Is Rescue the Only Moral Way to Get a Dog? (And Should We Judge Those Who Take Other Legal Paths to Dog Ownership?)

By Ron Sturgeon, Founder & Senior VP of National Alliance for Dog Breeding Reform

I read an opinion piece in Dogster that I admire for its frankness. The article is titled “Commentary: I will Judge You for Buying a Dog from a Breeder” and describes a view many people hold.

It’s ironic that the writer is a huge opponent of breed-specific bans that often discriminate against pit bulls. Of course, she’s right about breed-specific laws. It’s really unfair to condemn a whole breed based upon the behavior of its worst specimens.

I’m against breed-specific bans because there is a huge variation in behavior within a breed, and beyond genetics, much depends upon the human beings who raise the dogs.

In the same way, the way that the best breeders treat dogs differs quite a bit from the way the worst breeders do. I don’t condemn all breeders based upon what the worst breeders do.

Think for a moment about what the best breeders do. The French Bulldog that Kezia Willingham, the writer of the Dogster article, wants so badly (but won’t buy because it’s a breeder’s dog) may be more expensive for a reason.

The best breeders do genetic testing to ensure that they have carefully selected the right dogs to make defects common to the breed less likely in the pups. They socialize puppies carefully. They keep the pups longer. They care for puppies and parents meticulously.

The best breeders take great care in making sure the person who wants one of their puppies will be worthy of it. They come to visit the home where their puppy will live. They ask many questions before money changes hands. The best breeders will take back a dog any time that the owner can’t take care of it. They are accessible to the buyer with advice about the breed long after the transaction.

So, how should we judge the person who wants a dog from that breeder? Have they done something wrong because they want a dog with a known pedigree, a dog that an expert has carefully bred? Have they done something wrong by choosing to buy a dog from a responsible breeder?

I don’t think so.

Dogs come into people’s lives in different ways. Some wander in as strays. Some come from shelters or rescue groups. The people who rescue and foster are doing worthwhile work. The author of the article, rescued her dogs and has confidence that rescue is the right path to pet ownership for her.

It’s not, however, the only moral path. And just because it’s right for her doesn’t make it the only path or allow judgment of others who don’t agree. By the way, we can disagree without being judgmental. To become judgmental essentially means we have stopped listening and trying to be objective. By the way, I won’t be judgmental about her being judgmental. I just don’t agree with Kezia, but I’m glad to continue to listen and to talk about the issues her article raises.

When Kezia learns that her friend has probably purchased a puppy from a breeder she has this response: “I realized I’m not as open-minded as I like to think: I immediately thought less of the person for buying a dog instead of rescuing one.”

I admire her candor even though I disagree with her. I think we should not judge other people’s choice to buy from a breeder rather than to adopt a pet from a rescue or shelter.

As dog lovers, we should see that what matters is not whether the dog comes from a breeder, a rescue, or a shelter, but what type of home the dog gets.

As far as dog-breeding reform goes, we know that there is a world of difference between the best breeders and the worst. We recognize that breeding is going to go on because people want to buy dogs from breeders.

However, we also believe that dog breeding can be made better for the dogs. We want to ensure that every dog is treated humanely, shown kindness, and bred using only medically sound practices.

Many believe that we should never buy a dog; rescue is the only path. It’s an intriguing pointy of view. I think I understand why they feel that way, but I can’t support a position that isn’t practical.

To say that adopting is the only moral way to get a dog is not realistic and will certainly alienate many dog lovers who feel otherwise—many of whom might otherwise support sensible reform of dog breeding laws that would make a difference for the dogs.

I want to win for the dogs. Registering all breeders and reforming the bad ones are lofty goals and may never be 100% achieved, but both are practical and reachable on some level. If you think these are worthwhile objectives, please share our posts, sign up for e-mail updates and volunteer (we need researchers to help us finish the dog-breeding-laws wiki).

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Should we Stop All Dog Breeding Until Every Rescue and Shelter Dog Has Been Adopted?

By Ron Sturgeon, NADBR Founder and Senior VP.

Many of the National Alliance for Dog Breeding Reform’s members are passionate about rescue, and all of our members love dogs, so we understand the desire to see every adoptable dog find a permanent home. We hope you will visit our site and register for updates or volunteer to help.

So, let’s take a minute to consider whether an outright ban on dog breeding would really be wise.

My first objection to the idea of a breeding ban is philosophical. Shouldn’t Americans who want to breed dogs in a responsible way have a right to do it? Shouldn’t Americans who want to spend money they have earned on a dog from a breeder have the right to do it? We believe the answer to both questions is yes.

As admirable as it is to rescue a dog, it isn’t what every prospective pet owner wants to do. Yes, there are wonderful dogs at the pound and at shelters. Yes, many rescue organizations and shelters do an outstanding job of matching dog and owner. Yes, purebred dogs are available from breed-specific rescues and from shelters.

Some prospective dog owners want to know the parents and want the expertise and advice that a good breeder can give. Maybe they want a dog with a full history or a dog that has been socialized carefully by a quality breeder.

