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Did you get your animals from a breeder/farm or a shelter?

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jewelz617

jewelz617

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Just doing a little research. My husband really wants to get our daughter a pet for her 2nd birthday (in other words HE wants a pet) and he wants to go to a breeder. I want a shelter pet.

He says shelter pets might have bad history, I say there are too many unwanted animals in the world who need homes.

What were your reasons and why?
 
shelter for cats, breeder for dogs (growing up).
 
I adopted three cats from the animal shelter. I''d only planned to get two, but the third one and I fell in love with each other, and she''s a black cat and was out of the kitten stage, and it was getting toward Halloween when shelters won''t adopt out a black cat. I kept going back to visit her, and she still didn''t have a home, and I really felt that she''d just be euth''d if I didn''t take her. So, now I have three very affectionate and well-adjusted cats. None has had any serious behavioral problems or health problems. They all have personality plus, and I have no regrets.
 
Dog was from a breeder, cat from the shelter.

If I was just getting a pet, I would definitely choose to adopt, which is why the cat came from a shelter. The dog is from a breeder because I was looking for a hunting dog, as well as a companion, so needed the reassurance of the breeding, training and background. With a shelter dog, I wouldn't have known anything about his hunting abilities.

Maybe you guys can compromise by getting a pet from a breed rescue organization. These are usually animals that have been saved from shelters and placed with foster families. The advantages of a rescue is that the foster family will be able to tell you about the personality of the pet, because they have had it for a longer period of time and you are not trying to judge based on a brief meeting in the shelter. If there are behavioral issues, either you would have full information, or in most cases, the rescue group will not allow the animal to be adopted until those are worked out. You would get a pet that needs a forever home, you would have more confidence in their background and you will free up the family to foster another pet--saving that one from the shelter, as well.
 
I''ve had both, and it really just depends on what you want. Your husband is right that shelter animals can have "issues". But that would fall under the heading of you just need to choose wisely. Dogs seems to be easier to do this with, since you can look for the proper breed (or close to it) and then check how adjusted they seem to be around people. Cats are a bit iffier.

My personal experience with a shelter kitty, was that she was sweet but had a health problem (apparently) and died suddenly after about 2 years. I was crushed. The next one I had was a purebred Birman adult from a reputable breeder, and she was well-socialized and lived to the ripe old age of 19. I''d go through a breeder again for a cat - because I love that specific breed and because I like adult cats over kittens. As a former showcat, my Birman was a very very well-behaved kitty. Kind of a bitchy little diva, but not destructive at all. ;-)

Our dog is a purebred lab from a lab rescue. Why anyone would dump a dog as marvelous as him is beyond comprehension. He had some abandonment issues early on, but my husband got him over that, and now he''s your classic goofy good-natured lab. Gorgeous dog too - not too rangy, not too barrel-shaped.

You can do well either way. You just need to do the proper research and know what you want, or have a good idea anyway.

Good luck to you finding a great pet!
 
we always get pets from shelters/rescue organizations.

Maybe a rescue would be a good compromise for you two. Typically, rescue dogs are in foster homes and they can give you a lot of information on the animal, their past, and their current behavior. Since your daughter is so little you''ll want to be sure that the pet is "bomb proof" around little kids. When you get a puppy form a breeder you actually don''t know how the animal will turn out...like children there are a a lot of variables and no guarantees about your new pet''s personality. They are just babies.

If it were me I would look for a 6months-2 year old animal from a rescue organization or a shelter that does behavioral testing.

I agree, there are far too many unwanted animals in the world who have wonderful personalities and are just languishing in shelters.
 
It really depends on what type of pet you want. For a cat, a shelter kitten would be fine. For a dog, there''s more to consider like size, characteristics of the general breed(s), temperament, etc.

Since your daughter is so young, I''d probably go with a dog from a good breeder. I''d carefully consider which breed would be suitable. I''d make sure the dog was good with children.

Our newest dog came from a foster situation. We were her 4th home and she was only 5 months old. She has lingering abandonment issues almost a year later, but we''re experienced and know what to do, although I suspect she''s going to have some issues for several years to come. Luckily she''s not aggressive in any way, she''s mostly fearful. Our kids are grown, so it''s not much of an issue besides socializing her more and giving her a routine and structure. Our other dogs all came from top breeders. They had wonderful health guarantees and were never sick and were of very sound temperament.
 
