Why are backyard breeders bad?
Individual dog breeders are just as unethical as any puppy mill but on a smaller scale. Not only is using an animal’s reproductive ability to make a quick buck lazy and wrong—doing so also adds to the overpopulation and homelessness crisis, just as puppy mills do.
And just like puppy mills, breeders often breed dogs with health problems, passing along congenital issues that cause suffering in litter after litter.
How are dog breeders exacerbating the overpopulation crisis?
There’s no excuse for bringing more puppies into the world. On any given day in the U.S., an estimated 70 million homeless dogs and cats are struggling to survive. Of the millions of animals who enter shelters each year, about half must be euthanized for humane reasons or because no suitable homes exist for them. Every time a dog is bred, homeless dogs lose the opportunity to have a good life.
Few, if any, breeders require that the puppies they sell be spayed or neutered, so they would soon be able to have litters of their own, adding to the overpopulation crisis. Breeders don’t see dogs as individuals with personalities and specific needs—they just see dollar signs. When trends arise around particular breeds—such as the craze for huskies fueled by HBO’s Game of Thrones—breeders churn out dogs to make money and accommodate humans’ desire to be part of the most recent fad. But many animals who are purchased on a whim end up neglected or abandoned after their novelty wears off and the people who bought them realize how much work, time, and expense is involved in caring for a living, feeling being.
Some of these dogs will end up in animal shelters, but millions of others will suffer and die alone and uncounted every year—after being hit by cars or attacked by other animals, succumbing to disease or the elements, or enduring other awful fates.
Is breeding your own dog a bad idea, too?
It’s irresponsible to bring more dogs into the world when countless dogs are dying every day because there are no homes for them. Animal companions typically also have longer, healthier lives if they’re spayed or neutered.
Raw Alignment – Ethical Breeders Do Not Exist | Rant
Predictability is the biggest reason to buy a dog from a reputable responsible breeder. Knowing what to expect from that tiny little puppy as he grows into an adult dog is important in some scenarios.
Don’t get me wrong, I am all for adopting a dog. But I also think there is a time and place for getting a dog from a breeder. I have adopted every single one of my dogs in my adult life… that is until now. This past weekend we brought home a bundle of joy that we purchased from a reputable breeder.
Yes, you read that right. We bought a puppy. Before you pass judgment and wonder “how could she!” Let me explain our story.