I don’t blame you for not adopting one. Without knowing the background, there are a number of breeds I would be careful of adopting, especially if I were not an expert in dog training, and with kids. On the other hand, while I have nothing against shelter dogs, my first preference would always be a dog I either raised from a young age or knew exactly where he/she had been from a young age. That way, I know what I’m getting.
My post was really just about why the numbers for pit and pit type dogs are so high. They appeal to a very bad element.
Re your post 194, I certainly can understand why you and millions of others choose to raise a puppy, so that you thoroughly understand the adult dog it will be. I would only posit that when one chooses a senior shelter dog you can be reasonably sure that what you’re seeing is what you’re getting. It could be reasonably argued that there is a good reason why a dog is a senior: he or she has been a good dog throughout his or her life.
I am sure it’s my nature (an overdose of sentimentality and softheartedness) but I can bring myself to adopt only senior dogs. They are the ones overlooked when most people adopt, and I feel sorry for them.
My current dog is Harvey, a stray beagle that the adoption shelter estimated was at least 10 years old when I adopted him in late 2009. And he is a wonderful companion to me.
Tje downside is that I never have my adopted dogs for long and their demise always breaks my heart.