We got our cat at our local pet supply store, which works with a rescue organization to adopt out rescued kitties. It was a nice compromise for me because, while it kills me to think of kitties caged up in shelters, when we went to our nearest shelter to look at cats, many of them were sick or had behavioral issues listed on the cards posted on their cages. The pet food store where we got our cat still adopts out cats in need of good homes, but only keeps a max of 2-3 kitties there at a time in a very large cage, feeds them great-quality food, and the cats are well-socialized because of all the customers. It worked out really well for us.

My parents'' dog came from a breeder, and I wouldn''t say that he''s any "better" or "worse" in health or temperament than a shelter mutt they''d had previously, but I think having him from such a young age helped him bond with them in a way the previous dog never did.
 
We''ve always adopted all of our pets from shelters, both dogs and cats. We adopt from shelters because there are so many animals that need good homes, we would feel irresponsible if we adopted from a breeder.

I strongly believe that if you are committed to properly training your dog, then it will be a well behaved, well balanced dog, regardless of where she comes from.

I''ve seen people adopt dogs as puppies from reputable breeders, but then neglected to properly train their dogs, so they developed mild or moderate aggression issues, among other things. We''ve seen issues like that here on PS, actually. I''ve seen people adopt dogs from shelters, neglect to properly train them, and then they had ongoing issues, as well.

On the flip side, I''ve seen a lot of people who take the time to learn how to properly raise and train a dog, they put in the ongoing effort to give the dog a stable environment throughout her entire life, and they have wonderful experiences with breeder and shelter dogs, alike.

If you''re ready to walk your dog every single day, rain or shine, and to take the time to read up on how to be a strong pack leader, and to then follow through and be that pack leader, then you''re likely to do well with whatever dog you choose to adopt. You may have had dogs in the past, but I just want to stress that adopting a dog is a huge commitment of time and money, if you want to be a good owner.

If you do choose to go with a shelter dog, figure out who the volunteers are and ask them for their input. I volunteer at a shelter, and some of the volunteers there know the animals best. They''re the ones who take them for their daily walks, who see them interacting with other dogs, take them for rides to the vet, so they really should have some great insight for you.

If you choose to go with a breeder dog, please do check on their references and do a thorough check that she is a good breeder. My shelter sees a lot of relinquished "breeder" dogs who actually came from glorified puppy mills. People don''t do their research, and they end up with puppies who have serious issues, and then they give them up to the county because they aren''t ready to properly care for them.
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Good luck with your dog search. Pet ownership is one of the great joys of my life, I hope you find the same with your future pup.
 
I think it really depends on what kind of pet you want and if you want a dog, what breed. My two cats are shelter cats. My two dogs are from very good breeders. I wanted a Rottweiler and needed to make sure that he wasn''t from a backyard breeder which could have caused both health and behavior issues (in ANY breed of dog). It was worth every penny to know his family history and to know that many lines back in his family history have all tested negative for joint, cancer, eye and heart issues. Good luck with your search and don''t forget to post photos of your new baby
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I grew up having shelter dogs, and I will continue to have them, EXCEPT for certain breeds. Dh and I wanted a doberman, and after doing a lot of homework on the breed, I decided we would go the breeder route. For that breed as well as others (ie pitbulls, rotweillers, queensland heelers, etc), I would only go with a breeder, because it is really important that you are getting a pet with a good attitude/ temperament (sp?). By being able to see the family lines, you can avoid problems with what some people would normally call an "aggressive breed". Other than that, I will always have shelter dogs, they seem to *know* that you are saving them, and they are so amazing in their ability to love humans even if they have experienced abuse/ neglect. I think its pretty amazing. Rehabing a shelter dog usually takes time and lots of love, but its so worth it. Good luck finding your new family member, and have fun!
 
I found my tabby Heidi in the bird seed department of the Home Depot
one morning and took her home for safety till I could find her owner.
That was 12 years ago aand she is still with us.
Heidi is 14 now and I would have no problem with getting
another rescued or shelter cat.


Miss Mina a blue Oriental Shorthair came from a small cattery in Georgia.
We picked that breed because of their extremely affectionate nature.
We had her for 12 years but has since passsed away.

We now have a lavender male Oriental kitten reserved for us from a
small breeder in South Carolina who raises their kittens underfoot
and will be able to pick him up in April.
 
