you kidding me?? Maybe you should read up on the pro's and con's of spaying/neutering an animal. Here are JUST a few:

Benefits of Spaying

• Prevents pregnancy and the complications arising from pregnancy and delivery

• Eliminates the heat cycle - you won't have to listen to the sounds of your female in heat, trying to get out and find a mate

• Prevents unwelcome males from trying to seek out your female pet in heat

• Reduces the urge to roam. This makes it less likely that you will lose your pet, which in turn makes your pet less likely to contract a disease, get in a fight, get injured, or become a victim to cruelty, poison, or traffic.

• Eliminates sexual discomfort, distress, or distraction... making your pet happier and more content.

• Reduces or eliminates the possibility of disease in the reproductive system.

Benefits of Neutering

• Reduces the distracting and destructive behavior associated with the male's efforts to get out and find a mate

• Reduces the urge to roam. This makes it less likely that you will lose your pet, which in turn makes your pet less likely to contract a disease, get in a fight, get injured, or become a victim to cruelty, poison, or traffic.

• Eliminates sexual discomfort, distress, or distraction... making your pet happier and more content.

• Eliminates testicular tumors and reduces prostate gland problems.

• In cats, neutering stops or reduces marking behavior (territorial spraying of urine).

• Reduces the urge to fight.


Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Pet (http://www.pawsperouspets.com/tips/spayneuter.shtml)

I love that bit about spitting vitriol. At least Festoids can type. I hope he and Michael Vick enjoy getting in the ring for dog owners to bet on.

Sounds just like something he would say. Was watching Dr. Phil (I know, I know) but Fester here sounds just like the guy who was arrested for dog fighting.

If you decide to breed your dog are you getting it's eyes tested? Hips? Is it purebred (And no, there is no such thing as "purebred without papers")? Are you going to offer a health guarantee as well as take the dog back no matter how many years it has been away, and no matter what the problem is? Do you know everything there is to know about the breed of dog your wishing to breed (new homes are going to ask you all sorts of questions)? Do you have thousands of dollars to pay for a c-section if something goes wrong? Do you already have pre-approved homes found for all the pups that will be born? Does your dog have all the traits that the breed should?

I doubt it.

Yes, mutts are great dogs (Ive owned one purebred dog and he was a gift), but purebred dogs are bred for a job, and COMPASSIONATE breeders breed there dogs for the sake of the breed, not for the money, not for the "my dog need to have one litter, not because they want there kids to see it, but because they work 24/7 trying to better the breed and preserve it. Why would you breed more mutts when millions and millions die every year sitting in a shelter and dying alone? How can you assure your pups are not going to end up in the shelter contributing to overpopulation and a high death rate? How can you assure your dogs are going to a wonderful home who will never beat them, neglect them or starve them?And a better question, how well would you sleep at night knowing you just killed a few shelter dogs who deserve a second chance to show someone what they can do?


-Why breed or buy when shelter dogs die-

Everybody goes on and on about the dogs in the shelter and the perceived pet overpopulation issue. Here's the deal, the reason for the pet overpopulation issue is not because of backyard breeders or puppy mills or irresponsible owners. It is because of animal welfarists and animal rightists. A little history if you will.

Henry Bergh is the founder of the ASPCA. Bergh disagreed with how some people were treating the animals. Since Bergh had money, was a socialite and had the ear of the political elite, he decided it would be best to impose his beliefs upon the populace through the passage of laws. And this is exactly what he did. In the past when the city had a problem with stray animals they caught the animals, caged them up and drowned them in the river. Responsible owners who no longer wanted their animals, killed them (or sold them or gave them away, but it was problem solved without state intervention). Sure, some were probably dumped to go fend for themselves, but that in and of itself is the very premise of animal rights.

So with the passage of Bergh's laws, animal shelters started cropping up. These shelters initially were funded by private donations (all well and good), but the animal welfarists convinced the state it would be in the public good to have the state manage these shelters through taxpayer dollars. Then more laws were passed which made it illegal for one to dump their animal on the side of the road. Or to even kill their own animal. The owner is encouraged to bring the animal to the shelter where it can be killed and where people on internet forum boards, from atop their moral pedestal, can spit their vitriol in vilifying and deriding these people as irresponsible pet owners.

And now we have laws which prohibit unnecessary cruelty (pretty subjective term), abandonment and a host of other activities.

Listen,dude. It's your dog, your property. Do with it as you will as you will always find somebody, somewhere who's more than willing to control you and your property.

Ironic thing here. I'm sure that most of ya'll are against cruelty. Then why do you advocate for the permanent mutilation of an animals genitalia (spaying/neutering)?

I think you may be suffering from a cranial-rectal inversion.
JMO I'm no doctor but it seems obvious.

I have to tell this story, sorry guys.

I still loose sleep over this one dog. He came in at around 5 months, beautiful lab boxer mix. His owner bred her dogs, sold all of the pups but this one.

This dog stayed with us for roughly four months. He was adopted out. Came back 3-4 weeks later tied to the shelter doors. He stayed with us for another 6 months or so. Became cage crazy. I spent as much time as I could with this dog, took the night shift one night, and had him out in the shelter on free roam. He cornered me in the shelter, and was growling, snapping and barking. He was normally such a friendly dog, so passive, so eager to please. He ended up biting me that night, and with in the following 3 days he was euthanized. Deemed un-adoptable and aggressive.

I know this dog would have made an amazing family pet if he was only given the right chance in life. I went in that room with him and patted his neck while he licked my hand and wagged his tail.he died peacfully and In my opinion a far more humane death thean spending the rest of his days in a cage.

I still cry and spend nights awake because of this dog. And if I didn't have my own problem child (a rescue) at home, I would have NOT have hesitated to take him home with me.

Everybody goes on and on about the dogs in the shelter and the perceived pet overpopulation issue. Here's the deal, the reason for the pet overpopulation issue is not because of backyard breeders or puppy mills or irresponsible owners. It is because of animal welfarists and animal rightists. A little history if you will.

You want some recent history. Backyard breeders and puppymills are responsible for the majority of the dogs on this earth today. Legitimate breeders don't adopt their dogs out to people that aren't responsible. A legit breeder will take the puppy beck if the person that adopts it should wish to relinquish ownership. Breeder pups don't end up in the local shelter. That's a fact!

Who cares about Henry Burgh? It's the people alive today caring for the animals discarded by humans that have a say in what happens to these animals. Until you spend 8 hours a day 5 days a week volunteering in a shelter, watching 20 - 50 dogs come in every day because someone has decided it's too much trouble to care for, until that day, you have no right to say anything about shelters, and I suggest you get off your high horse, because I have no problem pushing you down. I doubt any of us do.


And now we have laws which prohibit unnecessary cruelty (pretty subjective term), abandonment and a host of other activities.


OMG! How could we have laws that prohibit unnecessary cruelty? What kind of human beings are we? I mean really, to not allow people to be cruel to a living, breathing, feeling being. What's wrong with this world? Where's the sarcasm font again? :rolleyes:


Listen,dude. It's your dog, your property. Do with it as you will as you will always find somebody, somewhere who's more than willing to control you and your property.

No, you listen dude, it's not property, it's a living animal, and until people like you realize that living things aren't property, aren't a right, but a responsibility, a commitment, and worthy and deserving of every care, love, and attention, this world will continue to go to hell. Shame on you!


Ironic thing here. I'm sure that most of you are against cruelty. Then why do you advocate for the permanent mutilation of an animals genitalia (spaying/neutering)?

LMAO! You think having a dog altered is cruel? You're a trip. Do you know anything about dogs, or do you just enjoy spewing feces out of your pie hole?

Festoids : Little guilt trip here? Shelter dogs will die if he breeds his dog. Why is he responsible for a shelter's dogs? Why?

I have to comment on this.

Why is he responsible? We all are. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. If you breed your dog, and you're not a legitimate breeder, you're part of a very big problem, or do you think that 5 million dogs dying yearly in the US alone is a little problem?

What am I asking, you think people should have the right to be cruel to their animals. :mad: I really have to wonder why you're on the dog thread to begin with, seeing as you don't like dogs.

Okay festoids, for one thing, have you ever volunteered YOUR time in a shelter? From your post above I would say no.

Oh? You're asking me for my qualifications? Yeah, yeah, I know, it's an internet forum and you'll probably write "I don't believe you." But here goes.

1. 91T Animal Care Specialist, US Army.
- South Atlantic Veterinary Service Support District, Ft. Stewart, GA
- Southern Europe Veterinary Detachment, Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy.
- Training at Ft. Sam Houston, TX.
- Years of service: 1994-1999

Animal Control Officer, North Carolina

2. National Animal Control Association (NACA) Training Academy Level 1 Certificate. Signed - Johnnie W. Mays, Executive Director

3. Large Animal Emergency Rescue Workshop (Certified) - Instructor: Dr. Thomas Gimenez, Large Animal Emergency Rescue, International Society of Fire Service Instructors

4. Palmer Cap-Chur Equipment Certification. Instructor: Ralph W. Houser, D.V.M.

5. Certified Animal Cruelty Investigator

But to answer your question, no, I've never volunteered at a shelter.


No actually it's because of irresponsible pet owners and BYB's. Do a little current research.

Incorrect. If it wasn't for state mandated shelters and laws then people would have to be responsible.


We have obviously come a long way in rescue since Henry Bergh time. No, we no longer drown our animals, in fact we give them every fighting chance that they deserve.

Once again you're incorrect. Every fighting chance? Have you released them from the shelter to run free and fend for themselves? That constitutes a fighting chance. As opposed to keeping them in the shelter until their date of death at an employee's hands.

But we do stuff them into gas chambers or fill their veins with an overdose of barbiturates to cause the animals. Why? Because it makes us feel good about what we do to the animal. To the animal it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if it's purple juice or the gas or a bullet or a guillotine. The animal doesn't possess the cognitive awareness to appreciate the method of death. We do. To the animal, dead is dead.


It's not like they come in and three days later they are killed.

In some cases they are killed the moment the previous owner has signed them over to the shelter.


SPCA's run on very little of "your" tax payers dollars, and most of the funds come solely from donations. Whether it's a vet donating their time and supplies or a person off the street donating their time.

Not talking about SPCA's. If all the shelters were privately run without taxpayer support I would have no complaint. As it is, it's the animal welfarists and rightists that insisted governments operate shelters in addition to the privately owned shelters.


Not intiraly true, while it is illegal to dump an animal on the side of the road, as it should be, it is NOT illegal to take your animals life in your hands for a good cause. Example Rabies, an animal suffering etc...

What else would be a good cause? Who determines a "good cause"? How about an unprovoked dog bite?


The sad truth is, if they were responsible pet owners, they wouldn't grow tired of their pet and decide to surrender it because they were bored.

Only because they're bored, eh? Frankly, I've heard many, many explanations as to why they were surrendering their animal(s). Even had one guy say by giving up his dog he could buy more beer as opposed to dog food. But never heard anybody say they were bored with their animal.


An animal is a living being, and a life time decision.

And? What does your opinion mean to another person and their property?


How dare you point YOUR nasty finger at shelter workers and the people on this forum, who have a complete passion for animals and their well being....

... to the detriment of others.


