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Anonymous
Why do people buy cats and dogs when there are so many that are killed at adoption shelters?
>> Talec !gKQv5IanZU
Because shelter-critters are like USED MERCHANDISE EW

...but seriously, I don't know. At the least, I seriously hope it's not what I typed above. >_>

It might be easier to *find* pet stores (one in every local-ish mall, it seems like) than shelters (there's one off of Route 17... I think).

For the record (what record? lol), every one of my family's pets either appeared out of the blue as strays who followed us home, or were given to us more-or-less out of the blue. Occasionally in the midst of some medical crisis... c_c;
>> Anonymous
Because alot of the dogs are defective.

My sister got a beagle puppy, cutest little thing but impossible to housebreak.
We've had it for a year and it still pisses everywhere. The vet can't find nothing wrong with it. Went to two vets and they said nothing was causing it.
Plus, it like. Snorts as if it has breathing problems and goes into this spazz-attacks where she weezes like she just got kicked in the chest. Vet said we could leave it like that but its annoying as hell.

Plus, some people like a CERTAIN BREED OF DOG.
Some breeds act a certain way, while a mutt might not.
And people like to show off they're $10,000 dog they bought for a dog show.
>> Anonymous
shelter animals tend to have psycho problems.
>> Anonymous
I like daschunds, they're so stubborn and cute. <3 I'm not sure I've ever seen one in a shelter before.

Then again how many times have I been to a shelter..

Plus I like to grow up with my dogs, so I almost always get them when they're puppies or near it. :3

I think they're easier to house break that way though, right? Easier to teach young animals what's right and wrong?
>> Anonymous
>>52362
dachshunds*

I always mess that up.
>> Anonymous
>>52339

Because people are selfish. They want cute puppies or kittens and won't consider adult dogs. They want certain breeds because mutts aren't good enough for them, even though shelter dogs and cats can be some of the most loving animals in the world. It's true they might have problems, but you could have problems with a dog or cat from the pet store too (especially if they were bred at a disgusting puppy mill).
>> Anonymous
>>52356
is it neutered? when some dogs arent neutered they sometimes pick up on smells they smell from the previous houseowners that may have had pets and its simply making its duty to mark its territory. once you get it neutered it stops.

and as for the weezing thing. all dogs do that. it usually means the have a stuffy nose.
>> Anonymous
>>52371
Wait a second. Are you talking about like after they have a drink of water or something? Lots of my dachshunds in the past and my two current ones do it too.

Unless you mean where they just randomly wheeze, which happens too. Although it doesn't annoy me.
>> Anonymous
>>52356

>Plus, some people like a CERTAIN BREED OF DOG.

So mutts deserve no love I guess.

Anyway, even if you want A CERTAIN BREED OF DOG you can adopt one from a rescue for that breed. For instance, if you wanted a labrador retriever, you could find sites like this:

http://www.labrescue.com/

with many animals who need homes. So even if you want a CERTAIN BREED OF DOG, there you go. Twat.
>> Anonymous
People buy from pet stores because they want puppies of a certain breed. Most don't bother to research anything about the breed temperament and just go by looks.

I will always get my pets from shelters. There is a filtering process, at least at the ones where I live. So, the ones they have out should have very little problems.

I also prefer mutts because they usually don't have the diseases and defects that the "pure" breeds have.
>> Anonymous
>>52385
Rescue dogs are usually left behind to rescue for a reason. It also goes right back to the people-only-want-puppies thing. It sucks, but it's a sad fact. Also, less-popular breeds often see their rescue programs overloaded.

>>52386
Mutts have just as many problems, if not more. I prefer purebreeds because you can keep track of the problems that may arise.
With mutts, it's a flip of the coin. Hip dysplasia is MUCH more common in mutts, for example.

There are issues I have with purebred dogs, for sure. Bulldogs can only be born by c-ssection, for example. That's taking vanity a LITTLE too far.

Otherwise, the purebred dog community is not to blame for shelter-glut. Blame puppymills and backyard breeders who dump unwanted puppies on the streets.
>> Anonymous
Every cat I've gotten from a shelter (admittedly, only two) was psycho and ran away. I detected a pattern and stopped.
>> Anonymous
Well, you amurricans must be real lucky if you don't need to face the FUCKING INQUISITION if you want to get a pet from a shelter. Most people would be happy to give you the kitten for free, no questions asked. It's a lot easier and less stressful even though you have to pay extra to get it fixed and vaccinated.
>> Anonymous
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>>52404

Oh, god. It took about 3 hours to get our current cat (picture related) from the shelter. We had to fill out applications to even SEE him (in a 10 minute session) and all sorts of short interviews with tons of paperwork. It's nice to see them verify that you'll be dedicated to the animal, but that's a bit excessive.
>> Anonymous
Are you kidding? That's not excessive at all. If everyone giving away and/or selling pets were as thorough then there would barely even be a need for shelters.
>> Anonymous
>>52411

This is true. But the length of the process makes it less accessible. Then people get their animals from less reputable sources and perpetuate the whole cycle with money that could have gone to an animal actually in need.
>> Anonymous
>>52371
It is female. And we've had the dogs for a year now. The last dog that was in the house besides the beagle and dalmation was another dalmation that was put down three years ago.

