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  1. #21
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TuMicks View Post
    Man... you could get a whole massive thread going with the title "What's with these shelter operations????" This is maybe 20 years ago. I was a graduate student in the department of Cellular Molecular Biology/Biochemistry at our University here. A postdoctoral fellow had a cat that she'd had literally her whole life. She couldn't remember a time she didn't have this cat. He had to have been over 25 when he died. After a decent amount of time she went to the humane shelter and filled in the application to adopt a cat. They turned her down because she did research. (Let me add, she was a published author. They could have looked up her area of research.... she grew antibodies up in chicken eggs. It was a crock.) Their immediate assumption was (1) reputable science is done on mongrel animals whose genetic make-up is completely unknown and (2) a biological scientist will lie through his/her teeth to get a cheap source of tissue. And probably (3) she wanted to torture a cat.
    I'm sorry. No intent to hijack but I have to say something about shelters and rescues. Our vet was denied because he missed one of his dog's poops in his yard. A vet. There's no better person to give a dog to. I was almost denied a cat from the Humane Society many years ago because one of my cats died from cancer which she had when I got her. A senior person there stepped in and I got the cat.

    Having said that, keep in mind that many shelters accept volunteers who are blindingly self-righteous and ignorant and their decisions must be dismissed even though they affect people. They'll grow up eventually. Do keep trying if you really want to rescue.

  2. #22
    Senior Dog MightyThor's Avatar
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    I thought of this thread today while I was out hiking with Thor. We were on mile 10 of 12 and had stopped for a snack and water. Two mountain bikers came by while Thor and I were stopped just off trail. He was off leash but stuck by my side and didn’t move to bother the bikers. One of them said to me “what a great dog, I wish all of them on the trail were this well behaved. Where did you get him?” I was so tempted to reply that he was the newest amazon special - open the box and they come pre-trained!

    (Bonus pic of my happy pup on the summit today! My best hiking buddy. And yes it took a lot of work.)

    Mighty Thor, "So Much Dog", born 1/6/2014
    And baby Barley, born 3/9/2018

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  4. #23
    Senior Dog dxboon's Avatar
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    There are so many impulse purchases of puppies because people are dummies, frankly. Maybe these people are educated, but they don't use common sense, nor do they research anything. In this age of internet and smart phones, you can google "tips for finding a reputable breeder" and get some starting points to look for. I doubt most people even do that. They might do some cursory digging for a breeder as close as possible to them mileage wise. I really do not know how reputable breeders do it. The sheer idiocy on display in the email inquiries that get sent around is laughable. People looking for Labs to match their furniture/decor choices (they need to get the WHITEST Labrador only), people looking for free puppies because they're on a budget, but will give the puppy a great home (What will these people do if their puppy needs emergency, costly veterinary services?), people who've just had their first baby, AND they have a less than a year old Viszla, so looking for a Lab puppy to be friends with their Viszla! You cannot make this stuff up.

    I also like the "Dear Breeder" puppy inquiries when someone sends a form letter to every breeder in the area (probably taking emails from Lab club websites), and the form letter doesn't have any even minimal info about the family, but just asks the breeder about pricing and that they want [insert very specific desires for color, sex, size, personality, trainability] by a specific date. I've gotten correspondence via my club's contact page where people are looking for a Lab puppy for an exact date, e.g. need yellow female on the small side with mellow personality for daughter's 5th birthday August 13th. Puppies aren't toaster ovens, people. Sometimes I think people imagine there is some sort of Puppy Wal-Mart where dogs of every age and color are sorted and just shipped out whenever and wherever you want them. This topic just brings out the cranky pants in me. It really bugs when people ask you about getting a nice puppy and you help find breeders, litters, etc. only for them to turn around and buy from a large commercial breeder and paypal for their puppy online. Then they wonder why their puppy seems bizarrely small or has patches of hair missing, etc. It's hard for me to feel sorry for people who make these choices. I had someone in my friend circle looking for a puppy who then decided to buy one from a mall pet store. They didn't even make it 48 hours with the puppy before they were looking to give it up and rehome it. Big dummies!

  5. #24
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    I sometimes wonder where people looking for puppies get their info. I had one guy send me what looked like the "perfect" form letter (I wasn't buying it) and the clincher was when he said he would only get a dog where he would be provided copies of the parents DNA. I am fairly positive he meant the DNA identification info vs. the DNA clearances. I wrote back and said I don't do that DNA testing...never heard back.

