One thing I often hear when someone meets my dog is “What kind is he?”
“I don’t know, he’s a mutt.”
Then, a common response is: “Aww, he’s a rescue. That’s so great of you.”
I’m glad when people support adopting shelter mutts, but just because my dog is a mutt does not mean he was “rescued.” It does not mean he was abused. It does not mean he spent time in a shelter or was on death row. It does not even mean he came from an accidental litter (goldendoodle, anyone?).
I got my mutt through Adopt-A-Pet of Fargo-Moorhead. So if you look at it that way, I did “rescue” him. But I like to say I adopted him. More accurately, I rescued his previous owner!
Ace’s first family never turned him over to a shelter or a foster family. Instead they posted his profile on Adopt-A-Pet and kept him until they found him a new home (me). This mutt has spent one night behind bars in his life, and that was when I paid to leave him at a boarding kennel.
So, in some ways I did “rescue” Ace, but I think that is giving me too much credit. I just wanted a dog. Sometimes people cling to the idea that they “rescued” their dogs, almost playing up the drama to make themselves feel better. I don’t think we need another reason to be emotionally attached to our dogs. It isn’t always healthy for the dog or the human.
And of course, “rescues” are not always mutts.
Many purebred dogs have spent time at a shelter or pound. Many come from puppy mills, accidental litters and abusive situations in one way or another. Thousands of purebred dogs are euthanized every year because of behavioral problems or a lack of resources or space to keep them.
And just as I hear people make inaccurate comments about mutts, I also hear them making comments about “all these purebred” dogs and how “it’s a shame more people don’t adopt from shelters.”
These people are missing a very big point. Many of the purebred dogs we see are living with their second or third family. There are plenty of mutts that need good homes, but purebred dogs are waiting for good homes, too.
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Having both, purebred and mutt rescues, I get all the dumb comments. The one that always ticks me off about my Shelties though is that people think I breed them. I explain that they are rescues that we adopted, they’ll still say that we should breed them. Ughhh! Did they not just hear what I said? There are enough purebred dogs out there that they are ending up in shelters, and you think I should breed some more? You probably don’t want to get me started on this topic, it really ticks me off! LOL
Maries last blog post..Wordless Wednesday 10-22-08
Very good points. Of my 6 purebred dogs, 4 are rescues. They came from each scenario. 1 from a shelter, 1 rescued from a life as a breeder in a puppy mill and 2 were owner surrenders to me. You are right, you can never tell from appearances where a dog came from.
I do point out that I got my dogs from shelters to people that think you only get old, wacky and deranged dogs from the shelters. I specifically point out Walter as he is a small dog and still VERY young (approx 9 mo when we got him). Its frustrating when people go straight to the pet store to buy puppies because they think a) shelters don’t have young dogs and b) if they do have young dogs they must have problems.
I also point out how much I paid for my dogs! they were considerable cheap, and they came trained, BONUS!
Great post – I’m glad you point that out! Not all mutts are rescues and there are plenty of purebreeds that need a rescue! Oh, and to echo Marie – I get asked why I don’t breed my new addition. Hmm…other than the fact he’s neutered, there are plenty of bloodhounds that need homes!
Apryl DeLanceys last blog post..Rays The Roof!!
Ughh, I can’t believe how many people still think that just because they have a “purebred” dog “with papers” she should be bred. And how many people pick a purebred based on looks and then end up giving them up because they didn’t think about the temperament of the pretty puppy they were adopting. Argh.
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My Silkey is from a rescue shelter. I also had a German Shepherd that was a rescue dog. I wish more people that are considering getting a “purebred” dog would check out their local animal shelter.
What a cute border! I agree the concept of adopting and rescuing are often misconstrued!!
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