Rescue dog snobbery?

[StephyMei1112]

I don't know if what I describe here will make any sense at all - but here goes:

Of course rescue is very trendy and having a rescue dog is incredibly fashionable and "in" nowadays (when was the last time any celebrity publicly said they had a puppy from a breeder??) and that is a good thing. But I find with a great deal of people locally that have rescue dogs - have a haughty attitude towards people that do not/have a dog from a breeder.

Has anyone else noticed or experienced this for themselves in any way at all? and thoughts?

Example of what I mean -

Other person:
"So did you get her through fostering?"

Me:
"No, she's from a breeder"

"Oh..." (VERY condescendingly)

Another example:

"So she's just a crazy mix of everything? you must've gotten lucky at the shelter"

"She is actually a purebred - and from a registered breeder"

"Did you try for a rescue dog first??"

"They're kind of obscure - they hardly ever show up in rescues"

"...what was wrong with the dogs they do have at rescues then? why not one of those instead?"

I just smiled and walked away at this point.

Hopefully you guys get what I mean.

What happened to just being happy to see a dog having a nice owner and home? what does it matter if it's purebred or mutt, rescue or breeder? I don't think anyone should be chastised for whatever way or wherever they acquired their dog (puppy mills are exceptions to this of course).

I don't like stuck up elderly AKC folk that are prejudiced against a mutt simply because it is a mutt - equally I do not care for rescue fanatics turning their noses up or criticizing people's choices of going to a breeder instead.

 

[Fran101]

It happens.
The whole "You KILLED a rescue dog by buying from a breeder" is one of the most common/totally untrue statements you are going to get.

*shrug* I just walk away at this point. Most of the time, there is no reasoning with them the BREEDER=EVIL mentality is so deeply nailed in. Good on them for rescuing, but I chose a responsible breeder and have nothing to be ashamed of.

There is breeder snobbery, rescue snobbery, all kinds of snobbery lol a bad apple ruins the batch sadly and they come in all kinds. Just ignore them and enjoy your dog.

 

[sassafras]

There's plenty of snobbery on both sides of the issue. You notice the breeder snobbery when you have mixed breeds, and the rescue snobbery when you have breeder dogs. Been going on forever, and will probably go on forever. I just don't engage in any debate about it, there's no point.

 

[Emily]

LOL well I had people in one of my obedience classes gasp when I said Keeva was from a breeder. There are definitely some people who have a very righteous but uneducated attitude regarding the breeding of any animals. I usually just say very nicely that purebred dogs are a hobby of mine and that a puppy from a good breeder is the better choice for my lifestyle. I've never had anyone bitch me out in public. lol

That said, amongst the general populace I see at my work, most people are kind of apathetic. A lot of them are like, "I didn't care about papers, I just wanted a pet." Or,
"Well we really wanted a Vizsla." In my area, rescue has a positive connotation and people come to adoption fairs to "shop" (in a good sense), not because they pity the dogs or feel morally obligated. I haven't really gotten much guff IRL over having a purebred from a breeder.

 

[Aleron]

I get this sort of thing with Savvy a lot because people look at him and assume he must be a mix. And that such a muttly dog must have come from a shelter :rofl1:

 

[ihartgonzo]

I feel like anyone who chastises people for buying from ANY breeder (not just buying from pet stores & BYBs) is totally uneducated about reputable breeders. I've heard a lot of people say "I'm anti-breeder!!!" and then they go on to explain how every breeder is a puppy mill. :/ Stupid.

I really like that rescue is popular now, even with the snobby attitudes. I also like that most people have altered dogs, even when they gasp at the sight of dog balls. The majority is pretty uneducated - and don't need anything beyond a nice, low key shelter mutt! For them to wrap their brains around how to determine if a breeder is reputable, when it's nearly impossible for them to read a dog food ingredient label, is a lot to ask.

 

[Dizzy]

I felt and still feel guilty buying from a breeder. My morality is there, and its hard for me to accept. U am very happy we have gone to a breeder, its a good choice for us right now, but its been a hard decision.

I know people who will have their opinions on it, but doubt they'll say anything... And I know I've spent years making sure I know what I'm doing and what to look for.

 

[Fran101]

I feel like anyone who chastises people for buying from ANY breeder (not just buying from pet stores & BYBs) is totally uneducated about reputable breeders. I've heard a lot of people say "I'm anti-breeder!!!" and then they go on to explain how every breeder is a puppy mill. :/ Stupid.

I really like that rescue is popular now, even with the snobby attitudes. I also like that most people have altered dogs, even when they gasp at the sight of dog balls. The majority is pretty uneducated - and don't need anything beyond a nice, low key shelter mutt! For them to wrap their brains around how to determine if a breeder is reputable, when it's nearly impossible for them to read a dog food ingredient label, is a lot to ask.