And yes people who breed with no health concern to the dog and pups, ARE IRRESPONSIBLE!

No. The prospective owners are irresponsible for not educating themselves on looking for a proper dog and breeder. The breeder is merely using his/her property as they see fit. It's up to us as to whether we purchase or not.


And you oppose this? Why? You think people have the right to do what they please to an animal? You think they should have the right to abuse and torture animals? Hmm sounds like the makings of a psycho killer to me...

People possess the right to do with their property as they wish so long as their actions cause no harm to another person or that person's property. Now define abuse and torture. Please do. Because state laws are pretty subjective in that matter.


LOL are you kidding me?? Maybe you should read up on the pro's and con's of spaying/neutering an animal. Here are JUST a few

I didn't mention the pros and cons of altering one's animal. What I did mention was that the altering is an intentional act of mutilation to the genitalia, or more correctly, the reproductive organs of animal. And it causes pain and in most cases it's unnecessary to alter an animal so that would, by definition, constitute cruelty.

Speaking of Michael Vick...

Shamataz:
When breeding dogs the whole purpose should be to 'better the breed' meaning to try and breed as close to the breed standard as you can get in the hopes of achieving perfection.
With bettering the breed you a) Are trying to breed as close to the standard as possible by selecting dgs with complimenting features,

Part b) of bettering the breed is with health.

Michael Vick was a professional dog fighter (albeit not a very good one) which means, like all professional dog fighters, they were breeding dogs to their standards.

By the by, in my opinion the AKC is a crap organization who has ruined many a good breed. Got a couple three horror stories of my own about the AKC.

Calling bull on this one. I am no more responsible your dog as a dog in a shelter. What I am responsible for is my dog and my dog alone.


People have the right to be cruel to their animals. You have the right to not associate with them.

Hmm, impressive list for someone who doesn't seem to like dogs. I have to ask, why do you do so much work with animals if you don't care about their welfare, and consider them property?


Incorrect. If it wasn't for state mandated shelters and laws then people would have to be responsible.

No, they'd revert to drowning their dogs in the lake in their yard, or hanging them from a tree, or the killing of choice amongst current haters, setting them on fire. Not having shelters won't make people responsible. It will just mean that more dogs will die, or be left to fend for themselves.


Once again you're incorrect. Every fighting chance? Have you released them from the shelter to run free and fend for themselves? That constitutes a fighting chance. As opposed to keeping them in the shelter until their date of death at an employee's hands.

So your solution is to let them go free, creating even more puppies, or dying a slow painful death of starvation and exposure to the elements? Seriously? What's wrong with you? Personally, if I was a dog, I'd rather have a chance at a home, than certain death on the streets. But hey, that's just me, I'm crazy like that.


But we do stuff them into gas chambers or fill their veins with an overdose of barbiturates to cause the animals. Why? Because it makes us feel good about what we do to the animal. To the animal it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if it's purple juice or the gas or a bullet or a guillotine. The animal doesn't possess the cognitive awareness to appreciate the method of death. We do. To the animal, dead is dead.

Who's this 'we" you're talking about? At the shelter I volunteered at, it was a humane death, no pain. You are right, dead is dead, but until people stop breeding irresponsibly, this will continue. The way to stop shelters from being overpopulated is to spay or neuter your pets, and only allow responsible legitimate breeders to breed. That's a fact buddy, like it or not.


In some cases they are killed the moment the previous owner has signed them over to the shelter.

It's amazing the lack of information you have about shelters. I have never once seen a dog killed immediately upon arrival at our shelter. One dog, a dog that I very much adored but couldn't adopt (he didn't do well with children or other pets, and I have 2 kids and 3 dogs, and a whole lot of other animals). His name was Boots, he was 8 years old, he was in the shelter for almost 2 years before they had to euthanize him.


Not talking about SPCA's. If all the shelters were privately run without taxpayer support I would have no complaint. As it is, it's the animal welfarists and rightists that insisted governments operate shelters in addition to the privately owned shelters.

What do you think the government operated shelter is called? Welcome to the SPCA! They get very little if any government funding, at least where I live. It's the support of your so called "animal welfarists" that keep the shelter running. There are privately owned shelters as well, but the SPCA isn't one of them.


Only because they're bored, eh? Frankly, I've heard many, many explanations as to why they were surrendering their animal(s). Even had one guy say by giving up his dog he could buy more beer as opposed to dog food. But never heard anybody say they were bored with their animal.

And your point is?


And? What does your opinion mean to another person and their property?

My decision? It's not my decision. Are you saying that dogs aren't living breathing feeling beings? What are they? Robots? Are you for real? They're not property! Your house is property. Your car is property. Your clothes are property. A living being is not property, or do also deem your spouse as property? Are you one of those?


No. The prospective owners are irresponsible for not educating themselves on looking for a proper dog and breeder. The breeder is merely using his/her property as they see fit. It's up to us as to whether we purchase or not.

You couldn't be more wrong. I hate to burst your holier than thou bubble, but if people didn't breed, there would be no owners buying backyard breeder pups. Most people don't have the sense God gave a goat when it comes to animals, your posts and the post of the OP is evidence of that.


I didn't mention the pros and cons of altering one's animal. What I did mention was that the altering is an intentional act of mutilation to the genitalia, or more correctly, the reproductive organs of animal. And it causes pain and in most cases it's unnecessary to alter an animal so that would, by definition, constitute cruelty.

LMAO! My husband, who had a vasectomy a while back, is really having a good laugh at your post. The animal is asleep while this surgery is done. There is pain, yes, but pain meds can help alleviate it. My husband was awake when they poked the hole in his scrotum, fished around, cut the tubes, and then sent him home with a bag of frozen peas and a pat on the back. We're cruel by neutering or spaying? You're a joke!

You picked the wrong forum to spout your hatred of animals. To call them property, to say that people should be allowed to be cruel to one of God's creatures, you are not going to be well liked or respected here, I can tell you that.

So stick around, maybe you'll learn something from real human beings that actually give a damn about every living creature on this earth.

I can't believe someone with so much credentials can be so jaded towards the rescue world.

I'm not going to pick apart your post, unfortunately I think my hot head would get in the way of me making any good points.

What you are saying is so dated, I find it hard to believe your dates with your credentials.

Wanting to buy beer with the dog food money, does constitute as an irresponsible pet owner In my opinion. Owning an animal is a privilege not a right. I guess saying they were bored was the wrong word to use, I didn't mean literally bored, I meant any sorry excuse for giving up their dog. And yes in my opinion there are FEW and FAR between reasons to give up on YOUR responsibilities as a pet owner.

Do you think an animal running free, getting infested with parasites and disease, not wondering where he will get his next meal from, (and no, I am not talking about dogs living in the wild, I am talking about a DOMESTICATED dog) constitutes as a good life?

An unprovoked dog bite is a good reason to put a dog down. Ask me about my previous rescue. Hardest thing I have ever done.

I have volunteered my time at many shelters across Canada, and have never seen them get put down as soon as they arrived.

As far as the mutilation comment, all I can do is laugh and shake my head at your ignorance.

Both my dogs haven't come from a shelter. My first dog came from a lady up the road who didn't have her dog desexed. 4 weeks after we got my dog (bonnie) her brother died in the house they were living in from Parvo. We had already had given her needles or shecould have been next. Next week the mother died. She is a Maltese Poodle x Silky and we love her with all our hearts but she is desexed.

My other dog (jemma) was rescued from a house who bred the dogs for extra cash. The litter before jemma was put in a plastic bag by the husband and ran over by his car as he couldn't sell them.

So the second litter was bought off tem by their sister in law. As she drove up to the house the kids ran inside leaving jemma right next to a drain she grabbed her put her in the car then purchased the rest.

She took them in at a really young age and bottle fed the 4 pups. Then she gave 2 pups to us so we could help her feed them. Jemma was lucky to have bonnie as a mother type. She would follow bonnie around all day then my sisters dog (belgium sheppard) would come over to clean her.

My dogs could have been dead if we didn't take them. Because of unexperienced back yard breaders.

You are a know it all and pity the dogs you have. I have four brothers and two sisters. They all have dogs who have neutered or spayed. You are so misinformed it's pathetic.

If you have dogs I'll bet you train them and you're probably mean to them. People like you should stick to something you know about.

We are animal lovers here. As Alty said this just isn't your day to pick on animals or talk to people here about your idiotic ideas.

Maybe you need to get into a different line of work.

Speaking of Michael Vick...

Shamataz:

Michael Vick was a professional dog fighter (albeit not a very good one) which means, like all professional dog fighters, they were breeding dogs to their standards.

By the by, in my opinion the AKC is a crap organization who has ruined many a good breed. Got a couple three horror stories of my own about the AKC.

Are you reading the posts we write? Where in her post did Shazzy condone dog fighting? No one on this forum would condone that. Michael Vick was not a legitimate breeder, he's more like you, thinking that dogs are property to do with as you please. He bred pitbulls to fight, he didn't care about the breed standard, and furthering the breed, he did more harm for pitbulls than anyone.

Also, where did you get the AKC stuff from? Shazzy is in Australia, she doesn't go by the American Kennel Club standards. Bella and I are in Canada, no AKC here either.

You may want to get your facts straight before you blabber away your nonsense. Funny thing is, as soon as you started posting I had a feeling you'd be a problem. I guess my spidey senses were tingling. You're welcome to your opinion, but when it comes to byb and puppymills, shelters and dogs, you may want to stick to facts and stop making stuff up to suit your purposes.

Wow. Isn't touching this crap with a ten foot pole.

Altenweg,


Hmm, impressive list for someone who doesn't seem to like dogs. I have to ask, why do you do so much work with animals if you don't care about their welfare, and consider them property?

Never said I didn't like dogs. Matter of fact, I like my dog very much. Like my cats too. Have three of those.

Here's my dog: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v643/Festoid/?action=view&current=Pics020.jpg&newest=1#!oZZ33QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fsmg.photobu cket.com%2Falbums%2Fv643%2FFestoid%2F%3Faction%3Dv iew%26current%3DPics020.jpg%26newest%3D1

Cute, ain't he. Name's Rommel.

I left the animal care profession in 2004 due to the animal rights mentality that is now taking over the job. I do do some obedience training and rarely attack work training with the right dogs (and owners) who possess the right temperament.

Animals are property. If you say otherwise why do you confine animals to a kennel in a shelter and transfer ownership to another (adoption)? If animals are not property why are you responsible for your animal's actions?


No, they'd revert to drowning their dogs in the lake in their yard, or hanging them from a tree, or the killing of choice amongst current haters, setting them on fire. Not having shelters won't make people responsible. It will just mean that more dogs will die, or be left to fend for themselves.

Point.

No more overpopulation problem. Shelters merely promote irresponsibility (somewhere to dump the animal/shirk off the killing yourself) and the overpopulation issue.


So your solution is to let them go free, creating even more puppies, or dying a slow painful death of starvation and exposure to the elements? Seriously? What's wrong with you?

There is a solution for dogs running free. As I've told people, if you don't want your pet injured or dead, don't let it leave your property. Like the woman who wrote a letter to the editor here a few years ago blaming the driver of the car for hitting and killing her dog. It's not like the driver drove through her fence, into her yard and ran over the dog. The dog was wandering up and down the highway after she let it out of the yard.

