Great...

[Horsefeathers!]

In reference to purchasing puppies vs. adopting:
[quote name='doglover']First of all, I in no way said it was an assurance, just a betterment of the odds...

Please do not twist my comments to reflect what you want to believe of me.

These are your words exactly which do not leave much open for interpretation. There is no twisting.

it stands to reason that someone who is going to lay down cold hard cash for a pet is going to give the whole thing a lot more thought

A purchased puppy has a better chance of finding willing and able owners.

most people do at least trouble themselves to find out all they can about a breed before spending money.

a financial investment helps to ensure a better home for a puppy.

[Guest Anonymous]

First off Ill admit I didnt read every word of every post. (you will have to forgive me I just got home from drinking with a buddy.)

Akitas have serious problems with dog aggression and obedience. And they are slightly trigger-happy when it comes to biting. They're loyalty, however, is unsurpassed. Mastiffs are very relaxed and even tempered dogs, they are also much more affectionate than Akitas and better around children. But they are not as alert and they aren't as effective as guard dogs. They have very little stranger paranoia.

All of the Mastiffs I have seen are dog aggressive, and great at protecting thier territory from strangers. They are very laid back dogs but they dont enjoy the presence of other dogs or to trust strangers.

I am talking about the fears potential dog owners have. They want a fresh slate. Right or wrong, they have justifiable fears in taking over where someone else left off.

I agree with this completely. I love my breed but I will never rescue one from a shelter. You never know what you will get. Even with a pup. You cant take what is in the dogs past out of him. The best way to tell what you are going to get is by the ped. If that dogs sire bit, he most likely will too. (I do, however, respect those who do rescue.) BUT, buying a dog that is from two different breeds (like these Maskitas) is going to give you the same knowledge about the dog as adopting a dog from a shelter will.

Who's to say that combining the two breeds would not have at least a marginal chance of pulling the better traits from both parents? And if it failed, it wouldn't be any worse than either parent singularly.

Yes, it could be worse than the parents are singularly. What makes anyone think these traits are good if they are mixed? Whos to say that the good traits are the ones that will be passed on? Culling an entire litter or someone getting attacked isnt worth the chance is it? Unless of course they are in it for the money. Can you imagine a dog the size of a mastiff with the intensity of an Akita attacking someone?!
And what would make these two breeds better than they are? Both hold a seperate purpose and if you want a dog for a different purpose why breed these two together when there is surely another breed out there that will fit the purpose? It is a breeding that nothing good will come from.

I agree with all of you that some of these back yard breeders may only be in it for the money. But don't you think that if money was the only thing they cared about, they would buy two purebred dogs of the same breed and sell their puppies?

You actually have this backwards.
I see APBTs almost every day advertised for hundreds of dollars and the people selling them dont know the bloodlines, which means they are just breeding two random currs. The people who arent in it for the money will pay a pretty penny for a good dog, those who are in it for the money wont. They will get a cheap dog and breed it cause they know they can make money. (My gosh, if I was in it for the money I would get two pit bulls I could pay $100 for and breed them instead of paying thousands for a dog I know will produce great dogs. BUT, I am out to better the breed I love.) Oh, and those dogs are way more prone to bite than a well bred dog.

This breeding just isnt responsible. People breeding two dogs of the same breed is one thing because you know what you are gonna get. throwing an Akita with a Mastiff (or mixing any breeds together) is, what, like a box of chocolates?

[abker17]

AHHH THE IGNORANCE!

Can you please for one moment open your mind and LISTEN to what the very well educated people on this board are telling you! :-? Geez.


(And DL, the real DL, the mature DL lol the pictures have begun thier attack. :P)

(If the mods think that's to "graphic" or whatever I can remove it though. :lol: )

[Lokipups]

I thought this might get through to Doglover, although I'm having my doubts :roll: .........

Purebred pets at shelters? You bet
By SANDRA ECKSTEIN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


Ron and Ginger Anspaugh's dream dog -- a purebred English springer spaniel -- came from a pound in Jackson, Miss.

Michael and Jody DuShane got their newest pug from a pug rescue group.

Debbie and Gary Kazmier's show-quality black Persian cat was dumped with a cat rescue organization by a breeder who needed to get rid of some stock.

Those are three of an estimated 1.5 million purebred pets taken into shelters each year. That's why advocates for animal rescue recommend people consider animal shelters and rescue groups even if they're looking for a purebred pet. And don't believe that all the animals in shelters are "damaged." Shelter workers say the problem is usually with the owners, not the pets.

" 'We had a baby.' 'We're moving.' 'The kid is allergic.' We hear that every day," said Dorothy Wissler, director of Bartow County Humane Society, which works with the county animal control. "I've had unbelievable purebred dogs come in with their papers and even a receipt showing they paid $700, $800 ,even $1,200, for the dog they're dumping."