This is pretty much why I'm ok with it all. First off, there is snobbery on all sides lol
but I find myself totally fine with the "Adopt don't shop!" and "SPAY AND NEUTER OR ELSE!" kind of mentality because..frankly.. it's for the best for the majority of the populous.
I shrug or just respond kindly when people try to lecture me about "You know.. your dog really should be neutered or else he's going to get cancer and run away and hump" or "You know..you really could've found a dog just like that at a shelter! You should adopt!"
because they mean well, and even if it comes out kind of snobby, the message for the majority is a good one.

And as you said...Average joe.. 99% of the time, does NOT have patience for finding, paying for, and dealing with a reputable breeder (waiting for a litter, not picking their own puppy, filling out the application etc..) sooo I'd much rather adoption be pushed then the alternative.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

I get that but even more specific from some of my old friends. Wait, you bought and didn't resume another pit bull!? Ahhhhh

The horror.

It's another one of those "meh" issues for me. I do like that they are big on rescue, I would prefer they were better educated on breeding. In the end though I usually smile and walk away.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

Rescue*

 

[SevenSins]

Try attempting to adopt or foster a dog AS a breeder. Those conversations get real fun. Especially when they find out we have Pit Bulls. Hear it all the time, "if you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem," "all breeders should be required to rescue," but those exact same people won't allow breeders to rescue or foster.

 

[LilahRoot]

We are a mixed household here. The OH has always been for rescues, and because of him we have a rescue dog. (that came with him) I have always been afraid to rescue because of health issues, and he has come to see my point after Roscoe had to have about $6,000 worth of vet visits, ultrasounds, surgery, special food, and medicine to repair a liver shunt. I totally understand rescue, and I am very grateful for all of the amazing work that they do for dogs that would otherwise not have a fair chance at life, but I just don't know if it's for me at this point in my life.

 

[Red.Apricot]

I get it a lot, because Elsie looks like a GSD mix when she's out with Zobby; when we're out with my dad's Zoey, people don't think that. It honestly doesn't bother me much; usually it shuts down the conversation pretty quickly, which, since I usually don't really want to talk to strangers when I'm hiking or walking or whatever, is fine. They obviously feel strongly about an issue, and feel I've made a morally questionable choice.

I do agree that in a lot of ways this is wonderful; more and more people are using rescues to get their next pet.

I've even had the following conversation:

Nice person: Is that a German shepherd mix?
Me: No, she's a Tervuren.
Nice person: What's that?
Me: A Belgian herding dog.
Nice person: Oh, she's beautiful! How did you manage to find one in rescue?
Me: Thank you. I didn't, she's from a breeder.
Nice person: You bought her? Oh... Well. She's very pretty.

And then they leave. The oh... well wasn't condescending or mean spirited, it was said with what felt like an air of confusion, like they weren't sure that was an option.

 

[Kilter]

Yup, get it all the time. Kilt MUST be a mix because she's not a tall, leggy black and white border collie and that's the only style there is.

I also got the line from the rescue that I was looking to them for breeding stock. I just said 'well there's a lot easier ways to get intact dogs with less questions asked, I could go on the free dog ads and there's always tons, but that wouldn't be responsible!'.


The all breed rescues bash the HS, which is almost silly, since they have a huge facility and do foster as well, and do work with the rescues (if a dog/cat has potential but they can't work with them there, they contact the rescues). Yes, the HS does put down dogs that fail their adoption screening, but at the same time, the dogs that fail I wouldn't want living next to my dogs anyway.

Some of the rescue people get what breeders do, but most are so blinded it's a shame, since in some cases people want a purebred puppy of a set breed and they can't see to educate.

I know with borders it'll be a challenge to educate people on what responsible breeding actually is - not just 'they herd and are intact'....

 

[OwnedByBCs]

Yeah, I get that constantly. Then I just tell them that I did BC rescue for 10 years and have placed around 30 dogs in loving homes. That cancels out my tiny breeding program a few times over. LOL

 

[OwnedByBCs]

By the way- Hey Lana!! How are you? LOL.

 

[sassafras]

It's crazy to me that people think they are mutually exclusive options, anyway - like you can't have a dog from a breeder and a dog from rescue, or you can't be a breeder involved in rescue. People will just argue about anything, I suppose.

 

[Paige]

I don't think anyone has ever asked where Bandit is from.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

People will just argue about anything, I suppose.

Mmmmhmmmmm

 

[Tortilla]

I get it, because I used to be really involved with rescue people and my puppy will be from a breeder. I think a lot of my old friends feel betrayed, like I went to the dark side or something. I was a lot more impressionable when I was younger, and before I got Seamus I was guilted out of getting another dog that would have been a lot better suited to my lifestyle because it was the wrong kind of rescue or something, I guess.

It's like you can't support rescue and own a dog from a reputable breeder. I still absolutely support rescue and will rescue again one day. I respect rescuers and LOVE that a lot of people support rescue!

Having said that, I've also gotten it from the other side. My snooty aunt doesn't like having her fancy Schnauzer interact with Seamus because Seamus was, in her words, 'a street dog.' I try not to take it too personally.