[Lakota]

I actually used to work for a breeder who worked in rescue too. She bred dachshunds (mostly she tried to improve type and personality) but rescued pit bull mixes and other dogs used in dog fighting from the pound and helped improve their negative image. She also assisted in a local golden retriever rescue by offering a discount in broading for those dogs before they went to foster homes. She also took in other owner give-ups regardless of breed. Every time people say breeders do nothing to help in rescues I think of her because she did just about everything, often at her own expense.

I've heard that some other breeders do that. In my labrador book it lists some of the top breeders, and one family of breeders regularly took in strays that were dumped around their home in the country. One of the hunting associations in my area also helps place homeless dogs in addition to listing the hunters who breed their dogs. Not to mention that nearly all breed clubs in the AKC have their own breed rescues.

Perhaps part of the problem is that some people do not realize that great dogs and other animals are available at rescues. They think all of them have some sort of behaviourial problem or something. I can relate. My family's first dog came from a rescue, and he was awful! He was a sweet boy and we loved him, but it was impossible to train him. In comparsion our second dog came from a breeder, and she was so easy to train and live with. If some people have negative experiences with shelter dogs, they are less likely to adopt from the pound.



I don't know if it's the same with guinea pigs though. Certainly my area's PetSmart regularly houses rabbits from rescues in addition to occansionally having some from breeders.