If they're not property, that makes them sovereign beings capable of making their own decisions and being afforded full rights. It's you who would be in the wrong for not letting them run free and possessing the right to procreate and survive on their own. In other words, you are violating the inherent rights of the animal by imprisoning them, performing surgery upon them without their permission and perhaps even putting the needle of death into them.


Personally, if I was a dog, I'd rather have a chance at a home, than certain death on the streets. But hey, that's just me, I'm crazy like that.

Seriously, if you were a dog you would not possess the cognitive ability to appreciate the methods of death. As I mentioned before, the dog can't tell the difference between the purple juice and Michael Vick's power source.


Who's this 'we" you're talking about? At the shelter I volunteered at, it was a humane death, no pain.

Are you even aware of the AVMA's standards for euthanasia of animals? A method that causes a rapid loss of consciousness resulting in death. Some approved methods are injection, carbon monoxide and even gunshot. Here, this is worth a read: http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:4-YmFfnYIfMJ:www.avma.org/resources/euthanasia.pdf+AVMA,+approved+methods+of+euthan&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgVmP7XOtURnvWMAVZl5j9p5o6oGg6H51C0prv2 XF7UH2chQ3IH6377zyHO8juHMNW18LRB6MCRP13dzDtfX9l5PC 5_G3EjO79CNa8oT0mVje9so9T9-JUydMogKQzktaM8zqEc&sig=AHIEtbRF9ddK7vVPWXzLrOqvFnX85tHTXw


You are right, dead is dead, but until people stop breeding irresponsibly, this will continue. The way to stop shelters from being overpopulated is to spay or neuter your pets, and only allow responsible legitimate breeders to breed. That's a fact buddy, like it or not.

Only breeders you and others of your mindset would find acceptable. Correct? Another way to stop shelters from being overpopulated is to close them all down and put the responsibility back on the people. And that's a fact, buddy.


It's amazing the lack of information you have about shelters. I have never once seen a dog killed immediately upon arrival at our shelter.

We put down dog's all the time when they arrived at the shelter. Dog surrendered sick. Dog surrendered injured (got a story on that one). Dog surrendered with a previous bite. Dog surrendered that's aggressive. We did have a steady flow of incoming animals at our shelter.


One dog, a dog that I very much adored but couldn't adopt (he didn't do well with children or other pets, and I have 2 kids and 3 dogs, and a whole lot of other animals). His name was Boots, he was 8 years old, he was in the shelter for almost 2 years before they had to euthanize him.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v643/Festoid/?action=view&current=Hondo01.jpg&newest=1

See this dog? His name was Hondo. I "adopted" this dog in 1994. I was working at the clinic at Ft. Stewart when the game wardens brought this dog in from the range. They found him lying next to a wild boar he had just killed. He stayed his required three days for the owner to show. Then a week went by. The time he was there I would walk him every day. He stayed up in the clinic work area most of time when we were working, except when a cat came back there. He was a bona fide cat killer. I would give him donuts every morning. Then one day my veterinarian walked up to me as I'm popping syringes for the morning schedule and she had a record and vaccine in her hand. And she said, "Give the dog a shot, sign the paperwork and take YOUR dog home." I had him trained in Schutzhund and he knew around 25 commands in English, German and in hand signals. I put him down on my 10 year wedding anniversary in 2003 when he was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. He was given one last BK Whopper, carried out to the back yard and I put a bullet into him. I then buried him next to his kennel, in the shade, on his pillow and wrapped in his favorite blanket.

Now when it comes to Boots... how many other adoptable dogs were sacrificed to keep Boots in a kennel? Were those dogs lives worth it?


And your point is?

People give up their animals for a myriad of reasons. Case in point. One of my cats I got from our shelter because the owners were getting divorced and the wife wanted to make sure her husband didn't get the cat.


My decision? It's not my decision.

Then who's decision is it to exert control through force over another person's property. It's got to be somebody recommending the writing of the laws. Correct?


Are you saying that dogs aren't living breathing feeling beings? What are they? Robots? Are you for real? They're not property! Your house is property. Your car is property. Your clothes are property.

Of course dog's are living, breathing things. But they're also property. To say otherwise is to afford them rights. The only rights a dog possesses are those that are given to them by the owner as an extension of the owner's property. Case in point, whenever you euthanize a dog in your shelter you are exercising your property rights. Remember the requisite three days for the owner to claim the animal? What happens after those three days? Ownership of the dog transfers to the shelter. Ownership = Property.


A living being is not property, or do also deem your spouse as property? Are you one of those?

I don't lower a human to the level of an animal. Perhaps you place equal value on the life of a human as compared to the life of a dog. Don't know. But you said you were crazy like that.


What do you think the government operated shelter is called? Welcome to the SPCA! They get very little if any government funding, at least where I live. It's the support of your so called "animal welfarists" that keep the shelter running. There are privately owned shelters as well, but the SPCA isn't one of them.

To the best of my knowledge every state, every county has an animal shelter (United States). Some are owned outright by the county. Some, like a humane society are contracted by the county. In either case taxpayer monies are being used to fund these shelters. Every time an animal comes into a contracted humane society, the county pays the bill for a certain amount of days, typically three to five days per animal.

LMAO! My husband, who had a vasectomy a while back, is really having a good laugh at your post. The animal is asleep while this surgery is done. There is pain, yes, but pain meds can help alleviate it. My husband was awake when they poked the hole in his scrotum, fished around, cut the tubes, and then sent him home with a bag of frozen peas and a pat on the back. We're cruel by neutering or spaying? You're a joke![/QUOTE]

Did you come up behind your husband, knock him out, have him thrown on a table then give him the vasectomy? Or did he do it voluntarily? Did you ask the dog if he wanted to be castrated? Or was it: "Hey Buddy-Ruff, time to cut off your nuts." See, there is a difference. If animals are not property, then how can you justify castrating the dog? Concede the point yet?


You picked the wrong forum to spout your hatred of animals. To call them property, to say that people should be allowed to be cruel to one of God's creatures, you are not going to be well liked or respected here, I can tell you that.

I couldn't care less about being liked or respected. It's an internet forum board. You've implied that I have a hatred of animals. Matter of fact, a couple of people here have made that claim.

Want to talk about cruelty to God's creatures. Lettuce talk about your life and how you use animals to benefit you.


So stick around, maybe you'll learn something from real human beings that actually give a damn about every living creature on this earth.

Yeah, I'll stick around. Maybe some of you will learn a little sumpin too. Other than casting ad hominems.

You Fester, are an idiot.

Animals are property. If you say otherwise why do you confine animals to a kennel in a shelter and transfer ownership to another (adoption)? If animals are not property why are you responsible for your animal's actions?

Have you ever been to an orphanage? Heard of one? It's where kids without parents go. They live there in small rooms, usually as a group, waiting to be adopted. Once you adopt a child, if it breaks the neighbors window, or does something else he/she shouldn't, you, as the parent, are responsible for those actions. Are kids property too? I guess maybe in your world they are.


No more overpopulation problem. Shelters merely promote irresponsibility (somewhere to dump the animal/shirk off the killing yourself) and the overpopulation issue.

Are you really that daft? Overpopulation is not caused by shelters, it's cause by over breeding. Duh! Use your head for just one minute and think about it. If backyard breeders didn't breed, there would be no animals in the shelters! Legit breeders do not adopt out to anyone that answers an ad. You have to sign a legal document stating that you'll not only spay or neuter your pet, but if you should choose you don't want the responsibility any more, the breeder (a real breeder) will take the dog back. You will never see a dog from a real breeder in a shelter. Ever!


If they're not property, that makes them sovereign beings capable of making their own decisions and being afforded full rights. It's you who would be in the wrong for not letting them run free and possessing the right to procreate and survive on their own. In other words, you are violating the inherent rights of the animal by imprisoning them, performing surgery upon them without their permission and perhaps even putting the needle of death into them.

How many pieces of human property do you have? If you have kids, according to you, they're your property. If they're not, than you should set them free, let them fend for themselves, let them procreate and do as they please.


Are you even aware of the AVMA's standards for euthanasia of animals? A method that causes a rapid loss of consciousness resulting in death. Some approved methods are injection, carbon monoxide and even gunshot.

Have you ever been in the room when an animal is being euthanized at the shelter? I have, many times. It's a peaceful painless death. Maybe were you live it isn't, but here we have laws against unnecessary cruelty to animals, and the people that care about these animals make sure that they go peacefully.


Only breeders you and others of your mindset would find acceptable. Correct? Another way to stop shelters from being overpopulated is to close them all down and put the responsibility back on the people. And that's a fact, buddy.

You really are counting on the human race to do the responsible thing, aren't you? Take off your rose colored glasses and realize that you're not the only irresponsible person living on this earth, there are billions just like you, which is why we need shelters!

Breeders I and my mindset approve of? What are you spewing about now? The only thing I require when breeding a dog is that you do the genetic testing to make sure that you're not passing down defects to the puppies, you learn what you have to do to ensure the safety of the mother and the puppies, you have enough knowledge and money to do everything you must to ensure their health, and you make all new owners sign a contract stating that they will not breed their puppy, and if they should wish to relinquish the dog, it goes back to the breeder.

That's not a huge list, and it should be the standard.


We put down dog's all the time when they arrived at the shelter. Dog surrendered sick. Dog surrendered injured (got a story on that one). Dog surrendered with a previous bite. Dog surrendered that's aggressive. We did have a steady flow of incoming animals at our shelter.

You didn't say sick dog. If a dog is too sick to live, yes, it's put down. That's the humane thing to do. As for aggression, at our shelter we have behavioral experts that work with the dog. If the dog is too far gone, deemed unfit to adopt, that's when he/she is put to sleep. That decision takes months. It's not a one day thing to try to rehabilitate a dog.


Then who's decision is it to exert control through force over another person's property. It's got to be somebody recommending the writing of the laws. Correct?

If you want to take your couch into your yard and shoot it, go ahead. If you want to throw you shoe into the pond, go ahead. If you want to hang your raggedy andy doll in you tree, go for it. Those are all your property. They don't feel anything, they aren't breathing, living beings. What you do with your dog, that's my business, and I will make it my business as long as people like you exist in this world. That's a promise!


Case in point, whenever you euthanize a dog in your shelter you are exercising your property rights

You should up your meds. None of the dogs in my care are my property. Having a dog is not a right, it's a privilege! I have never euthanized a dog in "my" shelter. When I say "my" shelter I mean the shelter in my city. I'm the one that hold the dogs head, pets him, cries for him, when the needle goes in. I'm the one that wishes it was legal for me to have more than 3, because every single dog on the list to be killed would be coming home with me. Sadly the laws are such that I'm only allowed 3, and that's how many I have and always will have. When the day comes that I can have more, or I finally win the lottery and buy 30 acres of land, those dogs will be coming to live with me.


If animals are not property, then how can you justify castrating the dog? Concede the point yet?

You think kids are property too, don't you? Everything you say leads to you owning children as well. Do you have kids? Is one of them a boy? Did you have him circumcised? If you did, did you ask your days old infant if he wanted to skin on his penis cut off, or did you just go for it? If you did, were you at least kind and put him to sleep for the procedure, or did you just let the doctor take a knife and start slicing away while he was fully conscious? Concede the point yet?


