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| Sue's Views Sniffles and Friends Newsletter - December 2010 |
| Sue's Views |
| Sniffles' Friends |
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Breeders and Rescues and Shelters – oh my!
by Sue Senn
Sniffles and Friends Professional Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Service
Philadelphia, PA
Voted BEST PET SERVICE in Philadelphia and Surrounding Areas FOUR YEARS IN A ROW on
PHL17 TV’s Hot List!
2007, 2008, 2009,2010
BEST OF PHILLY 2010, Philly Mag’s Best of Philly Issue
http://www.snifflesandfriends.com
I do a lot of dog and cat rescue, so admittedly that’s my area of choice
regarding adoptions of four-legged family members; but I’m going to attempt
to be as fair and balanced as I can!
Is someone right? Is someone wrong? Is someone just misinformed?
Most of my rescue friends tend to place a lot of blame on breeders for the
pet overpopulation problem.
I personally blame the general public for not doing their homework BEFORE
adding a new member to their families.
For example, it's easy to want to adopt a Jack Russell terrier - they're cute
as a button.
But this is a very high-energy, very smart little dog who IMO is not for a first-
time dog parent.
Only someone who truly loves and understands this spunky, strong-willed,
comical breed should get one; and only after lots of research and thoughtful
consideration! JRT’s are one of my absolute favorite breeds, but as a middle-
aged woman who is, unfortunately, not quite as athletic and energetic as I
was 25 years ago, I don't think I have the life-style to have one nor the
energy to keep up with one!
Same goes with Siberian huskies, chihuahuas, shiba inu and the list goes on
and on. These are adorable, gorgeous dogs – but each of these breeds (and
others too) are among those that are the most commonly misunderstood.
Know the breed, know the temperament, and know your own lifestyle - it's
easy to be attracted to someone for being "cute" but more importantly,
make sure the dog is the right energy level
or personality for you. Athletic dogs should live with athletic people,
paperweights should live with more sedentary people, and so on! There’s a
love-match pet out there for everyone!
Another important point to consider is that your life may be changing with a
great deal of frequency in the next 10-15 years (the lifespan of the average
dog).
Maybe someone who is single now will meet a boyfriend or girlfriend who
doesn’t like dogs (or cats).
Maybe you will have children and the pet will no longer be the priority that it
is now.
Maybe you will have to relocate and will have trouble finding pet-friendly
housing.
Maybe you will lose your job and no longer be able to afford veterinary care
or other pet necessities.
A pet is a family member.
If your life changes, they are expected to be by your side nomatter what.
I don’t know of anyone who has to give their child away because they are
moving to an apartment that doesn’t allow kids (wouldn’t you just find a
different apartment?), because they lost their job, because they feel that
they “can no longer pay enough attention” to their child?
I get emails every day though about dogs and cats.
These guys are a life-long commitment.
A dog or cat may fit into your life without a hitch today, but please consider
the direction your life may be going 10 years from now and be sure your dog
or cat will be a welcome part of it no matter what the future brings.
With that being said, Shelter dogs have a stigma as “problems that someone
dropped off” – quite the contrary. They are usually pets that had the
misfortune of ending up with someone who didn’t plan well, didn’t foresee
life’s unexpected changes, didn’t want to take the time to train them and
expected a “ready-made dog”, or the novelty had simply worn off.
Rescue dogs have the same inaccurate reputation sometimes.
I have a houseful of blind, old, sick rescue dogs – all with a different story to
tell. Most of whom, though, their original parents simply didn’t want to deal
with them once things got expensive and time-consuming (veterinary care
for chronic illnesses).
I thoroughly interview and investigate a potential family for the young,
healthy rescues I take in, however. They always go to fine homes and I’ve
kept in touch with them over the years.
No one has ever surrendered even one of them.
They have all brought much happiness, love, and joy to their new families.
None of these have ever or could ever be described as having been
“someone else’s bad dog/cat or behavior problem” – they’re all lovely and
thrilled to have families who have committed to them for the long-haul!
Breeders aren’t all puppy mills either.
Although I have never and will never go this route to find a dog for my
family, many people do and that’s fine as long as they have done their
research and know the breed is one that will more likely fit into their family
well and that the breeder is legitimate, ethical, loves the dogs they sell, and
is willing to take a dog back under any circumstances if need be.
So the ABC’s of dog or cat adoption?
Research, Research, Research.
Plan ahead – “Where is my life going from here? Will this be a good idea in
years go come? A pet lives a long time!”
And see this as a life-long, commitment – a family member who will be with
you through thick and thin and will be your comfort, your confidante, and
your friend nomatter what future surprises your life brings.
Please plan ahead, do your homework, and be sure this is a commitment you
really want to make before you proceed with this huge step in your life!
