What I’m Up Against…
It’s getting down to the wire. Jim wants to get a puppy in August. That’s like FIVE WEEKS! I think I may have zeroed in on a breed. My stipulation (if you recall) was that it be medium to small in size and low-shedding. I’m thinking perhaps a Cockapoo. We had one when I was a kid (er…um…until my mother sold it to some “farmers”). We like Winnie, my mom’s bichon frise, but like our carpets, we need a dog that doesn’t show dirt as much.
Meanwhile, Jim found this picture. This is Buckwheat, his childhood dog. She apparently followed him home one day and the rest became the stuff of legend. She was fierce, loyal, protective, worked on a cure for cancer or something…
I have no idea what kind of dog she was, clearly a terrier mix I’m thinking.
I’ve gotten addicted to Petfinder. My only concern with a lot of these shelter dogs is that many of them were rescued from puppy mills. I’m afraid of puppy mill dogs. If anyone can disabuse me of my fear, I’d be happy to listen.
Also, if anybody knows anyone who will have cockapoos available in August…
There’s no guarantee that you can avoid purchasing a puppy or adopting a dog whose origin was a puppy mill. Sneaky puppy millers are now placing pregnant mothers in private homes so that when prospective buyers come to see the litter, things look “right.”
You can, however, take comfort in knowing that if you adopt a puppy or dog from a licensed shelter, one that is a designated 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity, that the money is going toward good versus lining the pockets of those who breed for greed.
Additionally, a reputable breeder will interview YOU and want references. They will offer a written forever return policy and always take the dog back, regardless of age and without question.
When you buy a dog from a pet shop or unscrupulous breeder, you are also killing a dog in a shelter; when you ADOPT a dog, you are saving TWO lives - the life of the shelter dog you’re taking home and the life of another dog who will now have a place in a shelter.
Don’t be fooled: a new trend for the pet shop profiteers is to have a quasi-rescue located at the store that is selling puppies - NO REPUTABLE RESCUE WOULD EVER BE AFFILIATED WITH A STORE THAT SELLS PUPPIES!!
Recent economic woes, including home foreclosure, have local shelters overflowing with homeless dogs. For years many of these dogs were family pets and now find themselves on death row. Save a life. ADOPT.
Give Hope to the Mill Dogs
BOYCOTT STORES THAT SELL PUPPIES!
North Penn Puppy Mill Watch
Comment by NPPMWATCH — June 24, 2008 @ 6:51 am
Thanks so much for the info. I was hoping for a comment like this. I would never buy a puppy from a store.
Comment by Robin Dec — June 24, 2008 @ 9:37 pm
I have a dog who looks very much like your photo. She’ a griffon Nivernais that we got from a shelter in PA who said she wasa ‘lab mix’. She’s not. She swims, chases everything, is an escape artist and very stubborn. Training is frustrating. She’s hound and terrier together in one dog.
get a shelter dog but be sure to spend time at the shelter to make sure you and the dog will get along.
Comment by susan — January 11, 2009 @ 3:15 pm