Prospective dog owners should be free to rescue a dog from a shelter or rescue group, to take in a stray, to get a dog from a friend or family member, or to get one from the reputable breeder of their choice.

In addition to the philosophical objection to dog breeding bans, I have a practical one: a ban would not stop Americans from buying dogs from breeders.

Instead, dog breeding would go underground and the least ethical breeders and their clients would devise a host of ways to circumvent the law. Perhaps dogs would be imported. Costs and hassles would go up, but dog breeding would go on with less scrutiny and fewer protections for the dogs.

Third, a ban would work well enough to cause a certain kind of breeder to quit. The ones most likely to quit would be those who are scrupulous about following the law. Ironically, a ban might drive out the breeders who do the most to ensure dogs are treated humanely, shown kindness, and bred using only medically sound practices.

Finally, even if a dog breeding ban worked just as advertised and all prospective pet owners who now buy dogs from breeders or get them from other sources went to shelters or rescues to get dogs, the shelters and rescues would quickly run out of adoptable dogs and cats.

The math just does not work. Writing in response to a critic in 2008, No-Kill shelter advocate Nathan Winograd points out that more than twice as many people are looking to add dogs and cats to their homes as there are dogs and cats in shelters:

“…every year about twice as many people are looking to bring a new dog into their home than the total number of dogs entering shelters, and every year more people are looking to bring a new cat into their home than the total number of cats entering shelters. On top of that, not all animals entering shelters need adoption: some will be lost strays who will be reclaimed, others are feral cats who need neuter and release, some will be vicious dogs or hopelessly ill/injured and will be killed, and so on.”

As much as we would like to see every adoptable shelter dog and rescue dog find a home, a ban on breeding isn’t the best path to achieve that goal.

In a democratic society with a free-market economy, bans on commerce are unlikely to be successful in the long run. Perhaps a dictator backed by an invasive state and draconian penalties could make a ban stick, but that isn’t the sort of society most Americans want to live in.

We think the wiser path is to recognize the dog breeding is here to stay and so are sales of puppies at pet stores or in other channels. So, the questions become what can we do to make breeding more humane? How can we address the issue of bad dog breeding practices at the root?

We believe the best hope for meaningful progress on the issue is to be pragmatic but creative. Rescues, shelter experts, veterinarians, dog owners, and good breeders all can contribute to improving dog breeding. Many good dog breeders want to be part of making dog breeding better for the dogs.

NADBR’s has the goal that every dog being bred be treated humanely, shown kindness, and bred using only medically sound practices. We believe a lot can be done to achieve that goal without bans and in ways that are consistent with the reality of a market-driven economy for dogs.

 

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Why a No-New-Laws Approach Doesn’t Serve the Long-Term Interests of Responsible Dog Breeders

By NADBR’s VP and Director of Research Rita Rice

I know that the popular view among responsible home-based dog breeders is “No more laws!” And, it’s no mystery why we feel that way. The laws currently on the books manage to both discourage responsible breeding and still not do much to help end severe neglect and cruelty situations.

Although many breeder groups are doing a great job fighting misguided new legislation, no one is thinking about creating an outcome that rewards good husbandry and responsible dog breeding.

The result is that most legislation is written by “anti-breeding” groups – who somehow don’t seem to understand that Americans want to buy purebred or well-bred puppies and that, if they can’t get them in their state, or in the U.S., they’ll just import from overseas, where the U.S. has no jurisdiction to require minimum standards of care.

Because, really, my friends – I know that many dedicated breeders get frustrated by having to deal with regulations on dog breeders that make no sense, but aren’t you also heartsick at the number of rescues that are truly needed? Aren’t you fed up by the number of poorly bred puppies, unsocialized and laden with mental and physical problems that pass for “purebred” dogs these days?

So, think outside the box for a minute.

What if the law actually worked in your favor and allowed you, as a responsible breeder, to operate more openly and to advertise your litters to the local pet market? What if the law actually helped bring buyers to you? What if it gave you the opportunity to educate possible buyers about the quality dogs you produce? What if it gave you a chance to demonstrate the difference between your breeding program and those of people selling questionable dogs over the Internet?

Most of us don’t even advertise in the local market, because the laws don’t favor it. If they did, wouldn’t it be so much easier for good breeders to work with local buyers and to educate local prospects?

I believe that there are thousands of us: responsible, mostly home-based breeders who are quietly doing a great job raising happy, healthy puppies on a small scale. I also believe that most of us feel so pressured by the current political climate that we cringe every time we buy more than three bags of dog food, and stifle the rant that begs to explode every time we walk in public with our dogs and someone asks, “Is that a rescue?”

At some point, we need either to make our voices heard or to be ready to throw in the towel.

I have spent the last six months working with the dedicated members of NADBR. For the first time in years, I feel like I’m a part of a constructive dialogue with a group of individuals who respect that, first and foremost, all of us love dogs and want what’s best for them, now and in the future. NADBR is about promoting responsible dog breeding, not putting responsible dog breeders out of business.

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Platinum Standard: Is it a Pipe Dream or a Real Possibility?

By Kim Colacchio

I have written this to start a conversation about the right standards for dog breeders.