Lettuce talk about your life and how you use animals to benefit you.

Go for it. How do I use animals to benefit me? I'm dying to hear this.

My dogs aren't my property. They are like my babies, a part of the family. I love them and want to care for them.

No dog is anyone's property and if you think they are then you don't like your dog. If you liked/loved your dog you wouldn't think of it as your property but as a loved member of your family.

*sigh* What is the purpose of your rants Festoids?

I agree, animals are considered "property"... Property is very easily thrown away. Hence why our shelters are OVER populated.

I think we, being humans.. having the higher level of intellegence (for the most part) can figure out a way to be humane towards these animals that we created to become very dependent on us.

If animals were left alone, they would create their own hierarchy. Within those hierarchies, they would establish the leaders (Alpha male and female) Only alpha male and female are aloud to breed. The human race has basically bred these animals to want to breed more. Dogs are very immature versions of wolves. They are sexually mature, but have no natural leadership. They follow whoever has a strong personality and will obey.

I don't believe that we should kill animals for the mere fun of it. The more and more that animal abuse is being exposed, the worse it is. People are burning their dogs, beating their animals until the animal is brain dead, drowning them because they just don't work, tossing them out of their cars in the middle of no where and driving off.. starving them until they die... THAT is cruel. That is cruel no matter how you look at it.. If you're an animal lover or not, that is cruel.

You are a very sick person if you think that that is OK. I'm totally with you on the fact that shelters don't seem to be helping the problem with over population, because a lot of shelters will adopt a dog out to a home that won't care for the dog/cat.. But I also think that people who do starve and beat their animals are some sick and twisted individuals.

Maybe spaying and neutering isn't the solution. Maybe the cure to the pet overpopulation IS placing responsibility back onto the owners.. but unfortunately, no one is ever at fault when it comes to something. Its always someone else's fault, there is always a reason as to why something happened. My favorite excuse is "the dog belonged to my son" the son is 6 yrs old. How can a 6 yr old CHILD be responsible for feeding, watering and cleaning up after the dog? Children do not NEED that type of responsibility.. they can help.. but mom and dad should always be in control.

If you don't like animals, don't own them. Very simple solution. If you don't agree with the animal rights and laws for animal cruelty, then come up with a better solution. Fighting pit bulls live horrible lives. If they lose, they die. They die a horrible death. Yes, those dogs were bred to fight, but they were also created by man. Dogs are not naturally aggressive to the point of killing each other. That behavior is purely man made.

Separation anxiety is a human created sickness. Dogs are not born that way. We create it because we leave them home alone as babies up to 10 hours a day 5-7 days a week. That would drive any person absolutely nuts.

Humans ensure that every puppy survives. The strongest pups are no longer the only survivors in litters. Nature no longer takes its course. Genetic problems arise because of this. People are not making sure that the dogs that are being bred are genetically sound. Not even the top notch breeders produce pure bloodlines. If you research any bloodline, you will see linebreeding, which is a fancy word for inbreeding.

Humans have created every thing that is wrong. And now we feel as if we have the right to take life because "its not wanted anymore". No one takes responsibility for the abuse, neglect and starvation of any animal. It is always someone else's fault. We take life as quick as we create it.

I am an animal advocate, and I believe many other people are on here as well. I will always stand by the animals before I stand up for a person. Animals Don't have a choice. They cannot say what hurts. They cannot tell anyone what they believe is right or wrong. So I guess I will.

Now that you've quit "spitting vitriol," Festoids, you make some good points.

Alty, yes, children and animals are "property." You yourself were considered chattel not so very long ago. Society is growing but we're not there yet.

Festoids, Lucky explained your point about shelters being an excuse for overbreeding well enough I'm forced to agree. Shelters are an excuse for pet owners to dodge responsibility. Unfortunately, I don't feel the confidence in people you seem to. They will find other excuses.

Closing all the shelters would have one immediate effect. Packs of feral animals hunting anything they can eat, including your cats and my kids. Short term problem, to be sure, but dangerous until we hunt them down. With society's attitudes towards hunting, it could get bad.

I'm going to leave the neutering issue alone. I'm for it. 'Nuf said.

I applaud you for taking responsibility for Boots. Being man enough to take care of your friend can be difficult, and may be the root of most of the arguments on this forum.

Alty, yes, children and animals are "property." You yourself were considered chattel not so very long ago. Society is growing but we're not there yet.

I adore you Cats, but I have to say that I don't agree. My children are a part of my family, they are not something I own, they are not something easily discarded, that's why they're not property. I feel the same way about my dogs.


Shelters are an excuse for pet owners to dodge responsibility. Unfortunately, I don't feel the confidence in people you seem to. They will find other excuses.

Exactly. If it weren't for shelters there would be millions of dogs, in America alone, that are either released, or killed inhumanely by their owners.


I applaud you for taking responsibility for Boots. Being man enough to take care of your friend can be difficult, and may be the root of most of the arguments on this forum.

Boots was the name of my old friend, Festoids dog had another name. ;)

I do agree that in the face of death taking your dog and ending it's misery is not inhumane. A bullet to the head isn't a terrible thing in that case. I know I'll catch flack for that but it's not something I disagree with. A loving owner ending their animals pain is never something I will disagree with. Sadly too many people don't resort to this because an animal is sick. Too many times Fido get's a bullet in the brain because he ate Mama's $500 shoes. That I don't agree with. That dog has a chance to find a home, and it should be given every chance to do so.

I have realized one thing in this conversation. The shelters in the US must be horrible. I'm not in the US, I'm in Canada. The Humane society (formerly the SPCA) in my area is one of the best I've ever seen. The animals there live better than most animals that have homes. Large kennels, behavior training, walks, they even have a huge off leash area for the dogs to run around in. They don't live life in a cage, in fact, they spend very little time in the cage period. The volunteers are the heart of that shelter. Without them they wouldn't be able to do what they do. Also, no healthy adoptable animal is euthanized. They don't put dogs to sleep because of space issues. Many of the dogs are put into foster homes until they can find their forever home.

Check out the link;

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edmontonhumanesociety.com%2F&rct=j&q=edmonton%20humane%20society&ei=XS2STN-4NsHdngeVvcCsCA&usg=AFQjCNEOrz-0CExb4OHt9TxmE8cLC-3tFw&cad=rja

This is my local shelter.

Fester... Why did you quote my post and try to associate it with dog fighting?

People who breed dogs for fighting clearly do not breed to the breed standard as NO breed standard states dog should be viscious.
All dog fighters care about is temperament, not conformation.

I could write an essay on the comments made here about shelters but all I will say is I would rather see an animal put to sleep humanely at a shelter than to see it set on fire, drowned, shot or ran over.
I actually know someone who hit their dog over the head with an axe because it "pi$$ed in the house"
If that dog had have been taken to a shelter he would have been adopted in a heartbeat, he was such a sweetheart.

Who in the world would want to learn anything from you? Maybe someone who believes in dog fighting. You say you have Cats?
How many litters of kittens have you thrown along the side of the road or in the river because you don't have enough sense to have the cats fixed?

How many puppies? You don't believe in getting them spayed or neutered because you're too cheap. I hope every time you go to sleep at night you have nightmares of the little animals who are treated so inhumane.

Those credentials don't mean diddley-squat. It's what's in your heart that counts, those of us who have a heart.

Now you guys have me thinking in reference to Owen. We were planning to stud him out when he got old enough.
The thought though of rescue pups dying because of me, just breaks my heart.
I am wishy washy now on what I will do. I do have awhile to decide. I will say if I decide to not breed him I will be getting him fixed as I don't need any accidental pups.

mogrann, if you do it properly then there is no issue.

My parents breed, I plan on breeding, but I know that the people who will be buying puppies from me are only interested in a purebred from a reputable breeder, they don't want shelter dogs.
People who are willing to buy from backyard breeders are just as likely to get a dog from a shelter, so that's why we use to point of backyard breeders killing shelter puppies... the buyers obviously aren't fussy about where their puppy comes from.

If you want to have a chat about breeding just start a thread.

My parents bred, I have NO problem with reputable breeders, My choice however is rescue. I will not purchase a dog from a breeder. 1. I don't ever plan on having a show dog (at least not in the near future) 2. I don't plan on breeding.

The breed that I fell in love with comes in to our shelters daily, and yes a lot of them are pure bred and do have papers. I have nothing against people who do buy pure bred, who are reputable breeders, it's just not the choice for me.

We have always had German Shepherds and Shih Tzu's in our homes growing up, in my home I have one pure bred Am Staff and one Boxer Staffy mix. I love them and wouldn't trade them for the world. Both rescues.

What fester is spewing here is extreme PETA crapolla. Yea the dogs shouldn't have been domesticated in the first place, but guess what? We did it, now we have to take care of them.

My parents bred, I have NO problem with reputable breeders, My choice however is rescue. I will not purchase a dog from a breeder. 1. I don't ever plan on having a show dog (at least not in the near future) 2. I don't plan on breeding.

The breed that I fell in love with comes in to our shelters daily, and yes a lot of them are pure bred and do have papers. I have nothing against people who do buy pure bred, who are reputable breeders, it's just not the choice for me.

We have always had German Shepherds and Shih Tzu's in our homes growing up, in my home I have one pure bred Am Staff and one Boxer Staffy mix. I love them and wouldn't trade them for the world. Both rescues.

What fester is spewing here is extreme PETA crapolla. Yea the dogs shouldn't have been domesticated in the first place, but guess what? We did it, now we have to take care of them.

Fester probably goes to chicken fights and bets on the fattest one:eek:

Alty, you're right. Re-reading it was Hondo he helped to pass. I still applaud him.

As for kids and dogs being property, are you responsible for them? Do you control what they do, where they live, what they eat? Are they "yours?"

One thing I did forget to add this morning: Property rights are not absolute. You cannot drive your car in an unsafe manner even on (some) private roads without being arrested and have it confiscated. You cannot beat or starve your children without facing lawsuits and having your children confiscated. No shirt, no shoes, no service: you can't even dress your own body the way you want to. There's a court case somewhere against a guy for being naked in his living room with the drapes open.

KitKat, further insulting posts, while cathartic, are violations and will be reported.

Mogrann, have Owen tested before deciding about breeding him. From what Binx has said he might be a valuable contribution to the breed.

Alty, you're right. Re-reading it was Hondo he helped to pass. I still applaud him.

As for kids and dogs being property, are you responsible for them? Do you control what they do, where they live, what they eat? Are they "yours?"

One thing I did forget to add this morning: Property rights are not absolute. You cannot drive your car in an unsafe manner even on (some) private roads without being arrested and have it confiscated. You cannot beat or starve your children without facing lawsuits and having your children confiscated. No shirt, no shoes, no service: you can't even dress your own body the way you want to. There's a court case somewhere against a guy for being naked in his living room with the drapes open.

KitKat, further insulting posts, while cathartic, are violations and will be reported.

Mogrann, have Owen tested before deciding about breeding him. From what Binx has said he might be a valuable contribution to the breed.



I hear you Boss...

As for kids and dogs being property, are you responsible for them? Do you control what they do, where they live, what they eat? Are they "yours?"

