Lesson Learned

[whimzikal]

I know this woman who has always preached about rescue and not breeding. Well, there was a local rescue at a local petco. I purposely went in to donate, this lady is incredible. So, while loving and being loved by a dobbie cross who I would love to actually be owned by... yes you read that right! Oh yea, so I mention this lady and she gives me an earful!
She said everything with class and professionalism. Basically this lady was turned down as a foster by most rescues in the area. She is an extremist when it comes to mix breeds. She would only be willing to help dogs that were "her selective breeds" (2). She was a breeder, large scale puppymill want to be who bred for money, but got out of breeding within the last 5yrs. When asked about designer dogs who may come in she seriously suggested the "cure" is to euthanize ALL of them.
She further explained that nabbing a dog roaming the streets or tied in a yard is not rescue. Taking a dog because you don't think the family deserves the dog because although they provide proper care according to the law they don't according to your personal standards- is not rescue.
We had a great talk and I was surprised at how much our opinions and beliefs clicked. She is the 1st serious rescue person to say all breeding is not bad and pedigree is less important than health. I explained I had bred and am not against the breeding of mix breeds. She asked why. I explained. She was happy with my methods. (Health testing, temperament and choosing families) She was by far the what I was looking for in a rescuer who I want to give money to. She was real!
I appreciated her explaining this lady to me, I was not sure about her and it set my mind at ease.
Needless to say I donated more than I could afford, but left feeling good about myself, the rescue, people in general and just everything. She blew my mind. BUT I am afraid I won't hold my tongue when I see the other lady again. Should I even try? This lady is the exact example of why I have issues with rescues!

[dobermom]

The only part I dont have an issue with is her only wanting to help her selective breeds.

Personally I know I cant save them all, and I like to gear my efforts to the breeds I understand. So I try to focus on Dobermans first and Great Danes second. I have helped a few that were not my breeds, but I did not have as much fun doing so.

[Dignity]

I also don't think that working with selective breeds is all bad. I know if I had a bigger place, I would love to get involved with the Great Pyrenees Rescue. The nice thing about selective breed rescue is most people choose a breed that they are very very familiar with and can help answer potential adopter problems, or might even be able to help a family that wants to 'get rid of' their pet because of a behavioral issue.

There is a lot of good that can come out of being selective, but there are a lot of dogs out there in need - mixed and pure. You just have to look at it from both sides.

[Bclover92]

I say it is okay to want to help your breed, but you have to open your mind a little. Accept mixs of your breed, or if you want your breed so much go to a breed specific rescue. Not your local all breed rescue... This lady sounds a little off though, being a x-puppymiller...plus you never know maybe she lives in a trailer with fifty other dogs...lol

[dobermom]

Originally Posted by Bclover92

I say it is okay to want to help your breed, but you have to open your mind a little. Accept mixs of your breed, or if you want your breed so much go to a breed specific rescue. Not your local all breed rescue... This lady sounds a little off though, being a x-puppymiller...plus you never know maybe she lives in a trailer with fifty other dogs...lol

The issue with a pure breed rescue accepting mixes of that breed is the people adopting want a pure bred dog, not a mix. People looking for mixes typically go to all breed rescue or shelters.

[shadowfacedanes]

Not only what Dobermom said, but:

I personally feel that I'd be doing an injustice if I were to do all breed rescue. I know danes. I know them inside and out. I can HELP my breed because of that. I can pick suitable homes for them because I know them so well. I'm not sure I could do that with just any dog. I found two strays roaming the highway years back - a beagle and an aussie. I knew nothing about either breed. Rather than try to place them myself and possibly make an unsuitable match, I contacted their respective breed club and asked for rescue info so I could turn them over to the folks who did know their breed.

[borzoimom]

Well as far as being breed specific it could ( note the word could) determine if the dog will fit in better in the foster or rescue process. While all dogs are an indivual to a point, the breeds tend to have certain traits. The rescue I got Jasmine from takes collie mixes as well if they have the room or the person that can take on " one more".
As far as designer breeds- with most being a fad, I have a problem with it. These 'fad' breedings then end up dumped at shelters. My shelter alone has several that in recent years prior were the "hot ticket" so to speak. Number one- mixing two different breeds can make certain genetic problems from subdominant to dominant. Additionally with so many homeless dogs, to add more doesnt make sense to me. Yes I have bred- but my dogs were showing, competing, had contributions like K9 etc. They had a specific purpose. At the same token, I have always had a rescue of " the breed" which in my mind- is like giving something back to the breed. As only a companion still a treasured member of my family . ( example Femka in this case- ..)
IMO anyone that rescues and then breeds ( shoving towel in mouth..). IMO adding to the existing problem- which is simply- obviously there are not enough homes to start with. And just because a dog is a well balenced dog doesnt mean it needs to breed. There are plenty of balenced dogs, waiting for homes in shelters, rescues, fosters across the country. Why add more?

[golden&hovawart]

The advantage of a person who specialize in 1 breed or 1 mix breed,is that they usually know that breed inside out and will go out of their way to give you,the good,the bad of the breed and the dog.I think you need people like that.I also find that the foster system,is an amazing system whether the dog is pure bred or not.I hope i make sense,lol!!!.

[borzoimom]

Knowing how a breed tends to think helps alot!

[RoughCollies]

I agree, pure bred rescue is wonderful. The volunteers in that rescue will understand the dogs better and will have that devotion to find the right home and really know how to do it. A dog doesn't have to be one of my breeds or a mix thereof for me to foster it, but it does help me understand the dog better, I think. And, I think you have the potential to save more lives that way. People want a certain breed, they will go for that breed. It's not fair to the mixes, but it's the number of lives, not breed that counts in the end. You can't save them all and doing purebred rescue at least gives you a target "market" so to speak.

Then, all breeds and mixed breed rescues are just as amazing. The volunteers there are just as devoted and willing to work to find the right home.

Dogs are dogs, no matter the breed. But if you get people more familiar with one or two breeds, sometimes it makes all the difference.

Anyway, that woman does sound... well, no good. Just wanted to add my two cents about rescues.