My parents have had one cat and two dogs from a shelter. One of the dog was put down due to a bladder cancer. Even though, she would shake at random times due to abuse issues, she was the sweetest thing. The dog that they now have is a complete goofball that starves for attention and love.

I also adopted a cat from a shelter too. She is a sweetie.

Pets from shelter may need more care at first but they are so worth it. I refuse to ever buy a pet from a breeder. Too many pets are waiting for a loving home at a shelter. Many others are being euthanized for no fault of their own. They just lucked out in life.
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Bah, I am gonna cry. Please adopt!
 
I got my current rabbit from a breeder. I did want a specific breed for my first bunny and at the time I wasn't really aware of how many rabbits are in shelters (they're third after dogs and cats). I will get my next rabbit from a shelter, but in the future I may go back to a breeder again for a rabbit or a dog.

Honestly, I don't have a problem with responsible breeders who love their animals and breed to better the breed. I also think shelters are wonderful and have volunteered at a few over the years (currently working with a bunny rescue).

I'm very against pet stores and backyard breeders.

eta: I'm also against anyone who mixes breeds - designer dogs are not purebred, they're mutts. It's one thing to add in other breeds to improve your existing breed (this can be done with rabbits, though not with dogs) but the goal shouldn't be to breed and just see what you get. With dogs especially, I feel that they are bred to serve a purpose and they should be bred to continue that purpose (pull sleds, hunt, whatever).
 
Another thing about adopting a mature cat from an shelter: With the economy as bad as it is, people are dumping pets at shelters. And the pets of elderly owners who are deceased or otherwise can no longer care for them sometimes wind up there, too. Mature cats have a slim change of being adopted. And the shelters often are not holding them very long to try to place them. The anatomy classes nowadays, at USA colleges and universities, are dissecting mature cats. I can''t help looking at them and wondering whether they were once somebody''s pet.
 
Opposite from everyone else. Cats from breeders, dog from pound.

It really depends on the kinds of pets you want. I have very specific appearance and personality desires when it comes to cats, so the breed is very important to me. Plus, I have a bit of PTSD from a pound cat I adopted who died from some unfortunate health issues, so I also wanted to be able to grill the breeder about the health history of the cats'' ancestors.

Dogs, though, especially mutts, I feel reveal their personalities pretty well at the pound, so it''s harder to be surprised personality-wise. Plus, I find mutt pound dogs are always cute while I haven''t been as drawn to many pound cats.

YMMV, of course. If your requirements aren''t as specific as mine I''d say go for the shelter pet. Most people I know have had great experiences and those animals really need homes.
 
My older cat was a stray who found me. He''s one of the sweetest cats ever -- he''s given me 18 years of joy.

I took in another stray who would go into affection overload and turn on you quite easily. I was able to turn it around and she turned out to be a wonderful pet, but it took many years -- possibly up to half of her 21 years.

My other current cat was a direct rescue from a bad situation. I''ve had her about 10 years and although she''s sweet most of the time, I still wouldn''t leave her with a child unsupervised.

If I were getting a pet for a child, probably go to my local SPCA. They have each animal checked out by a vet, and they evaluate the animals for compatibility in various situations (around other pets, children, etc.) My parents had a bad experience with a rescue organization -- they got a german shepherd that was not as stable as was represented to them -- so I''m a little leery there.
 
I have never purchased an animal through a pet store or breeder. Every cat and dog I have had since childhood has been a stray or shelter animal. My dog Lily (in my avatar) is a rescue doggie with the most gentle, awesome temperament. I love her dearly! I''m one of those who believe that there are too many unwanted animals who need homes.
 
hi pinkasscher :)

i have both rescue and bred dogs, and they're all awesome. unless they're really mistreated, whether a dog will be a good family pet is more to do wiht the breed, the sex, whether they're neutered/spayed, what environment they'll be in and how much work you do with them when you get them (like all dogs).

i wouldnt recommend a shelter dog past a certain age (4? 5?) if you have small children, as NO grown dog like ot be 'jumped from behind' by a small thing he knows doesnt really need to be respected (they KNOW who is alpha in the family, and toddlers arent it!) but if you dont have kids - most shelter dogs are womderful - warm and loving and incredibly grateful for a home.

however - almost all rescue services can hook you up with a puppy! litters get dumped all the time, so choose your breed and get in touch wiht some shelters, andi'm sure you'll find something you like. and can i just say....

my rescue dog, Dapple, was placed in rescue BY her breeder, and i adopted her as a 3 month old puppy. i know her pedigree, and she is is of the llewellin line of english field setters, and we can trace her lineage all the way back to lord llewellin who developed the breed in the 1800's. her forefathers came over to the US as part of the first ever english field setters to come to the US, and she is a complete princess - both in structure and lineage. as well as that...

on animal planet there used to be (still is, maybe?) a hunting show called 'hunting with hank'. hank was Dapple's grandfather.

all that to say - there are some STELLAR dogs in rescue! Dapple herself has recently been included in a coffee table book called 'setterly yours'; she is now officially a star!
 
