Shelters admittedly tend to have a lot of “undesirable” breeds. Any dog who ends up in a kill shelter has an average of 2.5 days to be adopted before they’re gassed. Rescues take the good/more desirable dogs out of shelters and rehome them to families.
My first dog was from a rescue. He was in a kill shelter and they took him the day he was scheduled to be killed. Waltzed in the house and lifted his leg and peed on the carpet. I pointed and said no. That was it. Smartest little guy ever and he was great for the 10 years we had him. I wish we had more time with him.
Concurrently we adopted another dog from a shelter. Went there to inquire about volunteering and this dog stole my heart. She was skin and bones 9lbs, had scabs on her, and missing hair in spots. She had been picked up as a homeless dog. The eyes are the windows to the soul and I couldn’t say no to those eyes begging me to get her out of there. We bonded there and I told her I’d come back for her.
I asked the front desk and they said she had a wait list of 5 people and if I wanted her I’d have to get her that Thursday. I put my name on the list but said my daughter is cheering in her first high school game on Thursday we can’t adopt her that day. The following Wednesday the shelter called and asked if I still wanted the dog; all the people on the wait list before us flaked. I said yes but we can’t take her Thursday. They said that’s ok her spay was delayed and you can pick her up Friday. It was meant to be.
We got her weight up; natural weight is 18lbs. By the time her hair grew back enough to be groomed it had been 5 months. I dropped her off and when they handed her to me I had the most gorgeous maltipoo staring at me. I literally said that’s not my dog. Then realized it was. That was 5 years ago and as of now she’s by my side cuddling.
If you prefer breeders go right ahead but there are gems sitting in shelters and rescues for those who want them.
I said shelter or rescue.
Shelters admittedly tend to have a lot of “undesirable” breeds. Any dog who ends up in a kill shelter has an average of 2.5 days to be adopted before they’re gassed. Rescues take the good/more desirable dogs out of shelters and rehome them to families.
My first dog was from a rescue. He was in a kill shelter and they took him the day he was scheduled to be killed. Waltzed in the house and lifted his leg and peed on the carpet. I pointed and said no. That was it. Smartest little guy ever and he was great for the 10 years we had him. I wish we had more time with him.
Concurrently we adopted another dog from a shelter. Went there to inquire about volunteering and this dog stole my heart. She was skin and bones 9lbs, had scabs on her, and missing hair in spots. She had been picked up as a homeless dog. The eyes are the windows to the soul and I couldn’t say no to those eyes begging me to get her out of there. We bonded there and I told her I’d come back for her.
I asked the front desk and they said she had a wait list of 5 people and if I wanted her I’d have to get her that Thursday. I put my name on the list but said my daughter is cheering in her first high school game on Thursday we can’t adopt her that day. The following Wednesday the shelter called and asked if I still wanted the dog; all the people on the wait list before us flaked. I said yes but we can’t take her Thursday. They said that’s ok her spay was delayed and you can pick her up Friday. It was meant to be.
We got her weight up; natural weight is 18lbs. By the time her hair grew back enough to be groomed it had been 5 months. I dropped her off and when they handed her to me I had the most gorgeous maltipoo staring at me. I literally said that’s not my dog. Then realized it was. That was 5 years ago and as of now she’s by my side cuddling.
If you prefer breeders go right ahead but there are gems sitting in shelters and rescues for those who want them.
And for every anecdote like yours there is a food aggressive dog that bites a kids face because they wanted to pet the new doggie while he was eating.