While dogs from affenpinschers to Xoloitzcuintlis were bred last year, U.S. animal shelters were already brimming with dogs and cats. Shelters and rescue groups took in about 3.2 million dogs, while 2.2 million dogs were adopted, according to Shelter Animals Count, a nonprofit that gathers shelter data.
There's “a need for a renewed effort to make adoption a priority for the community," says the group's executive director, Stephanie Filer. Shelters have a wide variety of dogs to offer, including specific breeds, she notes.
Hunter Munden, the AKC's spokesperson, has two rescue dogs and a purebred herself.
“Rescue is wonderful,” she said. “However, we do understand that people want specific characteristics to fit their lifestyle, when it comes to dog ownership, and that’s where purebred dogs come in.”
Give me a grateful mutt any day. They make the best companions.
I have a Chiweenie (chihuahua and Dachsund) and a Austra-corgi (Australian cattle dog and Corgi). Both fat and lazy!
Based on my local shelter pets on the local news, they are mostly pit bull mixes.
I don’t have dogs because, to me, they are almost like having a child—it’s a lot of responsibility. I do have cats, though (I find them much more independent and easy to care for). My first cat was a stray that adopted us, but all of my other cats have been rescues. They have all, in their own ways, filled our house with love, laughter, and companionship. The shelters are full of these wonderful creatures, both dogs and cats, that will repay you a thousandfold.
Frenchies, like all “pure breds” have genetic issues that become medical issues.
This is what bugs me about animal shelters. Their approach is basically "adopt them or we'll kill them".
Given the current rash of crime, all I could think was "Why isn't the father walking the dog? What happens if some criminals drive up and try to take the dog from his helpless little daughter?"
By the time the craze is over it will take decades of careful breeding to bring the dog back to standard.
While the Frenchies are not a working breed they do serve a purpose and breed degradation is sad to see.
Great dogs but soooo overbred. But then I’m completely partial to the herding group.
-PJ
frenchies are ugly little beasts.
This is the classic leftist argument. It's zero sum thinking on pet ownership. I've volunteered at an animal shelter and have rescued dogs myself. I own purebreds.
Rescues/shelter dogs are a mixed bag. Most dogs in shelters had owners who neglected them meaning they were never trained. Once they're older than 1 year it becomes harder to do.
BTW- many rescue dogs are not from America so counting up how many dogs shelters and rescue groups have tells you nothing about what percentage are American.
Some rescue groups started importing dogs from the third world. These can come with some serious diseases (rabies, Brucellosis, Distemper). This caused the CDC to suspend importation of dogs from high risk rabies countries. Hopefully someday the rescue groups would no longer be allowed to adopt out these dogs without a thorough health clearance.
Our last couple dogs have been rescues from kill shelters down south. One of our beauties was just 11 weeks old when we adopted her and our other beauty was almost one year old.
While the 11 week old puppy was easy to train the older one was a little harder. The 11 week old lived till 11 years and passed from a liver tumor. It was heartbreaking to say goodbye.
The older girl still has some insecurity issues. I understood from the workers at the kill shelter that the family that left her there were not really nice people and known to the shelter. She’s about 85lbs. Since we got her she is very frightened when she sees someone wearing a hoodie or a hat or any clothing with reflective material. Not sure why. She hates to travel too. Never had a dog before that didn’t like to travel. She loves to just be at home with us. Happy as a clam to just hang out. They both have been total love bugs.
The BEST dogs! Loving, funny, smart and beautiful mixes. We feel really blessed having them in our lives. Would recommend adopting a rescue to most people.
Give me a rescued German shepherd any day. They’ll watch your back.
The Frenchie has to be artificially inseminated and the puppies delivered by c-section. Completely unnatural.
They’re ugly dogs