Here is a great link about breeders’ and rescuers’ philosophies.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/breedersvsrescues.htm
Download a Copy of Sue's Views - December 2010
by Sue Senn
Sniffles and Friends Professional Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Service
Philadelphia, PA
Voted BEST PET SERVICE in Philadelphia and Surrounding Areas FOUR YEARS IN A ROW on
PHL17 TV’s Hot List!
2007, 2008, 2009,2010
BEST OF PHILLY 2010, Philly Mag’s Best of Philly Issue
http://www.snifflesandfriends.com
I do a lot of dog and cat rescue, so admittedly that’s my area of choice
regarding adoptions of four-legged family members; but I’m going to attempt
to be as fair and balanced as I can!
Is someone right? Is someone wrong? Is someone just misinformed?
Most of my rescue friends tend to place a lot of blame on breeders for the
pet overpopulation problem.
I personally blame the general public for not doing their homework BEFORE
adding a new member to their families.
For example, it's easy to want to adopt a Jack Russell terrier - they're cute
as a button.
But this is a very high-energy, very smart little dog who IMO is not for a first-
time dog parent.
Only someone who truly loves and understands this spunky, strong-willed,
comical breed should get one; and only after lots of research and thoughtful
consideration! JRT’s are one of my absolute favorite breeds, but as a middle-
aged woman who is, unfortunately, not quite as athletic and energetic as I
was 25 years ago, I don't think I have the life-style to have one nor the
energy to keep up with one!
Same goes with Siberian huskies, chihuahuas, shiba inu and the list goes on
and on. These are adorable, gorgeous dogs – but each of these breeds (and
others too) are among those that are the most commonly misunderstood.
Know the breed, know the temperament, and know your own lifestyle - it's
easy to be attracted to someone for being "cute" but more importantly,
make sure the dog is the right energy level
or personality for you. Athletic dogs should live with athletic people,
paperweights should live with more sedentary people, and so on! There’s a
love-match pet out there for everyone!
Another important point to consider is that your life may be changing with a
great deal of frequency in the next 10-15 years (the lifespan of the average
dog).
Maybe someone who is single now will meet a boyfriend or girlfriend who
doesn’t like dogs (or cats).
Maybe you will have children and the pet will no longer be the priority that it
is now.
Maybe you will have to relocate and will have trouble finding pet-friendly
housing.
Maybe you will lose your job and no longer be able to afford veterinary care
or other pet necessities.
A pet is a family member.
If your life changes, they are expected to be by your side nomatter what.
I don’t know of anyone who has to give their child away because they are
moving to an apartment that doesn’t allow kids (wouldn’t you just find a
different apartment?), because they lost their job, because they feel that
they “can no longer pay enough attention” to their child?
I get emails every day though about dogs and cats.
These guys are a life-long commitment.
A dog or cat may fit into your life without a hitch today, but please consider
the direction your life may be going 10 years from now and be sure your dog
or cat will be a welcome part of it no matter what the future brings.
With that being said, Shelter dogs have a stigma as “problems that someone
dropped off” – quite the contrary. They are usually pets that had the
misfortune of ending up with someone who didn’t plan well, didn’t foresee
life’s unexpected changes, didn’t want to take the time to train them and
expected a “ready-made dog”, or the novelty had simply worn off.
Rescue dogs have the same inaccurate reputation sometimes.
I have a houseful of blind, old, sick rescue dogs – all with a different story to
tell. Most of whom, though, their original parents simply didn’t want to deal
with them once things got expensive and time-consuming (veterinary care
for chronic illnesses).
I thoroughly interview and investigate a potential family for the young,
healthy rescues I take in, however. They always go to fine homes and I’ve
kept in touch with them over the years.
No one has ever surrendered even one of them.
They have all brought much happiness, love, and joy to their new families.
None of these have ever or could ever be described as having been
“someone else’s bad dog/cat or behavior problem” – they’re all lovely and
thrilled to have families who have committed to them for the long-haul!
Breeders aren’t all puppy mills either.
Although I have never and will never go this route to find a dog for my
family, many people do and that’s fine as long as they have done their
research and know the breed is one that will more likely fit into their family
well and that the breeder is legitimate, ethical, loves the dogs they sell, and
is willing to take a dog back under any circumstances if need be.
So the ABC’s of dog or cat adoption?
Research, Research, Research.
Plan ahead – “Where is my life going from here? Will this be a good idea in
years go come? A pet lives a long time!”
And see this as a life-long, commitment – a family member who will be with
you through thick and thin and will be your comfort, your confidante, and
your friend nomatter what future surprises your life brings.
Please plan ahead, do your homework, and be sure this is a commitment you
really want to make before you proceed with this huge step in your life!
Here is a great link about breeders’ and rescuers’ philosophies.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/breedersvsrescues.htm
Download a Copy of Sue's Views - December 2010