All of my animals have been rescues. I could never get an animal from a breeder-I wouldn''t be able to justify it when I know how many loving animals are in need of a home.
 
Shelter or rescue.

We had a great experience adopting our two purrballs from a rescue group in DC -- we knew everything about them before we adopted them and they worked with us to make sure we came home with the right cats.

I would not buy from a breeder, although my family did it when I was growing up. So many wonderful, loving pets are homeless, and a good shelter/rescue group will work with you to make sure you get the best pet for your household. JMO.

When we have a house and can get a waggy tailed canine to add to our family, we will probably adopt from the same rescue group.
 
All our babies are rescues. My next dog I want a very specific breed, so I will be going through a breed-specific rescue. While I understand the reasoning behind going with a breeder, and I know there are incredibly ethical breeders out there, it is very important to me to rescue.
 
Both my dogs were from shelters. And they are wonderful, with no problems or bad habits. We went with shelters for the exact reason you mentioned - too many homeless animals already.
 
ADOPT! Please! The number of homeless animals in the US is somewhere in the millions (if I''m not mistaken). In addition to volunteering with my local animal shelter, I have adopted my animals. You will most likely be able to find a wide variety of dogs who need good homes (all ages, sizes, temperaments) at shelters in your area. Also, if you''re looking for a specific breed, don''t be discouraged by a shelter! Something like 25% of shelter dogs are purebred. Just look around a bit. Also, petfinder.com is a good source for listings of animals available for adoption in your area. Good luck with your search!
 
Date: 1/23/2010 12:28:03 PM
Author: Haven
We''ve always adopted all of our pets from shelters, both dogs and cats. We adopt from shelters because there are so many animals that need good homes, we would feel irresponsible if we adopted from a breeder.
Click to expand...
DITTO!

With so many homeless animals, I would never adopt from a breeder or pet store.
 
My family got our dog from a show dog breeder. I agree, if you''re going with a breeder check the references. If you''re going with a shelter be careful and make sure they''re telling you the right mix if the dog is mixed. DH''s family adopted from a shelter and they mistakenly told them the wrong mix and the dog ended up huge.
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Anyway, I think either is a decent choice. There are ethical arguments about breeders, but if you really like a certain breed then that may be the only way to get a puppy of that type unless you can find a rescue.
 
Just adopted another kitty (from the shelter). So far all our pets have been from the shelter. I myself have no reason
to want/need a purebred cat/dog and there are soooo many at the shelter waiting for homes.
 
Date: 1/23/2010 3:08:41 PM
Author: whitby_2773
i wouldnt recommend a shelter dog past a certain age (4? 5?) if you have small children, as NO grown dog like ot be ''jumped from behind'' by a small thing he knows doesnt really need to be respected (they KNOW who is alpha in the family, and toddlers arent it!) but if you dont have kids - most shelter dogs are womderful - warm and loving and incredibly grateful for a home.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree with this. I know several people with small children who got dogs from the pound and there has never been an issue. All depends on the dog.

I have 3 rescue (think PetSmart) cats and have helped my sister choose dogs from the pound. Its like anything, you need to look around and its unbelievable the animals (purebreed, great personalities, totally trained) that end up in shelters. I don''t fault people for using responsible breeders. Sometimes you know exactly what you want, are set on it, and breeder is the only way to get it.
 
Here is the dog I found for my sister at the pound @ 7 years old, a Great Dane, being harassed by random neighborhood children. Older when we got her but loves all kids. She is 11 now, my sister has a newborn and this dog won''t even get within 12 inches of the baby.

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All but one of our cats have come from the shelter (the other adopted from a vet clinic who found her as a stray). Just because they come from a shelter dosn''t me they will missbehave or whatever. They need the love more. Also, shelters won''t rehome animals if they have antisocial personality traits.
 
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