Introduction
The number of ethical breeders is on the rise in recent years as more people seek responsibly bred puppies. But even dogs from the most conscientious breeders sometimes end up surrendered to shelters. Why does this happen, and what can be done to prevent it?
Ethical breeding prioritizes the health and welfare of dogs above all else. Ethical breeders carefully screen potential owners, provide health guarantees, and take dogs back if the owner can no longer care for them. However, life circumstances sometimes change, leading even beloved dogs to be relinquished.
In this article, we’ll explore the reasons ethical breeders’ dogs end up homeless and what can be done to keep them out of the shelter system.
Definition of Ethical Breeding
Ethical breeding refers to responsible practices by reputable breeders who prioritize the health and welfare of their dogs. This involves comprehensive health testing, maintaining meticulous pedigree records, and only breeding dogs selectively and occasionally.
Reputable breeders perform health screens on their breeding dogs, including tests for genetic diseases common in the breed. They carefully study pedigrees and only breed dogs that meet breed standards and have sound temperaments. Litters are planned carefully, with a focus on quality over quantity.
Ethical breeders also ensure proper housing, nutrition, socialization, and medical care for all their dogs. Puppies receive appropriate veterinary care and are placed in carefully screened homes. Breeders provide support and take back dogs if needed. Their goal is to produce happy, healthy puppies and improve the breed.
Statistics on Shelter Intakes
According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.1 million dogs enter animal shelters in the United States every year. Of those, approximately 1.6 million are adopted, 670,000 are returned to their owners, and 710,000 are euthanized.
A study by the National Canine Research Council found that 20-30% of dogs in shelters are purebred, while the rest are mixed breeds or undetermined. The purebreds come from a variety of sources – some from reputable breeders, some from backyard breeders or puppy mills, and some stray or surrendered by their owners.
There is limited data tracking exactly where purebred dogs in shelters originated from before arriving at the shelter. However, animal welfare experts estimate that only 10-25% came from ethical hobby breeders committed to lifetime support. The remainder likely came from less scrupulous sources or irresponsible owners.
Reasons Owners Give Up Dogs
There are many reasons why dog owners surrender their pets to shelters. Some of the top reasons include:
Behavioral issues – Common problems like house soiling, aggression, destruction, and barking can overwhelm owners. Lack of training and socialization as a puppy can contribute.
Medical problems – Costly vet bills for illnesses, injuries, or congenital conditions lead some owners to give up their dogs.
Lifestyle changes – Issues like a new baby, job loss, or move to housing that does not allow pets cause people to rehome dogs.
The commitment made by a breeder when placing a puppy can impact returns. Responsible breeders often screen buyers, provide support, and require the dog be returned to them if the owner can no longer keep it. This helps prevent surrendering to shelters.
Case Studies
Despite the best efforts of ethical breeders, some of their dogs still end up in shelters through no fault of the breeder. Here are some examples:
Max the Labrador Retriever
Max was bred by a reputable breeder who carefully screened potential buyers. He was adopted by a family with two young children who wanted a friendly family dog. After a year, the family’s circumstances changed – the wife lost her job and they could no longer afford Max. With much regret, they made the difficult decision to surrender Max to a shelter at 18 months old. The shelter workers remembered the loving home Max came from and made sure to give him extra attention as he waited to be adopted again.
Rosie the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Rosie was bred from champion bloodlines by a preservation breeder specializing in cavalier health. She was adopted at 8 weeks old by a retired couple. Unfortunately, the wife’s declining health meant they could not properly care for a puppy. Although heartbroken, they returned Rosie to the breeder when she was 5 months old. The breeder took Rosie back in and found her a new home with an ideal family. Rosie is now living happily in her forever home.
Preventing Returns
Ethical breeders can take steps to reduce the chances that a dog they’ve bred ends up being returned or surrendered to a shelter. This begins with thoroughly screening potential buyers to ensure they understand the commitment and have the lifestyle and resources to properly care for the dog. Requiring buyers to sign a contract agreeing to return the dog to the breeder rather than a shelter can also help.
Beyond screening and contracts, ethical breeders should offer lifetime support and be a resource for buyers if any issues come up that may lead them to consider giving up the dog. This includes being available for training guidance, advice on health and behavior issues, or temporary care if needed. Responsible breeders will want to keep in touch with buyers and make themselves available. They should also be willing to take back any dog they’ve bred at any point in its life so it doesn’t end up in a shelter.
While not foolproof, these types of preventative measures by ethical breeders committed to dogs’ lifetime welfare can reduce the chances of surrender and help ensure their dogs stay in loving homes.
Alternatives to Sheltering
For owners who can no longer care for their ethically bred dogs, there are alternatives to surrendering them to a shelter that can help find them new loving homes. Responsible breeders often provide rehoming assistance for any dogs they have bred. They keep track of all puppies that come from their breeding dogs and are willing to take back dogs at any point in their lives. This ensures they do not end up abandoned or in a shelter.
There are also breed-specific rescue networks and waitlists that can help rehome dogs without involving a shelter. These rescue groups connect with adopters looking for that particular breed. Adopters go through an application process and the rescue matches them with dogs in need of new homes. This provides a safety net for ethically bred dogs if their owners are unable to keep them.
Additionally, temporary foster care is an option to buy some time while finding a permanent new home for a dog. Responsible breeders often have a network of fosters who can provide love and care temporarily until adoption. This prevents the stress of a shelter stay while in transition to a new forever home.
Shelter Challenges
Animal shelters face many challenges in caring for unwanted and abandoned pets. Two major issues are overcrowding and limited resources. With high intake rates, especially of popular breeds like pit bulls and chihuahuas, shelters often run out of space. They may resort to housing multiple animals per kennel or even keeping dogs in crates temporarily. Limited staffing and tight budgets make it difficult to properly care for all the animals.
Shelters also struggle to find homes for certain dogs. Those with medical or behavioral issues are difficult to place. Senior dogs and bully breeds tend to stay at shelters much longer. With limited space, shelters sometimes have no choice but to euthanize healthy, adoptable pets. This takes an emotional toll on staff and volunteers. Creative programs like foster networks, behavior training, and transport to areas with demand can help, but resources are stretched thin at many overcrowded facilities.
Call to Action
The issue of dogs ending up in shelters is a complex one, but there are ways we can all make a difference. Here are some actions to take:
Support adoption and ethical breeders. If you’re looking to add a dog to your family, consider adopting from a shelter or rescue. This gives a home to a dog already in need. Or seek out responsible breeders who prioritize health, temperament and humane practices.
Donate or volunteer for rescues. Local rescues always need donations and volunteers to care for their animals. Even a few hours a month can make a big difference.
Commit fully when getting a dog. Be realistic about whether you can provide a lifetime of care. Prepare for costs like food, vet visits and training. Make a plan for all scenarios, like job changes or moving. Put in the time and effort for a smooth transition.
There are no easy solutions, but each of us can take actions, big or small. With ethical breeding practices, education, commitment and community support, we can work to reduce the number of dogs being sheltered.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we’ve discussed the benefits of ethical breeding, including how ethically bred dogs are statistically less likely to end up in shelters compared to dogs from puppy mills or casual breeders. Though no dog is 100% guaranteed to stay out of shelters, proper screening, education, and support of owners by ethical breeders gives their puppies the best chance at a permanent home.
While shelter intakes remain an issue, the rise of responsible breeders provides optimism that fewer dogs will be abandoned in the future. Through our collective efforts of adopting shelter dogs when possible, and only purchasing from reputable breeders committed to their dogs’ lifetime welfare, we can work together to lower euthanasia rates and give every dog the life they deserve.