I think we disagree on the word property Cats. To me property is something I own, something that has no feelings, something I can do with whatever I want. My house is my property. If I want to paint the interior lime green with pink polka dots, I can. My car is my property. If I don't want it anymore, I can sell it with no second thoughts that I'm not doing the right thing for the car.

I do see were you're coming from, I guess I don't agree with the term "property". I am responsible for my kids and my pets. But, there are also laws protecting my kids and pets from harm, because they are living things. I cannot beat my kids or my dogs, I cannot abandon my kids or dogs on the side of the road. I have to make sure that both my kids and dogs are cared for and given the best care I can provide. I don't have to do that with my property.

My dogs own me.

A few weeks ago Brody managed to open the refrigerator and help himself to 1kg of chicken breast fillets and some mince. Needless to say he didn't feel like eating his dinner that night :rolleyes:

To the rest of the world my dogs are my property, they are registered to me, I paid for them, but to me they are family.

I do see were you're coming from, I guess I don't agree with the term "property". I am responsible for my kids and my pets. But, there are also laws protecting my kids and pets from harm, because they are living things. I cannot beat my kids or my dogs, I cannot abandon my kids or dogs on the side of the road. I have to make sure that both my kids and dogs are cared for and given the best care I can provide. I don't have to do that with my property.

My questions were from John Locke's definitions of "property." I'm trying to illustrate the basis of Festoids' claims, or at least the naturalist one's from his Second Treatise. The later definitions involving one's labor being required I can't get behind.

The Hurricane waits for me to cook the chicken, Shaz.

I do agree with Alty on this one. No it's not because we are friends, but if we treat our kids like how fester here says we should be able to treat our dogs, not only are we going to have a bunch of feral dogs running wild, but now we have children roaming the streets etc...

Yes I own my dog, I own my kid, they are mine, but they are not something I consider property. Kind of like marriage. You are each others spouses, but does that make you each others property?

Just like owning a dog, having child is a gift, a privilege, not a right. We are responsible for them for the rest of their lives. God knows there are days when I would love to sell my dog AND child to the gypsies for a case of beer (kidding... ) but would I ever do it? No. Never. Not even when Lady pushed my brand new air conditioner out of the window and hopped out. Not even when Lady got stuck by a porcupine not once but TWICE in one month, not even when my daughter broke my brand new fan, not even when she colored all over my freshly painted walls with black sharpie marker. (ok this is starting to make me sound like a neglectful mother :p ) l think Festoids here is spewing out dated PETA bull poopie.

Ad hominem. Telling when one has nothing left to stand upon.

I see where you're coming from Cats. I really do. :)

I think Shazzy said exactly what I wanted to (had to spread the rep), but she did it better. My kids and my dogs are family, and therefore they aren't property, not to me. Maybe they are my property where the rest of the world is concerned, but to me they aren't.

Bella, do you really think you could get a case of beer for both? I think that price may be a bit high on the days you're contemplating it. ;)

Cats and Shazzy. Your dogs get chicken! Spoiled puppies! ;)

Ok I'll settle for a six pack and a pack of smokes. ;)

The other day I had an entire moose roast on the counter, went to get the mail, and came back in, no more moose roast...

I know, I didn't set her up for success, just too tempting.

I'm looking at her right now, and my daughter is building a fort with pillows and blankets and Lady is in the middle of all this sleeping soundly. When my daughter stands a little too close, Lady licks her ankle and E shifts over slightly. They have a connection I swear.

Jasper, my rescue mutt, is at this moment laying at my feet and licking my toes. Every time I try to move, he puts his paw on my foot to keep me in place. I guess my foot bath isn't finished. :)

Chewy is sleeping, on my bed, under my brand new blanket, using my pillow! In my next life I want to come back as my dog. Actually, strike that, I want to go to Cats house, his dog gets cooked chicken. ;)

I'd like to come back as Shazzy's dogs!

l think Festoids here is spewing out dated PETA bull poopie.

Since the discussion started with Henry Berghe, I thought John Locke's definitions of property would fit right in.

I avoid PETA bull whenever I can, so I wouldn't know about that.

Y'know, excon's right, this is fun.

Have you ever been to an orphanage? Heard of one? It's where kids without parents go. They live there in small rooms, usually as a group, waiting to be adopted. Once you adopt a child, if it breaks the neighbors window, or does something else he/she shouldn't, you, as the parent, are responsible for those actions. Are kids property too? I guess maybe in your world they are.

Really? So if some 15 year old kid breaks into my house and steals one of my guns, then the next day goes into school and kills a couple kids, then that kid's parents should be charged with murder? That is your logic.

On the flipside, you are once again lowering the value of human to that of a dog. Do you truly believe a dog and a human possess equal value?


Are you really that daft? Overpopulation is not caused by shelters, it's cause by over breeding.

Nooo, it's caused by people, the general populace and ACO's bringing animals into the shelter. Sure, animals are going to breed, the animal doesn't willingly walk through the door and into a kennel.


Duh! Use your head for just one minute and think about it. If backyard breeders didn't breed, there would be no animals in the shelters!

What you're saying here is that mixed breed dogs never, ever breed amongst themselves without the assistance or encouragement of backyard breeders? Got it. I think. But I gotsta call bull-dooky on it.




Got to call bull-dooky on this one. If the purpose of "legitimate breeding" is to:
1. Improve the breed according to breed standards and;
2. Improve the breeds genetic health.
Then a person who is willing to put down anywhere from 4-5 figures for an animal isn't going to want it altered. If they paying that amount for a dog with those traits they are going to want to breed it as well to another dog with those traits.

Now, if a breeder chooses to keep and not kill dogs of inferior standards (that does happen you know), then the breeder will either have the dogs altered before sale or will have the prospective new owners sign a contract stating they will have the dog altered to prevent the traits from being carried forward. On that note, according to your standards, if the breeder is putting out inferior animals along with superior ones, then he's a backyard breeder.

And yes, some breeders will put in the contract that they possess the right of taking the dog back if the owner no longer wants the animal. That clause is not worth the paper it's written on. Once the money passes hands and ownership transfers, the new owner can dump the dog off at the shelter two years later, put a bullet in it's head the next day and bury it and the breeder would never be the wiser and frankly, can't do a thing about it as the buyer has already paid the breeder the full value of the dog.

[QUOTE]How many pieces of human property do you have? If you have kids, according to you, they're your property. If they're not, than you should set them free, let them fend for themselves, let them procreate and do as they please.

Humans cannot be property without due process. Refer above to my question about equating the value of humans and animals. Now, where have I stated children are property?

Now, let me make this simple for you. It's my house. It's my rules (and I'm a very laissez-faire father), if you were one of my kids and you can't follow my rules (which are an example of exericising property rights), then there's the door. Consider your clothes a gift. As an example, one of my rules when my kids were younger, do not pull the dogs tail, ears or hit him without valid reason (I determine the validity). If they did, then they were reprimanded. The dog is mine. Not theirs.


Have you ever been in the room when an animal is being euthanized at the shelter? I have, many times. It's a peaceful painless death. Maybe were you live it isn't, but here we have laws against unnecessary cruelty to animals, and the people that care about these animals make sure that they go peacefully.

So you do support cruelty when you determine said cruelty is necessary. Ever ask the dog?

Ever work around a carbon monoxide chamber? Certainly not peaceful. I've also done injections, personally. Sometimes that ain't pretty, no matter who does them. Ever hear a dog vocalize. Kind of ruins your friggin' day. Ever have a co-worker refuse to euthanize animals based upon some moral agenda and it gets put on you day after day?


You really are counting on the human race to do the responsible thing, aren't you?

Of course not. That's why I do.


Take off your rose colored glasses and realize that you're not the only irresponsible person living on this earth, there are billions just like you, which is why we need shelters!

Really? I've never allowed any of my animals to breed (if that's you're definition of irresponsible), I've never knowingly allowed my animals to roam, I've never allowed my animals to become a nuisance to my neighbors, I've kept all of my animals from acquisition to death and I've made it a point, when that time comes to end their lives, I'm the one pulling the trigger. With the exception of my current dog all my animals have been altered.

And you want to call me irresponsible. I'm responsible for my animals. Not yours or any others. When I voluntarily take your dog, say while you go on vacation, you can be rest assured you will get your dog back healthy, in one piece and happy. I'm responsible for your property and it's actions and I will respect your property while in my care.


Breeders I and my mindset approve of? What are you spewing about now? The only thing I require when breeding a dog is that you do the genetic testing to make sure that you're not passing down defects to the puppies, you learn what you have to do to ensure the safety of the mother and the puppies, you have enough knowledge and money to do everything you must to ensure their health, and you make all new owners sign a contract stating that they will not breed their puppy, and if they should wish to relinquish the dog, it goes back to the breeder.

That's not a huge list, and it should be the standard.

Then with those that don't adhere to your standards, well, don't buy from them. Pretty simple, eh? Yet you seem to be the type that would have laws written that would infringe upon the property rights of people at the point of a gun when those people are causing you no harm.


You didn't say sick dog. If a dog is too sick to live, yes, it's put down. That's the humane thing to do. As for aggression, at our shelter we have behavioral experts that work with the dog. If the dog is too far gone, deemed unfit to adopt, that's when he/she is put to sleep. That decision takes months. It's not a one day thing to try to rehabilitate a dog.

No, I didn't write sick dog. That's irrelevant. On the other hand you wrote:
I have never once seen a dog killed immediately upon arrival at our shelter.
Which means either you've:
A. Never seen a very sick or injured dog immediately put down upon entering the shelter, or,
B. You're being dishonest.
And that is relevant.


If you want to take your couch into your yard and shoot it, go ahead. If you want to throw you shoe into the pond, go ahead. If you want to hang your raggedy andy doll in you tree, go for it. Those are all your property. They don't feel anything, they aren't breathing, living beings. What you do with your dog, that's my business, and I will make it my business as long as people like you exist in this world. That's a promise! (emphasis added)

Soooo, if you have a personal problem with me training my dog to hunt animals you're going to interfere? I would love to see you try. You, personally. Not you calling the police.

And using that mindset, if I disagree with how you treat your animals, then you wouldn't mind if I took matters into my own hands and rectified the situation, eh?


You should up your meds. None of the dogs in my care are my property. Having a dog is not a right, it's a privilege! I have never euthanized a dog in "my" shelter. When I say "my" shelter I mean the shelter in my city. I'm the one that hold the dogs head, pets him, cries for him, when the needle goes in. I'm the one that wishes it was legal for me to have more than 3, because every single dog on the list to be killed would be coming home with me. Sadly the laws are such that I'm only allowed 3, and that's how many I have and always will have. When the day comes that I can have more, or I finally win the lottery and buy 30 acres of land, those dogs will be coming to live with me.

Let's talk about how many animals had to be killed to keep Boots around for two years.

My mindset when I work somewhere is the business is mine and it's my job to do my job and be that damn good to keep the place in business and provide excellent customer service. Except when I worked as an ACO. I considered it my job to become unemployed, i.e. no more strays, bites, dangerous/vicious dogs, rabies quarantines and the like. I knew it was idealistic and unachievable, but it's that mindset that drives me. Take it as you will.


