Breeding staffies...

[kirsty]

I came across this today and thought it brought home a very important message!

[Jo]

Yes, so sad.

Such an incredibly huge number, and to think all these dogs are/were potentially as lovely and bursting with character as our Pork Chop, Jason, Jade and Butch etc.

[Kara Collie-Cross]

I guess there are two issues, people breeding for profit and people breeding "by accident". The consequences of both are awful, as we see when the pregnant girlies come in as "strays" (most probably booted out of the door when they realise she's up the duff...).

Of all the male staffies in my local area I see, none of them are "done",... they are still "all boy".

I have heard the craziest arguments against neutering male dogs, including my neighbour, who thinks it actually gives male dogs mental health problems if they can't "do it".

With folk like that where do you start...??

[Kara Collie-Cross]

the other bit of folklore about female dogs is that it is harmful to neuter them before they have had their first litter...

Maybe some myth busting needs to be done.

[angelad]

Our biggest problem at the moment is the amount of unwanted bullbreeds – but actually there are too many dogs in general needing homes compared to the amount of people wanting dogs – and this also applies to cats and rabbits, also in Rescues in their thousands.

The RSPCA has made a national pledge to end the overpopulation of animals in the next five years by stopping over breeding.

www.rspca.org.uk/media/pressreleases/details/-/article/RSPCASayStopBreeding

This seems a bit woolly to me, but there and again, I don't know what actions you could put in place that would be effective. You can't pass laws, no Government would dare try and it would be impossible to police anyway, so all you can do is try and educate.

But I think part of this problem (trying to educate), highlighted by some of the Big Rescues, is that, for some of the population, the perception of the once loved for life, family pet has changed. They are now seen as a commodity to be ‘disposed’ of when they no longer want them. {The 15th Survey of Stray Dogs by the Dogs Trust revealed a large number of dogs were rejected by their owners who refused to claim them once found and identified by local dog wardens.} These are the people that are more likely not to neuter no matter how much campaigning goes on.

And at the moment it is then far too easy to go out and replace a pet further down the line, again without having to give much thought to responsible ownership. Most small animals are readily available in pet shops, local free papers, a friend or neighbour will normally know somebody with a litter to sell. There is no license required to own an animal and anyone over the age of 16 can buy a pet legally.

And no matter how much you try to educate, people will always want puppies, and that is their right. And leaving out the Puppy Farms which are just businesses, (often receiving Grants), all the time Back Yard Breeders can make money out of a litter, they will continue doing so. They will still have made a profit even if some of the litter remains unsold. (And the lucky ones of these will end up in Rescue where they will be snapped up, often to the detriment of the older dogs waiting for a home)

This over population of pet animals is a world wide problem and, at the moment, there is no answer to it. All Rescues accept that all you can do is your best and Friends and the Home are certainly doing that ( have you counted up how many dogs have been rehomed since last January) and keep educating about responsible dog ownership and the value of adopting a rescue dog.

[Kara Collie-Cross]

It's a damned if you do damned if you don't situation.

While every care needs to be taken that dogs go to a good home, where they are cared for, where people have had the brains to consider vets costs and what you do when you go on holiday... SOME rescues, often fostering based ones, can be extremely precious in who they home to!! Some are very judgmental about (God forbid) people with a job! That leaves them only homing to housewifes, the unemployed or retired folk.... at a time where, as you rightly say, there are already far more homeless pets than there are people to home to.

I was told myself by a foster-based rescue that they would not consider homing ANY dog to me because I have a full time job. They effectively drive a whole host of potentially great dog owners into the hands of the likes of "preloved", "gumtree", let alone breeders.

I know plenty of people, like myself, who hold down a job AND have a very happy, well adjusted, healthy dog. Some rescues need to change their attitudes a bit I think.

[angelad]

[skye]

I totally agree with karasmum re: some pounds, we had accepted ( after trying several places) we couldn't adopt a dog because we both work so bought pups from families.
No account was taken for our experience etc. now our dogs are older we do leave them for longer periods of time but they are together, have house and garden access and are quite happy. When they were pups this was not the case, no one considered that I would have friends or family though who would take them in the day, and imPortantly because I work, when they need a walker I can pay for one, when they are hurt they go straight to the vet ( out of hours or not). They get the best of things to stay healthy and happy.
Teehee off my soapbox now

[elemoy]

Wholeheartedly agree with skye and kara's mum. We were refused the opportunity to adopt from 2 places on the basis that we worked full time,never mind that we work slightly different hours to each other,had arranged for a walker for an hour a day on top of the fact that my father in law goes round for 1 hour a day too. Morgan was bought yet needs a lot of monitoring to check he isn't slipping into addisonian crisis (the poor bugger is not the healthiest of fellas)daily medication,frequent vet visits for blood tests to check his levels,regular professional grooming as his coat can get into a right matted mess otherwise, we don't use kennels so he is either with us or family stay at our house so his routine isn't disrupted too much and he can be near the vets who have a full knowledge of all his conditions. Its not like we take our eyes off the ball. Must admit it made me cry with anger when we were initially refused as not a jot of what we can provide was taken into account even when I tried to explain our situation I was shot down. I don't think the way things operate at the moment can possibly encourage responsible dog ownership when it is made easier to pick up a dog on gumtree than it is to provide a loving home for a rescue.
Also the client group I work with need a whole lot of educating at present. 5 young people come to mind straight away with bull breeds that they appear to breed and swap amongst themselves,sometimes seeing it as a route to getting themselves out of their current financial situation by breeding and selling,others seeing it as necessary as a form of protection,which is terrifying for the poor dog.
Yesterday I found out about a young person who has bought a 6 week old staffie to protect themselves! No clue about what to feed the little thing never mind the fact it should still be with its mother,yet he's gone ahead and bought it knowing that there is a large chance he is going inside soon and this little pup will not have anyone to look after it.
We need to educate,educate,educate! Also I think that the animal lovers out there need to view adoptions on a case by case basis to ensure that more dogs (and cats and rabbits etc) can be found suitable homes, I fully understand that homes should be vetted to ascertain if they are appropriate however if things get too precious, then there will be lots of animals in need and loving willing owners living separately and the problem will continue.
Rant over xx