(FRANK NIEMEIR/Staff)
Ron and Ginger Anspaugh of Woodstock play with their English springer spaniel Jackson, who was saved from a Mississippi pound by a rescue group.


(LAURA NOEL/STAFF)
Photo of cat taken at the Atlanta Persian Siamese Rescue in Powerder Springs.




Gail Miller, a spokeswoman for the AKC, said people often want registered dogs to have a better idea of size, temperament, length of coat and other details. She said most purebreds that end up in shelters are dogs bought on impulse from backyard breeders who sell in the newspaper, or from pet shops.

But even if the dog has "papers," there's no guarantee it will look like the dogs they see at AKC shows. "Registration doesn't equal show quality dogs," Miller cautioned.

That's why, unless someone is really interested in showing their new pet, a rescued purebred would be just as good -- and much cheaper -- than a dog from a backyard breeder.

"We estimate that 25 to 30 percent of animals in shelters are purebreds," said Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for the Humane Society of the United States.

That's out of the estimated 6 million to 8 million animals that land in shelters each year, about half of which get adopted. In the metro Atlanta area, it's estimated that 100,000 animals a year are killed, simply because there aren't enough homes.

A check with Atlanta area shelters on any given day earlier this month showed many purebreds. Fulton County Animal Services reported boxers, cocker spaniels, and Rottweilers. Douglas County reported an Australian shepherd and Labrador retrievers and German shepherds. Bartow County had a miniature pinscher, a Lhasa Apso, and Jack Russell terriers.

In addition, rescue groups specializing in one breed have cropped up across the country for almost every registered category of dog or cat. In the Atlanta area, there are dozens of groups or individuals specializing in specific breeds.

Ron and Jody Anspaugh of Woodstock said they had such a bad experience with a cocker spaniel they purchased from a breeder that they decided to try rescue. A chance meeting with a couple who had two rescued English springer spaniels led them to Barbara Welty's English Springer Rescue America group, and 2-year-old Jackson.

"He's been a fabulous dog," said Ron Anspaugh of his dog, which was rescued from a pound in Jackson, Miss. "He's so loving. He's been a real blessing to us."

Debbie Kazmier said she and her husband have had similar experiences with the cats they've adopted from Atlanta Persian and Siamese Rescue.

The cat rescue charges $50 to $100 for cats, while dogs usually cost about $100 to $275 from various rescue groups. But those prices include all shots, spaying or neutering and additional medical care,.

"We make sure they're in great shape before we place them," said Brenda Megel of Southeast Pug Rescue and Adoption Inc, which charges $200 for a fully vetted pug.

Not that you can just walk in, hand them $200 and walk out with a pug. Most rescue groups, and even some shelters, do extensive interviews and even vet, reference and home checks. Megel, whose group has an 8-page adoption application, said it's to assure that the dog and the home are a good match.

"These dogs have been through enough," she said. "We want this to be their last home."

Michael and Jody DuShane of Cumming said they didn't mind the process when they were trying to adopt their newest pug, Samson. They're so enamored of the rescue group idea that they now foster pugs that are waiting for their "forever home."

"We just see dog after dog after dog come through and we keep saying 'Can you believe somebody dumped this dog?' " Michael DuShane said. "Why would you go through housebreaking when I can give you a 3-year-old that's housebroken, up to date on all her shots, spayed, and all for a fraction of what you'd pay for a breeder dog?"

TIPS FOR FINDING A RESCUE DOG

Care given to shelter dogs varies. Some, like Fulton County, include all shots, spay/neuter and even a microchip in their $85 adoption fees. Others provide nothing. But all animals adopted from a shelter are required, by law, to be spayed or neutered.

• Investigate the screening process: Rescue groups often have extensive screening processes. Some even do home and vet checks. Most rescue groups have a good idea of their animals' temperaments because they live in foster homes, but some shelters also do temperament testing.

• If it doesn't work out: Most rescue groups will take back a pet if the adoption doesn't work, and most require you return the pet to them if you decide not to keep it. Ask for their policy on returning adoption fees.

• Save time: If you want a particular breed, some groups will allow you to get preapproved and then wait for the perfect pet.

• Surf the Internet: Visiting shelters can be depressing. But the proliferation of rescue Web sites makes it easy to look for the perfect pet from your home. Try Petfinder.org, which can be tailored to your area, or your county shelter or local rescue groups. Go to www.spotsociety.org for a list of Georgia breed and general rescue groups (including those mentioned in the story), as well as county shelters. For tips on how to choose the right pet, go to the Humane Society of the United States Web site, hsus.org



The web has made searching for pets so much easier. Here are websites for some of the groups in this story, both purebred and general rescue groups. For a complete list of local breed rescues, shelters and low-cost spay/neuter programs, go to www.spotsociety.org.

http://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/0404/10pure.html

Permission to Crosspost