Making A Dogcision: Buying or Adopting?
this article below is also featured on Dandelions Daily: www.dandelions-daily.blogspot.com, where I act as one of the contributors. it's written solely because of my love of dogs and it's one cause i support wholeheartedly.
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. :-) ]
