| Re: Why can't breeders breed and rescue?
I guess I speak more on a dog level, but we wouldn't have the wonderful healthy breeds we do today if it weren't for dedicated breeders that do research, take time, money and whatever it takes to make their breed better. Why do we have so much Hip Dysplasia and other defects? Poor breeding, and that IS bad. So, I do believe rescueing and breeding can co exist only in very special situations. Anyone that wants a pet should rescue, but I don't disagree with buying from a truely reputable health/temperament concious breeder if you would like to show and better the breed. We have a serious dog and small pet overpopulation, but if no one ever took care of the good stock we still have, someday we'll not have any healthy, consistent, predictably good tempered animals that people take time to find.
And petstores? I have a problem with many, but if a mom and pop store wants to open up to some animals that would go to a kill shelter otherwise? Isn't it better to sell or give away and inform the new owner than take the unknown chances involved in turning those needy animals away? Not every local no kill shelter is accepting pocket pets, so sometimes you do the best that you can do under the circumstances that you have. I wish Petsmart would start getting piggies from the shelters to adopt out instead of getting them from the breeders they do, but evidently they're not there yet.
Just my opinion  |