And no. Not all dogs do the weezing thing.
I know there's dogs that weeze, but I've never met one that does. I've also owned several dogs and they only weezed when they drank something too fast.

No fucking way this dog has had a stuffy nose since it was born.
>> Anonymous
Actually I think that the length of applications is a very reasonable length. I don't think that it's less "accessible" -- I think it prevents pets from becoming impulse purchases. One of the huge problems with pet stores is that people have the ability to walk into a store and walk out with a dog, if they have the money, no questions are asked.

I think part of the reasons that shelters have such an application process, and why any place selling animals should do the same, is not ONLY to screen the buyer but to force the buyer to screen themselves and really think about what having a pet entails.

A pet should not be a "purchase". If people are going to less reputable sources for an animal because they absolutely have to have it immediately -- those are the animals that end up in shelters after a few months anyway, when their novelty wears off. It's a pretty vicious cycle. The kind of potential pet owner who is prepared for the application process is the kind who has thought about getting a pet BEFORE they ever walked into the shelter, and have thought more thoroughly about the responsibilities.
>> Anonymous
>>52423

>>I don't think that it's less "accessible" -- I think it prevents pets from becoming impulse purchases.

No, it just prevents people form getting their pets from shelters, and thus is counterproductive. The majority of people ALWAYS choose the easier alternative. Only if you shut down every pet shop and prevented people form selling or giving away puppies and kittens would it have effect on who gets to have a pet.
>> Anonymous
lol Amerikka.

Around here they are actually turning people away who want to adopt dogs. There are never any real problems to relocate dogs, especially smaller ones get new homes right away. It's funny how this seems to be a huge problem in USA. Same thing with "U haev to nuter ure dog or they will breed at random", like people actually leave their dogs unsupervised outdoors. Around here there is no such thing as strays.
>> Anonymous
>>52425

Giving away puppies is one thing, but are you saying that people would rather buy a $500 improperly socialized, non-housebroken, inbred puppymill dog from a commercial pet store rather than an application and a reasonable adoption fee that includes basic vet work? Maybe it's just me, but aside from the "impulse" factor, there is NOTHING easier about getting a dog from a pet store rather than a shelter.

Personally, I'm actually more reassured by an application process than put off by it. Provided it's not completely ridiculous, I think it demonstrates that the shelter has the best interest of the animal in mind, which I hope to god the prospective adopter is ALSO considering.

And I do believe that some pet stores are moving away from carrying puppies. I don't think there are any pet store chains near my house that still sell dogs, where shitholes like Petland used to have them all the time. Considering how publicized adopting shelter animals is becoming, I think many more people are opting to adopt.

The ONLY people who are being "prevented" from adopting an animal at a shelter are people who want a pet RIGHT NOW or people who should not be getting a pet in the first place (i.e. people who want a free dog because they can't "afford" to buy one, families with very young children, people who plan to give the animals as a present to someone else). I don't see anything wrong with preventing these people from adopting, or at least slowing them down enough to educate them about the animal they want to "purchase". It really isn't in the shelter's best interest to adopt animals out to unsuitable families, as many of them will end up right back at the shelter.
>> Anonymous
Spay and Neuter your pets so that the shelters have less animals to euthanize.
>> Anonymous
>>52441

Too bad you can't do that with people. Would go a long way preventing overpopulation...
>> Anonymous
Do they? Most people I know, me included, got their pets from adoption shelters, or picked up stray pups/kittens.
>> BIG
It's cerberus!!!
>> Anonymous
>>52448
*huggles hellmutt*
>> Anonymous
>>52389Bulldogs can only be born by c-ssection

Wait, whut? Lawlz, I think you have been misinformed somewhere along the line, buddy.
>> Anonymous
>>52475

Try again. They've been bred to have huge heads with flat faces. That doesn't connect to normal birthing. Obviously not EVERY litter, but to create the dogs closer to the breed standard, yes.
>> Anonymous
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We have our mutt, a beagle/husky/australian cattle dog mix that was rescued off the side of the road
Our pug, admittedly, was bought at a pet store. It sucks but he was an impulse present for my mother.
My cat was "rescued" from my aunt's house. She has a ton of almost-wild cats running around her property and just throws food out to them. My cat was a kitten, a runt, and winter was coming, so I just had to take her in.

