Choosing the Right Breed Research breeds before you adopt or buy! Never get a dog based on how cute, exotic or beautiful a breed is. Research the breed's characteristics; what it was bred for; exercise, grooming, and training needs. Nordic breeds such as Huskies require an incredible amount of exercise. If you are the kind of person who likes to take short infrequent walks, a Husky is not the dog for you. Some breeds should never be owned by first time dog owners. New designer dogs such as; Labradoodles, Cockpoos, Pomapoos and other mixes are being sold for thousands of dollars often on the Internet as if they were sweaters. These dogs are mixes; they are NOT new breeds! If you want to own one, that's fine. Just know that they are not new breeds, but have become the latest fad in dogs. Therefore, breeders demand a high price for these dogs. Sadly, many come from horribly cruel puppy mills. Pets from puppy mills often come with health, behavior and genetic problems that can result in heartbreak all around. More on puppy mills below. Do not buy or adopt a dog sight unseen. Please understand that AKC paperwork is NEVER a guarantee of quality. The AKC is a breed registry that depends on the integrity and honesty of the breeders who register dogs in their registry. Not every breeder is honest or cares about their dogs. The AKC is a place to register litters of dogs and cannot guarantee quality. Sadly, puppy millers, pet stores (who buy from puppy mills), and unethical breeders also register dogs and advertise that the dog is "AKC." Research the breeder also. Never buy over the Internet, from a pet store, or sight unseen. Always see where the dogs are being kept. If the breeder does not allow you to see where they keep their dogs, walk away - they have something to hide. An ethical and caring breeder will allow you to see where your pup is being raised and will want to interview you as if you were adopting a child. An ethical and caring breeder will not just let someone walk in, give them money, and walk out with a puppy. An ethical breeder will want to know all about you, your life style, your previous pet ownership. An ethical breeder will never sell you two puppies from the same litter. It just isn't a good idea! For information on American Kennel Club recognized breeds and their characteristics, click on the link. AKC Information on Dog Breeds. Again research the breed! A loud Beagle is not going to be very welcome in a condo complex!
dogs and cats! Be informed before you adopt. Research how to choose a dog and about different breeds. If you are looking at a mixed breed dog, research what the characteristics are of the breed of which the dog is a mix. Be prepared to discuss your lifestyle with the shelter workers so they can help you choose a suitable dog or cat. Shelters and rescues want the adoptions to work out as much as you do! Ask about the shelter's adoption fees and policies. Fees and policies vary. Most city pounds charge only $50 for a dog. Some rescues charge as much as $400. Ask the shelter if they will take the dog back if the adoption does not work out. If yes, get it in writing. Not all rescues and shelters are able to take animals back due to many reasons including policies and space limitations. Sadly, some rescues do not take dogs back because they do not stand behind their adopted pets. I have seen this happen to adopters again and again. Find out what they know about the dog. Was it a stray or an owner surrender? Is it good with kids, cats, men, women, and other dogs? Is the dog housebroken? If not, are you willing to housebreak an adult dog? Be prepared for an adjustment period with your new dog. Do not coddle your new dog; set rules and stick to them. Find a good trainer, enroll in a class and get off on the right path. Click here for info about consultations for new dog owners |
stores and online shops that sell dogs and cats, the cruelty will never stop. Take a look at these links and think about why you would want to support such inhumane businesses. |
Think! Before you get a puppy or dog . . .
| Inside Edition's Report on Dangers of Buying Online Puppies! Please read this important story that aired on 2/9/07 |
| CT Pet Store Facing Accusations From Regulators More Unhappy Puppy Owners Come Forward Customers: Store Sold Sick Puppies |
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| Tippy a beautiful Chow Chow who was dumped in kill shelter. |
| Johnny, a sweet Beagle who was dumped in a shelter. |
| Lovely mixed breed dog named Onyx who was dumped in a shelter. |
| Hundreds Of Animals Removed From Area Farm Humane Society Officials Call Situation Puppy Mill Reported By Anne Marshall POSTED: 12:10 pm CDT June 25, 2008 UPDATED: 7:33 pm CDT June 25, 2008 LYLES, Tenn. -- Officers begin removing hundreds of dogs from what the Humane Society called a puppy mill in Hickman County. Video: 700 Animals Rescued From Farm Authorities said the raid at the farm of Patricia Adkisson was the largest in Tennessee's history. The investigation was so massive, officials said it could take a couple of days. About 700 animals were found at Pine Bluff Kennels. Officials called it a puppy mill. Most of the dogs were smaller breeds. Officials and volunteers found about 200 puppies. The rest of the dogs were used for breeding. The Humane Society was called in on Wednesday to help with removing the animals and to assess their health. The animals will be taken to a nearby facility to be housed until an investigation is completed. All of the animals were housed in various buildings throughout the 92-acre property. Many of them were without water and living in cages covered in feces. Some of the dogs were dead, and others were close, officials said. "Skin conditions, eye injuries and broken bones," said District Attorney General Kim Helper. Adkisson was charged in 1998 with 195 counts of animal neglect and cruelty after police and animal officials said they found hundreds of malnourished dogs and puppies on her property. Three convictions stemming from the 1998 charges were overturned in 2001 when an appeals court found that police had improperly searched her property, which violated her constitutional rights. Helper said she didn’t want what happened in the last case to happen again. "We want to make sure that if criminal charges are filed in this case that we have a successful prosecution," she said. No arrests have been made, and no charges have been filed, but both could be on the way after all of the animals are evaluated. "This was something that was way beyond what we were capable of handling," said a local official. The Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals helped to arrange the manpower for the raid and housing for all the animals. There is no animal control in Hickman County, so the animals will be kept at the temporary shelter. If charges are filed and if the owner relinquishes ownership, a lot of the dogs will have to be placed with local and national chapters of the Humane Society. Officials said that a lot of the puppies were sold on the Internet, so a lot of the people who bought the puppies had no idea the conditions from which they came. The Humane Society said that when you buy a puppy, make sure you know where it comes from. The owner of Pine Bluff Kennels could face one criminal count for each animal. Cats, goats, donkeys, horses and parrots were also found on the property. Puppy mills are a violation of Tennessee's animal cruelty laws. http://www.wsmv.com/hickman/16707728/detail.html |
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