Declawing? Pet Centers?

[Jazi]

To be fair most truly feral animals take a lot of work to rehab and often times make very poor pet choices, but it can be done if someone is willing to compromise and commit to their animal. Some ferals are truly beyond help but there are now many programs that rehome them to farms or other outdoor locations which would allow them to live a semi-feral life without harming the native wildlife or overbreeding.

While I'm in the breeder boat when it comes to 90% of my animal choices, I do still want to take in or foster chow mixes from breed specific rescues. I adore the breed and I understand a lot of their problems when they are both BYB and owned by people who have no clue what they just got. After Mocha and Baby I think I can handle a fear aggressive severe HD chow mix from a shelter... just gotta make sure the resident animals agree with that as well.

[Bayleaf]

*+321fdaa

I would. Kittens (and puppies) are cute but they're not my thing. I actually want to adopt those 'old tottery' animals near the end of their life. I'd rather have them come into my home and be loved for at least a few hours then die in a shelter cage. I feel closer to those animals that come from a messed up background then I ever could a puppy (or kitten) that comes from a breeder. My background is messed up. I didn't get a good start in life, just like those dogs and cats. I don't mind if they've got behavioral issues (or medical issues) that I have to work through. I'll gladly put my sweat, blood and tears into them to give them the happy ending every animal deserves. You also need to keep in mind, most of those animals in there are scared out of their wits. They're trapped in cages in an unfamiliar surrounding with strange beings (people) constantly sticking their hands up to their cages and surrounded by other stressed out animals. They don't understand we're trying to help. They think we're monsters. So of course they lash out.

Okay you got me. You have a good point. Animals that have a hard life do deserve to have a good ending. But still, this is about stating your true opinion, and the majority of people adopting would choose breeder over humane society. For the sake of feral cats, not every one HAD to be rescued, and most of the cats there were feral. I bet you they didn't want to be in human care. Cats were originally wild animals and still are (lions, tiger, leopards, ect). The point I didn't explain well enough is, most ferals are really truly wild, and want to be that way, so they are aggressive, in addition to just plain scared, like you said, so they would probably run away from they're new home, and be happy in the woods.

[Saracirce]

There are just as many people out there who are willing to adopt as there are people who get them from breeders.

And just because it makes an animal happy doesn't necessarily mean it's good for the animal. If I let Clemmy, one of our dogs, she would chew up every single dog toy in the house. But I don't let her because that would make her sick and potentially be life threatening. One of my friends has a horse who can not be let out to pasture without having a guard on to keep her from over-eating on grass. If she didn't do that, the horse would likely founder. The life of a feral cat is dangerous, as it is for any cat who lives outside. They have to contend with wild animals, stray/feral dogs, have to fight with other cats for territory, food, and mating rights. They may not like it but it USUALLY is best for them. If someone is willing to devote the time and effort into it, feral cats can be shown that humans aren't such a bad thing and they can come to tolerate being with people.

[Sadies]

I understand there are people willing to adopt however more people don't because they either don't want to wait, it's quicker just to go out and buy a dog plus there is more choice and knowing where they came from or the rescue centers won't let them have a dog. I do think adoption centers need to be more flexible, I mean someone living in a flat could be a better home than someone with a large area, that person in a flat might be able to take the dog out for a long time every day where as a person in a house might just not bother so if you think about it puppies from breeders are more common that rescuing.

[Jazi]

I understand there are people willing to adopt however more people don't because they either don't want to wait, it's quicker just to go out and buy a dog plus there is more choice and knowing where they came from or the rescue centers won't let them have a dog. I do think adoption centers need to be more flexible, I mean someone living in a flat could be a better home than someone with a large area, that person in a flat might be able to take the dog out for a long time every day where as a person in a house might just not bother so if you think about it puppies from breeders are more common that rescuing.

It actually takes a really long time to get a dog from a good breeder. One of the things about good breeders is that they don't breed much... maybe once every 2 or 3 years. I'm 3+ years out from getting a dog and I've already put feelers out to the breeders I'm looking at and none of them are planning a litter for at least another 2 years from now... IF their current dogs turn out the way they'd like. It's quicker to get a BYB dog maybe, but those need to be eliminated asap. Rescue is faster tbh... wait a few hours to a few days vs waiting a few months to a few years.

And honestly good breeders screen their puppy homes just as much as rescues. Someone on here is having difficulty getting a dog from the breeder they wanted because of her current living situation and it makes them nervous. I was talking to a couple at the dog show I went to the other day and they were saying how a couple of their potential buyers made them so nervous that they just said a flat no. One even said she wouldn't want to sell a puppy to anyone who didn't have a yard; granted these are doberman and it's already very hard to get one of those approved in a rent situation.

[Saracirce]

Adding on to what Jazi said, good shelters will let you know where they got the dog from. The shelter in my area almost always lists how the dogs ended up in the shelter on their Petfinder listings, even if it could possibly make it harder to find them a home. One dog in particularly has been in the shelter for at least a couple months and this is what they say about her:

Poor sad Angel is five years old and was brought into the shelter because she was protective of her puppies. Angel is very sweet and as you can see she is really sad being here. Stop by the shelter and visit with her. Take her for a walk and spend some time getting to know her. She is a great girl.

By the looks of her pictures, she does seem like she would be a sweet girl but I'm sure if anyone has been interested in her, it's been put off by the fact she was protective of her puppies, even if it doesn't say how protective (as in, just slight growling or full on attack mode).

EDIT: I just looked and there's only one dog that they didn't mention how they got him. I'm sure if I went there, expressed interest in him and asked, they would tell me.

Sure, part of their past will always be a mystery but it doesn't make the dog any less worthy of a home.

[~*Chibi*~]

So basically this is where you can state your honest opinion about animals. Is putting down cats and dogs right? What do you think of circuses? That kind of stuff. The only thing I don't want you to do is force your opinion. That is not an ok thing to do. Shall I start the conversation? You know those horses in the Olympics? The ones that prance around and lift their legs real high? Well, people inject acids into their legs, so it really hurts the horses when they put their hooves down. That's why they have tape around they're legs.

Yes, they do Put acids onto their legs. It's called soring and they use it to make their horses have a higher gait. They mostly only use it on Tennessee walking horses. They use lots of chemicals, and its quite toxic. But they don't inject them. It's so toxic that they have to use a brush to apply then. And they don't use the tape around the legs for that. It's called bandages and they put it on so that the horse doesn't damage their legs while jumping or other stuff. But they do wrap it in p,attic for it to heal.

[Jazi]

To be fair, soring is highly illegal. I doubt they'd do that in the Olympics ceremonies considering.

[Buddy & Boonie]

different subject now????

[~*Chibi*~]

Erm.. Have you guys gone over ear cropping And tail docking??