You think kids are property too, don't you? Everything you say leads to you owning children as well. Do you have kids? Is one of them a boy? Did you have him circumcised? If you did, did you ask your days old infant if he wanted to skin on his penis cut off, or did you just go for it? If you did, were you at least kind and put him to sleep for the procedure, or did you just let the doctor take a knife and start slicing away while he was fully conscious? Concede the point yet?

Once again, you're making a human equal to an animal. Lettuce answer that question. Are humans equal to a dog?


Go for it. How do I use animals to benefit me? I'm dying to hear this.

Example: That computer your hammering away on. During the molding process of the plastic pieces, to prevent damaging the plastic, the plastic pellets are coated in a very thin layer of animal fat.

Eat meat much?

Take medicines?

If you're a vegetarian/vegan, where does your food originate? And how many animals were displaced, injured, maimed, disfigured and killed during the plowing, tilling, planting, growing, protection, harvesting and storage of that food?

Got to call bull-dooky on this one. If the purpose of "legitimate breeding" is to:
1. Improve the breed according to breed standards and;
2. Improve the breeds genetic health.
Then a person who is willing to put down anywhere from 4-5 figures for an animal isn't going to want it altered. If they paying that amount for a dog with those traits they are going to want to breed it as well to another dog with those traits.

Now, if a breeder chooses to keep and not kill dogs of inferior standards (that does happen you know), then the breeder will either have the dogs altered before sale or will have the prospective new owners sign a contract stating they will have the dog altered to prevent the traits from being carried forward. On that note, according to your standards, if the breeder is putting out inferior animals along with superior ones, then he's a backyard breeder.

And yes, some breeders will put in the contract that they possess the right of taking the dog back if the owner no longer wants the animal. That clause is not worth the paper it's written on. Once the money passes hands and ownership transfers, the new owner can dump the dog off at the shelter two years later, put a bullet in it's head the next day and bury it and the breeder would never be the wiser and frankly, can't do a thing about it as the buyer has already paid the breeder the full value of the dog.

Hi Festoid. Please try and do your research properly before posting, the above passage is a complete contradiction to the truth about reputable breeders and why people buy from reputable breeders.

The buyer can take the dog out and shoot it in the head the next day?
Uhh no not quite, don't you think reputable breeders do research into their buyers? They aren't like pet stores, they actually care about who takes the puppies they have put so much hard work and love into. Most reputable breeders also either encourage or require regular updates on the puppy.

Nooo, it's caused by people, the general populace and ACO's bringing animals into the shelter. Sure, animals are going to breed, the animal doesn't willingly walk through the door and into a kennel.

I have to agree with you her Fester, it is caused by people, irresponsible pet owners to be exact. And no a dog doesn't willingly walk into a shelter, but weren't you the one wagging your finger at Alty for making dogs equal to humans? Dogs don't have the same thought process as humans, we all know that Fester, but since we (well our ancestors before us) have taken it into their hands to domesticate dogs, it's up to us to take care of them.

The buyer can take the dog out and shoot it in the head the next day?


The operative word is "can." Legally they have that right, at least under U.S. contract law. Possibility, not probability. They can drive off a bridge with the puppy so they'll have a dog in the afterlife.

Festoids, you said

Now, if a breeder chooses to keep and not kill dogs of inferior standards (that does happen you know), then the breeder will either have the dogs altered before sale or will have the prospective new owners sign a contract stating they will have the dog altered to prevent the traits from being carried forward. On that note, according to your standards, if the breeder is putting out inferior animals along with superior ones, then he's a backyard breeder.

I'm afraid you got that just exactly backwards. De-sexing animals, or requiring it, with defects makes the breeder responsible.

The operative word is "can." Legally they have that right, at least under U.S. contract law. Possibility, not probability. They can drive off a bridge with the puppy so they'll have a dog in the afterlife.

Festoids, you said


I'm afraid you got that just exactly backwards. De-sexing animals, or requiring it, with defects makes the breeder responsible.


The person in question here would be dead, but if they survived would they not be charged for animal cruelty? A woman in the states was just recently charged for making her Dalmatian ride in the trunk of her car.

Also if a person bought a dog, shot it the next day, and this was reported, you want to believe that person would be charged here in Canada. I am talking about a completely healthy animal here.

Everyone who wilfully and without lawful excuse, kills or injures dogs, birds or animals that are not cattle and are kept for a lawful purpose, or places poison in such a position that it may easily be consumed by these animals, is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Every one commits an offence who

* wilfully causes or, being the owner, wilfully permits to be caused unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or a bird;

* by wilful neglect causes damage or injury to animals or birds while they are being driven or conveyed;

* being the owner or the person having the custody or control of a domestic animal or a bird or an animal or a bird wild by nature that is in captivity, abandons it in distress or wilfully neglects or fails to provide suitable and adequate food, water, shelter and care for it;

* in any manner encourages, aids or assists at the fighting or baiting of animals or birds;

* wilfully, without reasonable excuse, administers a poisonous or an injurious drug or substance to a domestic animal or bird or an animal or a bird wild by nature that is kept in captivity or, being the owner of such an animal or a bird, wilfully permits a poisonous or an injurious drug or substance to be administered to it; or

* takes part in any meeting, competition, exhibition, pastime, practice, display or event at or in the course of which captive birds are liberated by hand, trap, contrivance or any other means for the purpose of being shot when they are liberated.


Criminal Law Resources > Animal Cruelty Law (Canada) (http://www.duhaime.org/LegalResources/CriminalLaw/LawArticle-135/Animal-Cruelty-Law-Canada.aspx)

Hmmm good point Cats... they can, but when going through a reputable breeder anyone wanting a dog just to shoot it in the head wouldn't bother going through all the hoops to get it.

Plus, when the weekly or monthly update from the owner doesn't arrive the breeder is going to contact them, find out the dog is dead and sue their @ss off for breach of contract as well as animal cruelty.

Catsmine, allow me to clarify my point.

You have two dogs of breed standard. The offspring they produce are a mixed collection of some that don't meet breed standards and some that meet breed standards. If the breeder continues to breed these dogs then he/she is in violation of the standards set forth. Whether the breed alters the inferior offspring or not, the trait for inferiority survives still in the offspring that have met breed standard.

This is where it gets tricky.

Even reputable breeders can breed dogs with faults, but reputable breeders rarely breed dogs with major problems.

Reputable breeders will do things like hip scores on their dogs before breeding so the puppies have a very high chance of having good hips.
Backyard breeders don't do the tests for hips so could end up with a whole litter of dogs with hip displaysia.

Reputable breeders can still end up with faults in their dogs but they are minor... things like the lay of shoulder not being quite up to standard, or depth of chest not enough, these faults do not hurt the dog in any way and does not affect the dogs quality of life.

Backyard breeders rarely even know what the breed standard is so could have a multitude of problems as above (shoulder and chest) plus other problems which can cause problems later in life such as short muzzels, extreme cow hocks, weak pasterns, all of which can affect the dogs quality of life as it grows.

Festoid, I really don't want to write another essay, going through your post point by point.

No, I've never seen a dog euthanized on it's first day in the shelter. I was trying to be fair by conceding that sick dogs are euthanized, and to be fair to the shelter, I wasn't there every day, and I not longer volunteer at the shelter. I'm too much of a soft heart to go there, see the dogs, walk the dogs, play with the dogs, bond with the dogs, and leave without them.

Yes, I have seen extremely sick dogs euthanized at the shelter, that's true, but everything is done to attempt to help the dog before that decision is made. If it's not possible to help, no alternative, than the dog is put to sleep. A sick dog is not adopted out, because a sick dog is... well... a sick dog. So, are dogs euthanized on their first day at the shelter? Possibly.

No animals were killed to keep Boots in the shelter. I posted a link for our local shelter, please read it. No healthy adoptable animal is euthanized. Ever! If there isn't room in the shelter, dogs are fostered out. The shelter has many wonderful volunteers willing to foster dogs for years (if need be) until they are adopted. Boots was euthanized because he was old, sick, and went senile. He was not adoptable.

Obviously you're in the US, and nothing against the US, but it seems that the shelters there are a disaster, at least according to the American people posting here. So to be fair, maybe the shelter system in the US is flawed. That's not the case in Canada. No disrespect intended to my US friends on this site, but the only people posting about terrible shelters, terrible euthanizing practices, etc. etc. are the people in the US.

Shazzy covered breeding practices and what legit breeders do, so I won't repeat any of that.

To address your "human = to dog" speech. No, humans and animals aren't equal, but, an animal in the care of a human, deserves the care of any living thing.

Having an animal in your life is a choice. If you choose to do so, you are responsible for making sure that the animal in your care is cared for. Part of that care means not putting the animal at risk. Backyard breeders as a group put every dog at risk, not only because they breed without testing, but because the majority of them don't know what they're doing when it comes to breeding. They put the female and the puppies at risk, and each litter puts other dogs at risk. To be a responsible owner means being responsible for every animal that comes into your home. Responsible owners don't breed. They leave that to the pros.

Having an animal in your life is a choice. If you choose to do so, you are responsible for making sure that the animal in your care is cared for. Part of that care means not putting the animal at risk. Backyard breeders as a group put every dog at risk, not only because they breed without testing, but because the majority of them don't know what they're doing when it comes to breeding. They put the female and the puppies at risk, and each litter puts other dogs at risk. To be a responsible owner means being responsible for every animal that comes into your home. Responsible owners don't breed. They leave that to the pros.

Yes, the amount of "my dog had puppies 2 days ago now 3 of them are dead what do I do?" questions on here is frightening.

Or my favourite "my dogs is having puppies right now what do I do?"

Most of your comment Alty was correct, but I live in Canada. :P

Most of your comment Alty was correct, but I live in Canada. :P

LOL! Yes, but I've never seen you complain about shelters. :)

LOL! Yes, but I've never seen you complain about shelters. :)

True, I didn't complain per say, but I did tell my story about having to decide who gets to live and who gets to die out of a group of healthy young animals. But even at the capacity we were euthanising, we always did it humanely. Especially if I was the one euthanising, then at least I know it was going as nicely as possible.

Yes, the amount of "my dog had puppies 2 days ago now 3 of them are dead what do I do?" questions on here is frightening.

Or my favourite "my dogs is having puppies right now what do I do?"

Or the "I put my dogs together and they won't mate, what's wrong?", or "my dog had puppies and they won't eat, what do I do?"

A real breeder doesn't leave things to chance. They know what they need to do in any given situation, and if the puppies are in trouble, they rush to the vet, not the computer.

The shelters here are great. We got our cats from the Shelter. They don't put them to sleep the
First day or the first week, unless they are sick. We have two cats who were both fixed and declawed with microchip in the ears. They had one dog Sam, who hangs out at the desk. He's been there a long time.

My daughters' Friend and her fiancé have a shelter about twenty
Miles from here and it is wonderful.

Julie loves those animals as much as anybody could and each time someone takes one home she nearly crys.

Alty there are some horror stories from places in the states that make me sick.. but there are some great ones.

True, I didn't complain per say, but I did tell my story about having to decide who gets to live and who gets to die out of a group of healthy young animals. But even at the capacity we were euthanising, we always did it humanely. Especially if I was the one euthanising, then at least I know it was going as nicely as possible.

