Breeder 'returns'

[leelapops]

Reading the Many Tears adoption page that kita posted in notafish' thread, I was appalled to see that some dogs were 'given up' to the Rescue Centre by breeders who hadn't bred them successfully.
I am APPALLED. Is this common practice? Surely breeders who actually cared about dogs wouldn't thrust more on to already full-to-bursting rescues. Tell me my instinct is right! :(

[Illyria54]

Reputable breeders if they are unable to breed from a dog or a bitch, usually sell them for less than the usual price I think, on the explicit understanding that the dog is either spayed or neutered, again this just what I think happens, I'm sure any breeders who come on here will put it right if I am wrong, I think you will find its only BYB's who 'chuck' dogs away, it makes me sick!!

[leelapops]

Illyria, thank you for that. I agree. If you care about dogs, I don't think you would even consider giving a 'failed' breeder to a rescue centre. Aren't there enough unwanted dogs in the world?
The Many Tears site broke my heart. So many lovely, lovely dogs, who I would just rehome in a heartbeat if I could.

When my circumstances have settled, I hope to take on a sister for our Collie, Jack. Can't wait! x

[kita1]

The Many Tears site that I posted specialises in taking dogs from breeders/puppy farms. Without their intervention the dogs would either be abandoned, left to starve to death or just put to sleep (by a vet if they were lucky). The lady who runs Many Tears has them spayed and treated medically and finds homes for them. She also takes any puppies that are deformed or have medical problems that breeders cannot sell (or cannot find homes for).

Sadly there are many back yard breeders/puppy farms out there and lots of people into breeding just for the money they can get - just take a look through all the free ads.

That is why I always say when you buy a pup, look at the other dogs the breeder has - how many oldies do they have around, how many non breeding dogs do they have. I always ask what they do with their 'retired' dogs, some breeders do rehome them to a pet home and some keep them all.

[woofgang]

ummm its a difficult one isn't it....Does the Many Tears place charge breeders for this service? If not and with great respect they could be contributing to the problem by giving those less than caring breeders an easy option....
Please don't all yell at once but its like buying pets from unscrupulous breeders because you can't bear to leave them there....admirable and yet.....

[kita1]

Thing is that sadly many of these 'breeders' simply don't care about an 'easy' option. If Many Tears did not take the dogs then they would simply dump them on the roadside somewhere or (to put it politely) knock them over the head.

Or simply just leave them and let them die of hunger/thirst.

Some of the dogs come from death row pounds they have been picked up as 'strays' and would otherwise be put to sleep.

You could say the same of any rescue - that it is giving people an 'easy' option when they become tired of the dog and decide they don't want it any more - or it doesn't match the carpet/curtains etc.

It is not just breeders who mistreat/abandon dogs.

[leelapops]

kita, Many Tears does admirable work! I think it must be so hard for them to see so many dogs in distress, and to have to turn dogs away. They had some beautiful dogs on the site, and it really saddened me to see them there and not in loving homes.

woofgang, you make a good point, and as kita says, everything is seen as disposable now, up to and including live animals, supposed lifelong pets. :(

[jules77]

'most' breeders that I know in my breed either have a written contract signed by the new owners to state that they will return the dog to them should they no longer be able to look after it, and they will then find a forever home. Any dogs that they decide to sell themselves (although I could never part with anything myself) are sold on at less than the going price. But there are exceptions in every breed, and many BYB's around who are breeding solely for monetary gain.

[lankeela]

There is a breeder of Labradors here in Norfolk who has THREE times passed dogs onto the RSPCA - they are not cruelty cases, just puppies she cannot sell, yet the council licence her and she keeps on breeding more. Each time the number given up has been in the region of 180 - 200!!!!!!

When they get to a certain age and they cannot be sold as baby puppies, she just moves them on and breeds some more.

The RSPCA are on a good little earner. Every time it happens they have a publicity drive and hundreds of people want to adopt them, at a cost of around �200 each, and they also manage to get their other dogs rehomed through the extra interest it generates.

Most breeders I know would take dogs back however old they were, or at least help with rehoming. Some do run on dogs to show, and then rehome them if they don't turn out to be suitable, or if they are kennel dogs and retire from showing they will let them go to live out their lives in a bit more comfort as a pet. However, this is not the same as dumping your dogs on a rescue just because you cannot sell them or breed from them any more, which is what puppy farmers often do. Yet another reason not to buy without doing your homework about the breeder.

[leelapops]

Thanks lankeela, too true. I am appalled at your story! But yes, lovely publicity for the ever-camera ready RSPCA...
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