While I have always been a dog lover, I recently became a dog owner. Anyone who knows me knows how carefully I do my research before making any important decisions. Naturally, I researched all things dog before becoming a dog owner.

Research led me to which breed was best for my family and me. It led me to fact-based answers about the kind of breeder I wanted and the conditions under which I expected the dog I was buying to have been bred, nurtured, and socialized.

My research made me an informed pet buyer and showed me the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of dog breeding. It also has led me to imagine a higher standard.

My Dream

I dream about creating a new seal of approval: The Platinum Standard to signify that a dog has been bred in a humane manner and raised under optimal conditions (well fed, well cared for, socialized, given access to top-shelf veterinary care, kept in a clean environment, adequately protected from the elements).

The Platinum Standard would recognize breeders who give their female dogs ample time to recover from a birth before breeding them again. It would recognize breeders who socialize puppies so well that they arrive “pre-spoiled”. It would recognize those breeders who practice good husbandry and follow the highest standards of bathing and grooming puppies and parents.

The Platinum Standard would become dog breeding’s equivalent to the Good HouseKeeping Seal of Approval. It would be not replace AKC, but complement it, by certifying breeders for the quality of care provided to puppies and parents.

*Please note: The information below is not intended to bash, diminish, or malign the AKC. I use AKC only as an example of a registration system that has existed for a very long time. AKC is a highly successful, highly influential organization in the world of purebred dogs.

  • AKC was formed in 1884. It is 131 years old.
  • AKC is a non-profit that registers purebred dogs in the United States
  • AKC registration indicates only that a dog’s parents were registered as one of the recognized breeds. AKC registration does not necessarily indicate that the dog came from healthy or a show-quality bloodline. Nor is registration a reflection of the quality of the breeder or an indication of how the puppy was raised (1).
  • AKC maintains approximately nine field inspectors.
  • Consumers are convinced that if a dog is registered AKC, it is show quality and comes from a healthy bloodline. However, AKC registration does not necessarily indicate either.
  • AKC registered dogs come from high-quality breeders, backyard breeders, Amish breeders, puppy mills and large-scale breeders. Good and bad breeders are allowed to register their dogs AKC.
  • Consumers drive the need for puppies. Pet stores, breeders, internet puppy sellers are all in business because consumers want to become dog owners.
  • Pet stores and internet sales fulfill the needs of the consumer who want/need to buy to satisfy an immediate need.
  • Consumers who buy dogs from pet stores and backyard breeders often are impulse buyers. The puppies they buy are often ill and in need of immediate veterinary care. At times, the financial burden of caring for a sick puppy is so great that families surrender these dogs to shelters and rescues because they cannot afford the care their new puppy needs.

Various breeders who registered their dogs AKC have been shut down, raided, and closed shortly after having been inspected by an AKC inspector (2).

  • Dogs are considered livestock and fall under USDA regulation.
  • Enforcing breeding standards using the USDA is difficult because the agency lacks the resources and inspectors to visit the large number of breeding operations that exist today.
  • Consumer demand for puppies is greatest during the Christmas season. Do buyers put enough thought into the purchase? Is it more likely to be an impulse buy?
  • Large Scale breeders, puppy mills, and back yard breeders are manufactures of puppies, many of whom fall short in the areas of quality control and quality assurance.

So, how could “The Platinum Standard” become a reality? It would require hard work. Here are, not in any particular order, some of the issue that would have to be considered:

  • Who would be the governing body? National Alliance for Dog Breeding Reform (NADBR)?
  • How could we get breeders to comply with the standard?
  • How do we tell consumers about the new standard?
  • How many breeders and vets would support a new standard?
  • Can we create a business plans that convinces breeders of all sizes that the Platinum Standard would be good for their business?
  • How do we get breeders that aren’t meeting the standard to change their behavior so they do?
  • How would we get trademark protection for the Platinum Standard?
  • Is the Platinum Standard a registration or a brand or both?
  • How much would we charge for the seal of approval?
  • Since it would be a non-profit, could we use funds for education and marketing?
  • Could we apply for grants to assist in the educational funding?
  • Would we have to work with USDA or other government agencies?
  • Could pet insurance companies assist us in establishing the Platinum Standard?
  • Could this be an offshoot of NADBR?
  • Could this become a solution to address the dark side of poor breeding habits?
  • How can the consumer drive the solution? (Education and demand for excellence?)

Who could we work with to establish the new standard?

  • Breeders who already meet high standards and want to differentiate themselves
  • Breeders who offer multi-year health guarantees
  • New breeders who want to establish themselves as different and better.
  • Veterinarians
  • Consumers through brochures? Bill Boards? Social Media? (Congratulations on your new AKC registered puppy! Is your puppy “Platinum Standard” registered?)
  • Companies that practice Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). For example, JM Smucker’s, a leader in CSR, recently acquired several pet food brands.

If the Platinum Standard were to become widely adopted and followed, dogs would be the main beneficiaries. We, as pet owners, would have reliable sources for healthy, happy puppies that have been bred under the best conditions.

We can make a difference by beginning the effort for a higher standard, a Platinum Standard.

Thank you for reading.

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Kennel_Club

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