I've never had to choose amongst animals that were healthy and adoptable. The animals euthanized in the shelter where I am are only killed if there's no chance of adoption. That's not judged by the length of time they've been there, but by there overall health and disposition. They do their best to rehabilitate animals that have issues, but it doesn't always work.

My two rescue bunnies were problem kids. Both were scheduled for euthanasia. Thumper had been in and out of the shelter and even lived on the streets for a while. He had issues with biting, lunging, and was considered unfit to live with other rabbits, or humans. They had tried everything during his last stint at the shelter. After 4 months of him not improving, they had to make the decision. I got there the day before he was set to go in. They all know me there, and they know about my work with rabbits, so when I said I'd take him, they knew that no matter what, he wasn't coming back, he'd live with me until the end.

It took a lot of work, a lot of training, but he's now a wonderful pet. He gets along with my other 3 rabbits, doesn't bite, and is just a joy.

Kilala was the same. She came from a rabbit house. Irresponsible owner who let her rabbits breed at will, live in filth, no care. Over 200 rabbits seized from her property. Over 30 had to be put to sleep within days, too feral, diseased, no way to help them. Kilala was a wild child when we adopted her. Days before we got her she had gone through a spay abort. She was lunging at everyone that came close to her, destroying her cage. She was considered unadoptable. She still hates being picked up, but other than that, she's a delight. She loves to sit in my lap and get cuddles. She gets along with my other rabbits, and she's a joy.

The only reason I was allowed to adopt these two rabbits that were considered unadoptable is because of my history with the shelter and with rabbits. They knew theses bunnies would have a good life, even if I couldn't rehabilitate them, they would have a forever home and a good life.

This isn't the case with most of the animals considered unadoptable, and the staff at the shelter don't make the decision to kill at a whim. A lot of consideration goes into it, and an animal that can be adopted will not be euthanized.

I wish where I worked was like that, but we were a municipal animal shelter who had more pets coming in than we could house. During the summer we would literally be bringing in 20 dogs a day and god knows how many cats.
Foster homes didn't really exist as most people were more interested in fostering for animal rescues or other no-kill shelters nearby. No one really thought of the high kill places like municipal shelters.
We would get purebreds or close mixes to rescues as much as we could and we would have rescues come in weekly to 'save' a few and bring them to their shelter. But all of that was still not enough to curb the fact that we had too many animals, and not enough spacce.

It was terrible, and it's why I'll never work in a shelter again.

Sariss, did you check out the link to my local shelter?

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edmontonhumanesociety.com%2F&rct=j&q=edmonton%20humane%20society&ei=ssOSTO-XNsWXnAePv5G-CA&usg=AFQjCNEOrz-0CExb4OHt9TxmE8cLC-3tFw&cad=rja

I have to say that I'm proud to have such a wonderful shelter in our area. They really do a wonderful job.

Oh darn, they have a beagle in the shelter right now. Almost the same age as Chewy.

Stop me from going down there!

No way Alty, I'm not stopping you :D

FYI, the house across the road is going to be for sale soon... just a thought.

No way Alty, I'm not stopping you :D

FYI, the house across the road is going to be for sale soon... just a thought.

FYI, R's moms house is up for sale and the price was just reduced by $30,000, huge yard, 5 minute drive from my place.

Just a thought, now that we've officially hijacked this thread. ;)

I know, V told me about it, he was actually considering it but it's about twice what our place is worth.

Now if you came here you could have a lot of spare money (crap house) but spare money :D

I know, V told me about it, he was actually considering it but it's about twice what our place is worth.

Now if you came here you could have a lot of spare money (crap house) but spare money :D

LOL! But, half that house is mine. If I won the lottery, I'd buy it for you. So just pick the lucky numbers and it's a done deal. I'd buy an acreage (around 50 acres should do), than we can open a shelter together.

Also, our dogs and bunnies could play together, along with the kids. This house has a gigantic backyard, great for pets, close to the mall and other amenities. Of course if I won the lottery I'd just build you a house on my 50 acres. :)

Just do it!

See how I incorporated shelters into the discussion. Not hijacking after all. Oh... wait... the original post was about breeding.

Um, great breeders here, also a lot of dog shows for Cyrus.

There. Done. :)

That would be my dream Alty.
If I won the lottery I'd either ship all you guys over here or move to Canada. Either way is fine with me.

We have a big show coming up in 2 weeks! I'm stressing about it already!
Every year we have the Royal Shows all over Aus. I don't really know how to describe them but think of a 3 day carnival with rides and games but also animal shows, livestock, cats, dogs, horses, everything and we fly in international judges.

And to throw in breeding... there are some dogs flying down here that were bred by the same lady that bred Cyrus. Competition from his own kennel :rolleyes:

Yeah.. it seems Edmonton's Animal Services unit is able to hold animals in their facility until they can send them out to an adoption agency like the Humane society or the other rescues in and around the city. Sadly where I was working it wasn't that easy. :(

Our SPCA holds dogs until they get placed, but the dogs get fostered out more often than not.

I have to say after reading this thread and another one here, Canada must have the best shelters going. I said it in a another thread, but thank Gawd our shelters aren't like the ones spoken of here.

Aurora Bell, just wanted to point this out (emphasis added)


Everyone who wilfully and without lawful excuse, kills or injures dogs, birds or animals that are not cattle and are kept for a lawful purpose, or places poison in such a position that it may easily be consumed by these animals, is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Note the hypocrisy.

Much like most laws written by the states state this (paraphrasing): Any person who knowingly and willfully causes unnecessary pain, suffering, torment or death to an animal...

Then the states exempt hunting, medical experiments, procedures performed by a veterinarian and so forth.

Now don't get me wrong. I hunt. I love to hunt. I love to eat meat. But the state laws need to be consistent. If one can put an arrow or bullet through a deer for the sheer pleasure of doing so because they were given the permissions of the state (license), then it would be entirely permissible to do so to a domestic animal and it not be considered cruel. One cannot be cruel while the other can. It's based upon convenience. Much like the Canada law is based upon convenience, convenience because cattle are killed for the meat and most people eat meat. When one bases their decisions upon convenience it leads to hypocrisy.

All 50 states in the US have outlawed dog fighting like Canada has. Some states have made horse racing illegal, while others allow it to occur. There is no quantifiable difference between horse racing and dog fighting. I can go into this if you want to discuss it.

Then we get to what defines cruelty. Really, it's up to the investigating officer and the state to define cruelty. There is actual case law out of North Carolina where a dog trainer was charged with cruelty because when a dog didn't listen he dragged the dog over to a trough filled with water and held the dog's head underwater. He was found not guilty because he wasn't being intentionally cruel. It was his method of training. This is what I mean by defining cruelty. Causing unnecessary pain or suffering can define cruelty. For the health of the dog it is not necessary to castrate or perform an ovario-hysterectomy unless current health problems exist where the testicles or uterus are the cause of the problems. I.e. testicular cancer or mammary cancer (even though this type of cancer has a high mortality rate). One can say they're having it done to prevent the cancer from happening, but it's still not necessary to the animal. When I was working animal control I would get calls about cruelty. The complaint was "the dog is outside chained to his doghouse all day and nobody ever plays with him." Is that cruelty? For that person it was and to some of you it might be considered cruelty as well. The dog has food, water, shelter, though in most cases it wasn't vaccinated so a warning was issued. But it still doesn't constitute cruelty.

Little story about Rommel. I acquired Rommel in 2006 from an Amish farmer. Saw an add the paper where he was selling the puppies for $25 a piece. Of course there was no phone number only an address. Roll on out there the next day. The farmer had an Australian Heeler and the pups were mixed breed. Told me that the neighbors Rottweiler and Dachshund both got to his dog. The puppies were a mixed looking bunch, most were black and tan while one was all black and Rommel was the only one that looked like a heeler. Turns out he looks like a heeler, has the legs of a heeler, but much shorter, like a dachshund. When we walked into the barn all the puppies took off running so me and the farmer ran around for a couple of minutes collecting them. He said they were 8 weeks but looking at them I was seeing anywhere from 5-6 weeks of age. Well, I bought Rommel, paid the $25 and put him in my truck, on the front seat, whereupon he crawled onto the floor and promptly took a dump. Well, I figured that was a prime time to take a look-see and see how it looked. Pulled over and starting sifting through it. 90% of the feces was pure grain. So on the way back home I stopped at the feed mill and picked up equine pyrantel, ivermectin (for heartworm prevention later on), four doses of vaccines and puppy chow. He's still a relatively skittish dog, but loves people, especially kids (hears them playing outside and whines and cries at the door), gets along with other dogs and destroys every toy except for Kong bones meant for large dogs (takes him a year). He loves to ride in the vehicles, in boats, loves going camping with us because he can run free in the woods. I even take him small game hunting with me but he's absolutely worthless in that endeavor. But he likes the woods and at least he scares up squirrels every now and again. And that's some of ya'll's definition of irresponsible.

Little story about Rommel. I acquired Rommel in 2006 from an Amish farmer. Saw an add in the paper where he was selling the puppies for $25 a piece. Of course there was no phone number only an address. Roll on out there the next day. The farmer had an Australian Heeler and the pups were mixed breed. Told me that the neighbors Rottweiler and Dachshund both got to his dog. The puppies were a mixed looking bunch, most were black and tan while one was all black and Rommel was the only one that looked like a heeler. Turns out he looks like a heeler, has the legs of a heeler, but much shorter, like a dachshund. When we walked into the barn all the puppies took off running so me and the farmer ran around for a couple of minutes collecting them. He said they were 8 weeks but looking at them I was seeing anywhere from 5-6 weeks of age. Well, I bought Rommel, paid the $25 and put him in my truck, on the front seat, whereupon he crawled onto the floor and promptly took a dump. Well, I figured that was a prime time to take a look-see and see how it looked. Pulled over and starting sifting through it. 90% of the feces was pure grain. So on the way back home I stopped at the feed mill and picked up equine pyrantel, ivermectin (for heartworm prevention later on), four doses of vaccines and puppy chow. He's still a relatively skittish dog, but loves people, especially kids (hears them playing outside and whines and cries at the door), gets along with other dogs and destroys every toy except for Kong bones meant for large dogs (takes him a year). He loves to ride in the vehicles, in boats, loves going camping with us because he can run free in the woods. I even take him small game hunting with me but he's absolutely worthless in that endeavor. But he likes the woods and at least he scares up squirrels every now and again. And that's some of ya'll's definition of irresponsible.

I don't see irresponsibility here. You rescued him from a careless farmer(okay, some neglect on the farmer's part) and gave him care, medicine, and a home. You even knew which meds to give him. You didn't say so, but one has to assume you've trained him to return since he's not still in the woods. Home, care, meds, training: sounds fairly responsible to me.

Compare yours to a story from my little patch. A close friend rescued a sixteen year old girl from a bad home. The sixteen year old has a mongrel that she loves dearly but is completely clueless about training or medical care. The animal lived through some serious parasite infestations only because my daughter and the adoptive mother were less clueless. The sixteen year old wants to breed the mutt so she can have more puppies to raise. I'm all for learning by doing but this fits my definition of irresponsible.

Festoids, we do have cruelty laws for cattle as well, but I did not post them because I figured it was irrelevant to our discussion, all though I did know that you were going to bring it up, that's why I posted the entire link. Have a look.

