Are you a dog lover who are
thinking of getting a dog of your own? Are you a pack leader who want to add
more dogs to your current pack? Whoever you are, if you're considering a dog to
make your house merrier, I wanna give you some insights regarding where you
should take your future dogs from and why. Because apparently, taking a dog in
requires more thoughts than we think. Besides deciding on what kind of breed
you want, you also have to think about the place to get that dog(s).
Basically, there are 2 ways of
owning dogs:
- Buying from pet stores/breeders
- Adopting from animal shelters
A lot of us, mainly in Indonesia,
love to buy dogs from a pet store. There are only a few who actually thinking
of adopting. Well, which one is a better way to get a dog? Buying or adopting?
Here are some considerations you should look into:
When you decided to get a dog, as a pet, think
of the reasons WHY you want a dog. Do you want it to be your friend and
companion? Do you want it to be profitable to you? Or maybe, you want a dog
just because it’s so stylish and posh to own one. Think: Once you have a dog,
you're fully responsible for it, you're expected to be the pack leader who
could create balance in your dog's life. Having a dog means so much more than
feeding and showering it with love.
First
of all, for people who want a dog for companionship, and no economical or
business purposes, I strongly suggest adopting. Do you know how many strayed,
mistreated and neglected dogs out there? PLENTY.
These type of dogs are usually
rescued and brought to the nearest animal shelters in the neighborhood, where
they’re literally waiting for their planned death. If they don’t find someone
who want to take them in soon, they are scheduled to be put to death, whether
in an ethical (euthanized) or unethical way (brain electrocuted). By adopting
dogs from animal shelters, you have somewhat taken part in rescuing these less
fortunate dogs.
It also means less dogs killed for no reason at all. Every dog
deserve a second chance. Adopting means giving them a chance to have a better,
happier life as a dog. Forget the notions about how certain breed or even
strayed dogs are wild and untamable, dangerous, even, for humans. They're all wrong.
Like Cesar Milan said, any
dogs can be aggressive and dangerous if not raised correctly. Every dog can be
balanced, if given the chance. At the end of the day, it's not the breed, it's
the owner.
However, we gotta admit that
adopting bears its own risks too. You have so little information regarding
their health or temperament issues. That’s why it’s important that you do your
homework before deciding to adopt. Talk to people around you (veterinarians,
dog trainers, groomers) about the local animal shelters. Professionals usually
have more resources. Pick an animal shelter that is trusted, non-profit
oriented, reputable, and the one that’s truly willing to help you pick a dog
that suits you best. Don’t forget to ask whether the shelter is willing to take
the dog back, not because you’ll throw it away someday, but just in case the
dog you’ve adopted isn’t the right dog for you.
Some animal shelters are
willing, even insist upon taking the dog back if you turn out to be a ‘wrong’
owner (it’s also a sign of a great animal shelter). Don’t worry about the breed
of the dogs. Even in animal shelters, there’s a big chance you’ll find the
breed you’re looking for, some might even be pedigrees. But, in my honest
opinion, breed doesn’t really matter.
Finding the right dog to fit your lifestyle
and capabilities, is the most vital part of adopting. Again, it's not the
breed, it's the owner. What’s more, adopting is cheaper than buying from a
store. Though it’s not entirely free, the fee you’ll pay is not for the
shelter’s own profit, but usually to cover the cost of taking care all the
rescued dogs. By adopting, you have rescued a dog, given it a new home, let it
start a new, and hopefully happy-balanced life.
On
the contrary, if you’re someone who raises show dogs, or even owning a dog for
the sake of social status, adopting might not be a good option. You’d rather
buy dogs from a pet store, who can guarantee that you get the best dog that
comes with legal and official certificates. However, I personally don’t like
the idea of buying from a pet store.
But even if you decided to buy, please
make sure to choose the best pet shop. Some pet shop gets the dogs through a
very unethical way. Most pet shops get their pets from pet mills. What is a pet
mill? A pet mill basically is a ‘factory’ of dogs. Pet mills breed dogs purely
to gain maximum profits. Mothers are forced to get pregnant non-stop.
In most
cases, their welfares aren’t taken into consideration. They live just to give
birth to more and more puppies. When they’re no longer needed, they’re left to
die. It is that simple. When dogs are no longer profitable, they’re useless,
hence gone their existence. [To learn more about pet mills, you can go to http://stoppuppymills.org/inside_a_puppy_mill.html.
If you find similar pratices in your area, please report them to your local
animal rescue organizations or the authorities.]
That’s why it’s important to be
certain that you’re buying from a responsible breeder. If you want to own a
pedigree, get it from a certified, responsible, and reputable breeder. From the
information I gained, reputable breeders don’t send their purebred dogs
to some pet stores just to live in a cage. It’s impossible. They say that
you’ll see reputable breeders when you see them. You’ll know it when you see
them. If you’re unsure, once again, talk to professionals. Talk to dog owners
who own purebred dogs. Or go to an obedience club, talk to the people there.
One thing for sure, reputable breeders have a good reputation.
To put it in a nutshell, it’s
your choice whether to buy or to adopt, as both options have their own pros and
cons. I strongly recommend adopting (or maybe rescuing), but if there aren’t
animal shelters in your area, please buy dogs from trusted shops or, even
better, a trusted breeder. I believe the procedures will be even more
complicated when you buy from a reputable breeder or shops, but they will be so
willing and helpful in picking the perfect dog for you. You’ll ultimately get a
best friend for life. One last thing, do your homework right before deciding to
own a dog, in any ways. Again, do your
homework.
Woof luck!
[ The writer never buy dogs. She always gets
them for free. But she doesn't favor the idea of buying from a pet shop. She
thinks that you can’t just buy one from a pet shop, you have to buy all, since
they’re all usually very miserable. Rescue them all if you can. Getting a dog
for free (from friends, acquaintances, relatives, families, etc. who own too
many dogs or pet owners who can no longer take care of their dogs) is even a
better idea than buying from some irresponsible breeders/shops. Know where you
get your dogs, support your local animal shelters and animal rescue
organizations, go against pet mills, make the world a better place for men's
best friend. :-) ]
By: @dephchii
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