Shelter dogs vs. Breeder dogs

So recently a dog show was interrupted by some protesters with signs that said "breeders kill shelter dogs' chances". It really got me thinking about the issue of how many dogs end up getting put down because shelters can't keep them all.

What do you guys think? Do any of you have shelter dogs?

I currently have 2 dogs, both were strays, both are mutts. It's sad, but most breeders are a business and the bottom line ($) comes first. I choose not to support people whose focus is profiting on man's (and woman's) best friend. MUTTS RULE!

well i've had both, from a breeder and from rescue and to be honest, nearly every dog has been bred by someone, hasn't it??
even those in animal shelters.

The difference is when you buy from a breeder, store or puppy mill they focus on replenishing the supply. Over 1 MILLION dogs are killed each year in the U.S. for lack of homes. A shelter would like nothing more than to run out of dogs and they promote low cost spay/ neuter programs to reach that goal. Breeders work against this. The sad fact is when you buy from a breeder a shelter dog goes homeless because the breeder replaces the stock you just bought.

not all shelter dogs are 'bred'. many are from strays having litters. some, however, are purebred and could be worth more to a 'collector' or breeder. i've seen breeding operations where the animals are abused pretty heavily, though. not all are in it for the interest of the breed, many overexert and exploit their breeder animals for profit.

both of my dogs are shelter dogs. one is a purebred dapple miniature datschund and the other is a mutt pitt/dane mix. i work at shelters as a vet tech/kennel tech/kennel supervisor and i can tell you from firsthand experience, with the number of stray dogs coming in to shelters, shelters have to put down a majority of them. and when they are adopted, they are spayed/neutered to help combat the huge stray population (i dont know how bad it is in te UK, but it's rampant in the states).

'bred' dogs will stay alive even if you don't adopt them.

i hope that answers your question. if you want to know anything else about shelters, i can try to help.

Most animals I have ever had in my life have been rescues, either from shelters or directly from bad situations. For me, it makes a lot more sense seems any animal, regardless of source can become an excellent companion animal.

To the question of whether or not there should be breeding for profit going on... totally irrelevant, seems as long as there is money to be made, people will do it regardless of the consequences to the animals.

just to put the other side, not every breeder overbreeds and some are bred for specific purposes.
guide dogs for the blind, helping hand dogs, herding dogs etc..
if no-one bred dogs, then in 15-20 years there would be none at all, and then we'd have no four legged canine companions/helpers, and that would be such a shame.
and the reason there are so many dogs in animal shelters is, in my opinion, too many thoughtless and uncaring owners who dump them when either the novelty wears off or they just can't be arsed.
and also, too many that are left entire and not speyed or castrated.
dogs i meant, not owners!

and it's pretty bad here too in the uk, people are people the world over, some good, some bad.

Originally Posted by natural philosophy

'bred' dogs will stay alive even if you don't adopt them.

i hope that answers your question. if you want to know anything else about shelters, i can try to help.

didn't see this posting as i was busy typing my previous one.
here in uk, even pure bred dogs are destroyed by various animal welfare societies.

and yes, i've helped out in various animal rescue centres too, and some of them are non too pleasant places, where they're only doing it to earn a buck or two.......
and not for the animals welfare.
sad but true.

Originally Posted by natural philosophy

'bred' dogs will stay alive even if you don't adopt them.

And if it's a humane breeder, it's left in a much better environment than a shelter dog.

i've only had one purebread. she was a minature poodle adopted from some friends who no longer had time for her. she wasn't my first choice of breed but we loved her. all the rest have been strays that we have adopted, and sometimes even with the owners cosent. they have all been mutts.

So many people pay huge bucks for purebreads, it's fucking sad. i think this is the primary cause of why random people get into breeding, just for the money, yet not realizing the dog race is far overpopulated.

it kills me to think about how many dogs are put down everyday because there are no homes for them.

my dog history goes back to my parents as well, who only had mutts until the previously mentioned poodle

i love purebreads they can be gorgeous, don't get me wrong. however mutts can be unique and just in a league of their own. i stand by my statement that MUTTS have BETTER personalities than purebreads.

i am all about adoption.