I work at a boarding kennel that also houses rescue dogs. There are ALWAYS dogs looking for a home. Plus, pet store animals are more likely to carry common diseases than rescue animals (or at least from a breeding kennel, but even then you have to check it out) Yes, rescue dogs may take a little more work, but its worth it in the end.
>> Anonymous
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>>52591

I hate to see "trouble" animals go to homes that aren't willing to work through the problems.

I think the main point of this thread is that owning animals is serious business, and people refuse to look at it that way.

There's no "easy answer" in finding a good animal, so mutt owners and purebreed owners need to each stop blaming the others.

On a related note, is it just me or are cats a lot less of an issue? People are way more willing to take cats out of shelters or off the streets.
>> Anonymous
>>52430

Sorry I can't hear you, you might want to step off your high horse.
>> Anonymous
>>52609
I guess the relationship between dogs and humans is more complex and complicated than the relationship between cats and humans?
>> Anonymous
>>52635
no its because cats are more hardcore 'don't give a fuck what you do to me, I'll still eat your corpse after you're dead' animals
>> Anonymous
>>52649
I would have thought it's because cats are less likely to rip up your yard, shit everywhere and attack your family/neighbours/randoms on the street

I've owned both but I find cats much easier to take care of. Oh and shelter/strays all the way. I find the idea that living creatures can be sold for profit in such a way morally reprehensible.
>> Anonymous
>>52666
The way I see it cats are easy if you can let it loose outside when it wants. If you have to take it out yourself then it's pretty much the same as having a dog. Exept you have to switch his sand box every now and then....
And ofcourse the bigger the dog the more exercise he needs.
>> Anonymous
>>52609
I think its because cats are a more "feed it and leave it" kind of animal. You change its litterbox or if its an outside cat it just comes back to you when its hungry. Plus, unless you fucking torture the thing, its less likely to go apeshit crazy if it isn't already.

Dogs take more work. Excersize, food, vet bills, waste management, etc etc. Dogs need someone to care for them everyday while with cats you can just throw food out for them and they can fend for themselves.

Humans are family to dogs. To cats we're just warm furniture.
>> Anonymous
I dont know about getting dogs from shelters, but my labrador is one of those guiding eyes rejects and he's stupid, but manageable. Both my cats are from shelters. It's easy to see how cats can develop behavioral problems in those kinds of places. In the place I went to, all the bigger cats were hogging the food and there was a bunch of little sickly cats that looked like they were almost starving. I took one of them, and he wouldn't come out from under the bed for about a week, but then he learned to trust us and now he's the sweetest cat ever. My other cat from the same place is pretty antisocial but he's still a good cat. I think that if youre persistent you can get crazy shelter cats to trust you.
>> Anonymous
In the USA, it's actually pretty difficult to adopt a pet from the shelter. They grill you like you're adopting a human instead of an animal.

In most pet stores you go to in USA, all they care about is if you have the money to pay for the pet.

That's why there are so many animals in the shelter. They turn away the people who don't have a lot of money who would take awesome care of a mutt because they want to give them to a richer owner who could just simply buy a purebred animal and take them to shows.

Anyone else see a problem with this system? I personally think that it's kind of disgusting that these places decide that it's more humane to be nazis about the situation instead of just trying to get the animal to some people who will take care of it. They just euthanize it instead and say, "Oh poor them. No one wanted them as a pet."

They're basically saying that the place you live in isn't good enough for the pet, but they leave you there, so people are apparently worthless in comparison to these animals found on the streets. Make sense to you? Me neither.
>> Anonymous
I don't know for the general population but at the shelter around here, most of the dogs were either vicious looking pit bulls (though one female was very mellow and sweet) or had a belly full of babies.
I'd get a shelter cat right away though, my cat right now was from a shelter and she's thebest cat I've ever had. Our other one was found in the street in a box with some other kittens and we tried to find them all homes.

