Comments on: Can Breeders Learn from Breed Rescue? http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2007/09/can-breeders-learn-from-breed-rescue.html A Border Collie Manifesto Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:21:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Moxie http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2007/09/can-breeders-learn-from-breed-rescue.html#comment-3138 Moxie Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:57:40 +0000 http://astraean.com/borderwars/2007/09/can-breeders-learn-from-breed-rescue.html#comment-3138 The gold standard for an ethical breeder is to NEVER have a puppy/dog that they produce end up in rescue or a shelter.  The usual strategy to accomplish this is to rigorously screen all buyers to eliminate poor candidates for pet ownership combined with contracts that stipulate that if a buyer must surrender a dog, that the breeder will take it back. I don't know what percent of breeders do this or what percent of animals are sold by these breeders.  It's probably a small percent, because of the burden this places on breeders.  I did read one wonderful story in a forum of a family that got a Golden Retriever puppy from a breeder which turned out to have intractable aggression issues.  The breeder apologized sincerely, took the dog back and offered a replacement puppy at no charge.  The breeder and owner were in constant contact throughout this episode, which again is an additional burden but one that was much appreciated by the owner who had no qualms about taking another puppy from that breeder. The gold standard for an ethical breeder is to NEVER have a puppy/dog that they produce end up in rescue or a shelter.  The usual strategy to accomplish this is to rigorously screen all buyers to eliminate poor candidates for pet ownership combined with contracts that stipulate that if a buyer must surrender a dog, that the breeder will take it back.

I don’t know what percent of breeders do this or what percent of animals are sold by these breeders.  It’s probably a small percent, because of the burden this places on breeders.  I did read one wonderful story in a forum of a family that got a Golden Retriever puppy from a breeder which turned out to have intractable aggression issues.  The breeder apologized sincerely, took the dog back and offered a replacement puppy at no charge.  The breeder and owner were in constant contact throughout this episode, which again is an additional burden but one that was much appreciated by the owner who had no qualms about taking another puppy from that breeder.

]]> By: Cardimom http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2007/09/can-breeders-learn-from-breed-rescue.html#comment-3137 Cardimom Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:30:00 +0000 http://astraean.com/borderwars/2007/09/can-breeders-learn-from-breed-rescue.html#comment-3137 PS - Good Dog! PS – Good Dog!

]]> By: Cardimom http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2007/09/can-breeders-learn-from-breed-rescue.html#comment-3136 Cardimom Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:25:00 +0000 http://astraean.com/borderwars/2007/09/can-breeders-learn-from-breed-rescue.html#comment-3136 You've been busy. I haven't caught up on all of your recent posts. But this is a good one. Terrierman's idea of breeders supporting rescue, while a good one, is a bit too simplistic. 'Most' of the dogs in rescue weren't running the streets, they were turned in by their owners, who couldn't or wouldn't take responsibility for their pets. 50% of marriages end in divorce; does anyone really think 'most' people are going to put much effort into raising and maintaining a dog? You’ve been busy. I haven’t caught up on all of your recent posts. But this is a good one. Terrierman’s idea of breeders supporting rescue, while a good one, is a bit too simplistic. ‘Most’ of the dogs in rescue weren’t running the streets, they were turned in by their owners, who couldn’t or wouldn’t take responsibility for their pets. 50% of marriages end in divorce; does anyone really think ‘most’ people are going to put much effort into raising and maintaining a dog?

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