Alos as far as the "if we can shoot wild game, why no dogs"? Comment, we do not eat dogs, we also have hunting laws that stop people from killing for the sheer fact of killing. If one is caught killing and say taking antlers and then dumping the carcass, they do get charged, and are no longer eligible for their deer/moose license for a few years. Same goes with fishing.

I do feel that horse racing is just as cruel as dog fights, but that's a whole other can of worms.

we do not eat dogs, we also have hunting laws that stop people from killing for the sheer fact of killing. If one is caught killing and say taking antlers and then dumping the carcass, they do get charged, and are no longer eligible for their deer/moose license for a few years. Same goes with fishing.


At least in North America dogs are seldom on the menu. Neither are cats or horses. In other parts of the world that doesn't hold as true, but we do eat swine and kine.

Right, but we are talking about North America. And we can get into the technicalities of all that is being said here, but I think we all have enough here in this discussion to start speaking of out side of N.A (and Australia :o )

Right, but we are talking about North America. And we can get into the technicalities of all that is being said here, but I think we all have enough here in this discussion to start speaking of out side of N.A (and Australia :o )

Bella you know a lot about dogs. My sister has two Corgies.. one of them has diabetes. So sad. Cats I have to look up what kine is. Bella what sort of fees do they have in your part of the country to adopt a pet?

It's usually based on donation, but the recommended amount is $200 for a full gown dog. Up to date with shots, altered, vet records and health guarantee. And that's what most people pay.

Puppies that are too young to alter come cheaper with a spay/neuter promise. It also comes with a "coupon" for a certain amount off the spay and neuter. If the adoptive parents do not spay or neuter the SPCA does come in and remove the dog.

Kine is the old English term for cow. God love your prose Cats :)

That is sad about your sisters Corgies.

At our local shelter puppies are $150 adult dogs are $90, all desexed.
Cats and rabbits are also $90 each but when you weigh up the cost of spaying/neutering it's actually cheaper than getting a free pet and getting it done at the vet yourself.

It's usually based on donation, but the recomended amount is $200 for a full gown dog. Up to date with shots, altered, vet records and health guarantee.

Puppies that are young to alter come cheaper with a spay/neuter promise. It also comes with a "coupon" for a certain amount off the spay and neuter. If the adoptive parents do not spay or neuter the SPCA does come in and remove the dog.

Kine is the the old English term for cow. God love your prose Cats :)

That is sad about your sisters Corgies.

Wow you all have a great system there. The corgies are sweet. I like my brothers bassetts, they are the cutest things. My other sister has a little mongrel... she's mixed. Loves kids. My younger brother has a Lab.

Kit, I can tell you how much it costs at our shelter.

Puppy under 4 months - $300

Puppy 4-6 months - $265

Dog (small breed age 6 months and older, 12" to the shoulder, and/or 5 kg and under) - $265

Dog (age 6 months and older and more than 12" to the shoulder) - $185

Senior Dog (over 6 years - additional fees may apply for extra services like dental cleaning) - $85

Dog/Puppy and Cat/Kitten Adoption Prices Include:

-Spay or neuter surgery
-First set of vaccines
- Complimentary veterinary exam- courtesy of local participating veterinarians.
-FIV and FeLV testing for all cats/kittens De-worming (if under six months of age)
-Microchip identification
-Complimentary cat carrying box (cat/kitten/rabbit only)
-Adoption information kit
- One year free pet licensing through the City of Edmonton (if you live in Edmonton)
- One year free pet licensing issued for adopters who live in Strathcona County (beginning April 1, 2010)
- Free Edmonton Humane Society Behavior Hotline or e-mail assistance
- Low cost puppy/dog pet training classes
- Pet Insurance (complimentary pet insurance for six weeks after adoption)provided by Petsecure
-Health exam at shelter
- Collar I.D. tag (cat/dog)
- Training DVD (cat/dog)

When I found two kittens in a compost bin a few years back, I knew I didn't want to keep them, but I took them in, got them up to date with shots etc, and spayed and neutered. (male and female).

It cost me close to $600.00 after it was all said and done. Kittens are $50 at the SPCA full grown cats are $90. So much cheaper to adopt than it is to buy or get for free and do it yourself.

I have a soft spot for Mutts Kit, something about them that pinches my heart.

At our local shelter puppies are $150 adult dogs are $90, all desexed.
Cats and rabbits are also $90 each but when you weigh up the cost of spaying/neutering it's actually cheaper than getting a free pet and getting it done at the vet yourself.

Shazzy, we have a new program at the shelter now. Rabbits over 6 months of age and desexed are now $50. Rabbits under 6 months of age, not yet old enough to be desexed are $75, but at 6 months the shelter will do the spay/neuter and that cost is included in the adoption fee. In other words, you're paying $25 for a spay/neuter. Beats the $300 plus I paid to have Cotton done.

Here is the link to one of the shelters I volunteer at if anyone wants to have a look.

Nova Scotia SPCA - Metro Shelter (http://www.metro.spcans.ca/)

Another gorgeous staffy in there :(

Here is the link to one of the shelters I volunteer at if anyone wants to have a look.

Nova Scotia SPCA - Metro Shelter (http://www.metro.spcans.ca/)

Another gorgeous staffy in there :(

Cindy lou and mercedes... I love them.

Here is the link to one of the shelters I volunteer at if anyone wants to have a look.

Nova Scotia SPCA - Metro Shelter (http://www.metro.spcans.ca/)

Another gorgeous staffy in there :(

Those are sweetest kitties. I would love to work someplace with animals (the four legged kind).:D

I hereby place an order for 1 Georgie and 1 Digit please.

Here's the link to dogs at our local shelter at the moment
Animal Search Results (http://www.adoptapet.com.au/search/searchResults.asp?task=search&animalType=3%2C16&state=TAS&colourMatch=&regionID=24&statusid=3&submitbtn=Find+Animals)

Alty did you see the Beagles in my shelter? I'm doing the baby voice.

Mercedes is sooo sweet Red, so is Lady Bird.

I hereby place an order for 1 Georgie and 1 Digit please.

Here's the link to dogs at our local shelter at the moment
Animal Search Results (http://www.adoptapet.com.au/search/searchResults.asp?task=search&animalType=3%2C16&state=TAS&colourMatch=&regionID=24&statusid=3&submitbtn=Find+Animals)

Shaz... the chocolate lab and the Jack Russell and the border Collie and the black one that looks like M's... I LOVE THOSE DOGS!! :D

I don't think it matters if its legal, illegal right or wrong... Animals should not be absued because they are "property"

Animals want things, they have feelings and needs. They mourne the loss of a packmate and rejoice in seeing an old friend. They care for their babies and take care of the sick. They honor the older ones and teach their young right from wrong.

Festoids, you have warped thinking if you think its OK that animals are being abused for no reason. People are not killing dogs to eat them, they're just killing them because they're there. That is wrong. At least with wild game hunting, the animals are killed for food. And like Aurora stated, those animals are not allowed to be killed unless the season is open. Anyone who is caught killing game animals outside of proper season are fined a huge fine, their hunting license for ALL GAME is revoked and jail time is sometimes served.


Maybe you should move to China Festoids, They have the same thinking as you over there.

I hereby place an order for 1 Georgie and 1 Digit please.

Here's the link to dogs at our local shelter at the moment
Animal Search Results (http://www.adoptapet.com.au/search/searchResults.asp?task=search&animalType=3%2C16&state=TAS&colourMatch=&regionID=24&statusid=3&submitbtn=Find+Animals)

Trade you for Doris and Poomba!

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edmontonhumanesociety.com%2F&rct=j&q=edmonton%20humane%20society&ei=g4uTTO_RMJSknQfH5K2BCA&usg=AFQjCNEOrz-0CExb4OHt9TxmE8cLC-3tFw&cad=rja

Check out Turbo, Moses, Bella (she looks sad), Gustnado, and Max.

Actually, I can't pick just one. :(

I won't even go look at the bunnies, otherwise I'll be heading down there for sure.

Do you think R would notice if I went and got Turbo? I mean he's not a huge dog. Maybe I could sneak him in and R would be none the wiser. :)

I like Gustnado... although he would need a name change.

Ok you guys, you're making me want another dog! I am going to be fostering a dog this month sometime. Rotti/pitbull mix. Sasha. So CUTE.

I like Gustnado... although he would need a name change.

He is a cutie, isn't he?

Ya, they shelter gives them names. I don't know where they came up with that one. :rolleyes:

Did you check out the bunnies? Should I go look? :eek:

Alty, march yourself down there right now and adopt Squirt and Maggie :D

Alty, march yourself down there right now and adopt Squirt and Maggie :D

But I have a soft spot for Grisou.

Ya, I looked. :o

I think I have to get Kirara, so that Kilala will have a buddy. :)

Dogs Trust in Ireland (http://www.dogstrust.ie/)

Thought id throw in dogs trust in ireland,its interesting to see the different criteria each place has,also the price!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCV_koyJ1Fk

Here's the ad they use on TV.

Well crud, they have a beagle too.

Red, go pick up Morse, page 3. :)

The price of dogs here has gone up quite a bit since I last looked, up to $220 now.

The price of dogs here has gone up quite a bit since i last looked, up to $220 now.

Same here. It used to be a lot lower.

The thing is, they run the shelter through donations, and the proceeds from the training classes, the store etc. It takes a lot of money to keep these animals, some of which are there for months before being adopted.

It's still cheaper than buying from a pet store, or a backyard breeder, especially since the price of neutering or spaying is included, as well as microchipping etc.

I was looking through the website of our shelter. I haven't been there yet. This building is new. When I volunteered it was in the old building, closer to my house. Now it's a 1 hour drive away, and I haven't been there because I know I won't leave empty handed, and we just can't adopt another animal right now.

They have a lot of new programs. They even do birthday parties. I may have to book the kids birthdays there next year. I think they'd love it, and their friends will get a little lesson on shelter animals, responsibility, and they also get to play with some of the animals in the shelter at that time. All in all a fun day while learning something to boot. Got to love that. :)

They also have summer camp programs for kids.

Here are some videos of the EHS (Edmonton Human Society).

YouTube - EHS Adoptable Dogs Playgroups (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIDH83XAUCY)

YouTube - EHS Mange puppy Reeves up for adoption.wmv (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhVpVxBVCgY&feature=related)

YouTube - Edmonton Humane Society "Above and Beyond" stories (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjDeWiQmq4A&feature=related)

Our dogs are adopted out at $300 for adults and $350 for pups. Our rescue is run on donations and adoption fees of dogs. We adopt on a yearly basis almost 100 dogs. The rescue has been running going on 13 years... I guess that means my mom and I saved 1300 lives :D

Shelter adoption fees around here vary. Some of the more established shelters will adopt out rescues at a pretty hefty price, where as the mutts go out on the usual $80 or less (vary rarely do I see the fee exceed $100 for adults).

I think it's a good thing that rescues and shelters have high adoption fees. It weeds out Joe Shmoe who wants a dog to live outside on a chain with no shelter.

Our saying here at Rocky Mtn GSP Rescue is.. If you can't afford the price of the dog, then how will you be able to pay for vet care?

Frank ll and Peanut are Gorgeous! I bet they are lovely!