With dogs, I'd definitely b more choosy.. I wouldn't do pet store or shelter though, more likely to seek out an independent breeder or go to an animal rescue. They work more with their animals.
>> Anonymous
>>52356
>>52721
I'd just like to say that people who show dogs in dog shows don't buy their dogs from pet stores. They buy them from registered breeders. Some breeders, like my aunt, throughly check out people they sell dogs to, and have a contract with them that if they for whatever reason can't or don't want to have the dog anymore she will buy it back from them.
>> Anonymous
Cats? Dogs? I guess I'm just fucked up for owning two rats... ^.^'
>> Anonymous
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>>52799

I second this. My parents breed dogs, show them and field trial them. It isn't a matter of being able to cash out the money for the dog.
Much like your aunt, they lay out a contract with the future owners and are willing to buy the dog back if anything goes wrong.

Also, it isn't the high priced and haughty world many portray it as. Raising dogs for shows takes a lot of money and a lot of work for no prize but a shiny ribbon. I've never seen a show that offered a monetary prize that wasn't by invitation only for the sake of putting pretty animals on TV for the night.

Westminster and Crufts are by no means normal or average shows.

And no dog costs $10,000. That's a really fucking stupid statement.
>> lols anonymous
>>52339
>Why do people buy cats and dogs when there are so many that are killed at adoption shelters?

Cuz they don't know better.
>> Anonymous
>>52721

Speaking as a long time volunteer at a local animal shelter, I have only seen them turn away potential adopters when the situation would likely turn out badly for the dog, the would-be owners, or both. They charge adoption fees for a reason. The adoption fee for dogs is under $100 for a neutered, vet-examined animal -- if someone can't afford THAT, how could they possibly afford routine veterinary bills? Monthly food expenses? And how can the shelter afford to keep these animals without charging some form of adoption fee? You can't tell me that is unreasonable.

Aside from the money, the shelter that I volunteer at will not adopt very young puppies/kittens or certain breeds/temperments to families with young children. Children who are too young to respect an animal are a recipe for disaster, and the shelter is really saving both the animal and the family a lot of trouble. Similarly, they will STRONGLY discourage someone with a small apartment from adopting, say, a hyperactive border collie mix -- some dog breeds/mixes DEMAND a certain environment to thrive -- this is not discrimination, this is acting on behalf of the dog. I've also seen them turn away adopters who plan to make their animal "outdoors only" or acts as though they're "only adopting it for the kids".

Aside from that, if shelter animals were "free" and people were unscreened, some of those animals would end up in very bad situations. Not all, but the potential is there -- bait for dog fights, sold to animal testing facilities, even small animals being used for snake food or simply abused/neglected. This is why even if you are trying to GIVE away animals, a nominal adoption fee should be charged to prevent people from taking animals for anything less than keeping them as well-loved pets.

Maybe I can only speak for "my" shelter, but their mission is to match up appropriate families and animals, no hidden agendas there.
>> Anonymous
>>53093

The shelter here also keeps track of past adoptions as a way to ensure that animals aren't being used as food, etc.
>> Anonymous
>>53093no hidden agendas there.
Yeah, right...
>> Anonymous
>>52339

We didn't. My girlfriend and I adopted two cats.

They're adorable.
>> Anonymous
>>52799

We tried to buy from breeders before, more than once, actually. The rat terrier has epilepsy, the fox terrier had parasites which the breeder neglected to tell us (we ended up finding out because of her previous record at the hospital) and a dachshund that I haven't met yet. The only thing that was left out of the contract was the part where the breeder buys back the dog on the first one. I think that option might exist on the other two.

>>53093

I wasn't referring to money. They started asking questions about the HOUSE that the family lived in, and then decided that it wasn't good enough for the dog, even though many dogs have lived just fine in the house before and since then. They basically said that the place was permissible for humans to live in, but not a dog. That's why I say that they try to treat the animals from the shelters like they're better than the people who want to take care of the animal.

And to be quite honest, this isn't just a localized event. It happens at a lot of shelters, because some comedians have a field day with this reality. I actually first heard about this problem on Comedy Central. Then when I was talking to my boyfriend about this thread, he said they had the exact same problem that the comedians are bringing to light.
>> Anonymous
We got three of our babies from a shelter... my dad (who generally dislikes animals before they grow on him) suprised us when he said we should adopt two... the one I was holding (Pandora) and the one Mom wanted (Julia). Our other baby, who is now the oldest, we adopted when I was about eight... I still love her to death.

The other two I picked up from other people when they were still kittens... One (Ashke) we got from a girl, who's dad was threatening to drown the kittens if she didn't get rid of them (barn kittens), and the other (Honey) from an ex boyfriend...

So honestly... I believe that a pet is a pet, no matter where you get it... I love all my cats. They all need homes... and it doesn't matter if you have to pay for them.

Although... I'm glad that shelters are doing more to protect animals now... I know Petsmart was always really tetchy about adoptions.