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America’s animal shelters are overwhelmed. Pets – and staff – are at breaking point
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2024
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Most people really need to stop getting their hearts set on a specific breed when adopting. I constantly see posts of people rehoming dogs because they can't keep up with them or meet their needs. Like, yeah, maybe instead of adopting a 1 year old Aussie, you should've gotten a 5 year old chihuahua if you're not the kind of person who runs and does agility and shit.
Also, I had a labradoodle who was rescued (as a 7 year old) from a puppy mill, which is where pretty much all doodles come from now. He shed like a motherfucker, was absolutely not hypoallergenic, and cost a ton of time and money in grooming bills. He was also the single most anxious dog I've ever had. We adored him but they're not some magical perfect breed. (We didn't seek one out, my parents just fell in love when I was fostering him.)
You kind of made your own point against your argument in the first paragraph. There are different traits to different breeds, and that is a fact. I would never get an Australian Shepherd (or any shepherd) because they simply have higher energy and exercise needs than most other dogs do. So I insist on getting a breed with lower exercise requirements.
The point is: breed matters. Environment and training matter, but so does the breed. Get one that suits your lifestyle.
The thing about most shelters is they are filled with mutts. Yes, breeds have traits. But with mutts, visual breed identification is notoriously difficult. Best to go to a shelter and meet with a dog to feel it out.
And don’t believe whatever label they slap on it. They are guessing (no fault on them, they gotta write something down). My recent adoption was labeled as a high-energy breed and he’s pretty chill. I almost skipped over him because I was afraid I couldn’t handle the breed that they thought he was/what he looked like.
Oh I know. I also know that it's popular to call everything a lab mix if it looks like it might have any pitbull in it. Improves the chance of adoption.
I'm not anti-pit, by the way. I just know that you can't trust what the shelters say.
It’s funny, the shelter near me just says “staffordshire mix” on most dogs, which is kind of the opposite of what I’ve heard shelters do, like you said.
Lucky you have an unusually honest one.
Yes but a lot of people decide they want X breed because it's cute, and don't account for how that kind of dog will actually fit into their lives. Waaaay too many end up going to backyard breeders because the dog they want isn't common in shelters and they absolutely must have one. And then 6 months later, they're on Nextdoor rehoming it.
If more people said, "this is what I can provide a dog, these are breeds that might be a good fit but I'm open," and then went to the shelter looking for the best match, everyone would be better off.
Or not even the lifestyle but the dog’s life. Frenchies are the most popular dog in the USA despite the fact that they have terrible health issues and often need surgery just to breathe right.
I completely understand that and agree. I just think you didn't make the point well in your previous post.
You’re making circular arguments to your own first point there. You said don’t pick a specific breed in the first sentence but then go on to lecture how people should pick a specific breed that suit needs. this is the very definition of posting nonsense.
No, I said pick a dog that meets your needs, don't decide you need a particular breed and refuse to change your mind. Of course there are breeds that generally have certain traits so there's nothing wrong with saying, "I'm open to any of these," but people need to recognize that there are plenty of mutts that might be the right fit, or other breeds that might also be a good match. Instead, there's a whole subset of people who pick a breed because they like how it looks, or they like the idea of it, refuse to consider any other options, and then end up rehoming the dog when it doesn't fit perfectly into their lives.