  6. #25
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    I keep thinking about this thread because I was quick to condemn people but upon reflection, I'm probably guilty of this too.

    We're scheduled to close on our new house by the end of this week (fingers and paws crossed) and my puppy fever has ramped up. I've missed having a dog so much; Kimber was so core to our lives. Meanwhile, in the last six months, I had one close family member pass away and another diagnosed with terminal cancer. Labs bring so much positive energy. I need a purpose, I need something to love, I need a lab to make me laugh and smile each day.

    DH is still not convinced now is the right time, and we debate whether to get a puppy (cuteness beyond measure) or look for an older dog (because lab puppies can be monsters). Meanwhile, I keep cruising the rescue lists and researching breeders who will have available litters soon. And if DH finally agrees that now is okay, I will jump.

    I completely respect people who can wait a year+ to get a puppy from a breeder, and that may be me in the future. I've learned so much from this board about the breed and the ethics involved. But if we do get a puppy now, I hope I won't be judged too harshly.

    /True confessions
    Stormageddon, Princess of Darkness, aka "Stormy"
    Birthday 9-13-18, Gotcha Day 11-11-18
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    Miss Kimber, CGC, 6/15/2005-1/27/2018 forever in our hearts



  7. #26
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kimbersmom View Post
    I keep thinking about this thread because I was quick to condemn people but upon reflection, I'm probably guilty of this too.

    We're scheduled to close on our new house by the end of this week (fingers and paws crossed) and my puppy fever has ramped up. I've missed having a dog so much; Kimber was so core to our lives. Meanwhile, in the last six months, I had one close family member pass away and another diagnosed with terminal cancer. Labs bring so much positive energy. I need a purpose, I need something to love, I need a lab to make me laugh and smile each day.

    DH is still not convinced now is the right time, and we debate whether to get a puppy (cuteness beyond measure) or look for an older dog (because lab puppies can be monsters). Meanwhile, I keep cruising the rescue lists and researching breeders who will have available litters soon. And if DH finally agrees that now is okay, I will jump.

    I completely respect people who can wait a year+ to get a puppy from a breeder, and that may be me in the future. I've learned so much from this board about the breed and the ethics involved. But if we do get a puppy now, I hope I won't be judged too harshly.

    /True confessions
    I don't think anyone is talking about rescuing or choosing good breeders and then taking the first pup available. Or keeping your eyes open and jumping on something that works for you. Personally, if I were looking for a good pet, there are at least a half dozen great breeders locally that I would buy a puppy from and if timing mattered, I'd pick the one most convenient. Often, these breeders have one or two puppies available with a litter because they had more than planned or someone backs out. For the most part, they raise their puppies similarly and use similar lines and all have the same ethics around breeding. What we are talking about here is people who want a puppy now or on (insert date here) who peruse the internet and just buy the first thing that is most convenient, no questions asked. Or, if they aren't looking and see a litter and "can't resist" and purchase a puppy without thinking it through or knowing anything about the breeder (or the breed, for that matter).

  8. #27
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    Quote Originally Posted by Labradorks View Post
    I don't think anyone is talking about rescuing or choosing good breeders and then taking the first pup available. Or keeping your eyes open and jumping on something that works for you. Personally, if I were looking for a good pet, there are at least a half dozen great breeders locally that I would buy a puppy from and if timing mattered, I'd pick the one most convenient. Often, these breeders have one or two puppies available with a litter because they had more than planned or someone backs out. For the most part, they raise their puppies similarly and use similar lines and all have the same ethics around breeding. What we are talking about here is people who want a puppy now or on (insert date here) who peruse the internet and just buy the first thing that is most convenient, no questions asked. Or, if they aren't looking and see a litter and "can't resist" and purchase a puppy without thinking it through or knowing anything about the breeder (or the breed, for that matter).
    Thanks! Sometimes I can be a little too judge-y, so I'm trying to combat that.
    Stormageddon, Princess of Darkness, aka "Stormy"
    Birthday 9-13-18, Gotcha Day 11-11-18
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  9. #28
    Senior Dog Sue-Ram's Avatar
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    Hey kimbersmom, you do you. Nobody has the right to judge you for any decisions you make. Some people make choices with their heart and some with their head. Some people agonize over every decision they make and some people are impulsive. Regardless of when or where your puppy comes from, it will be loved like crazy.
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  11. #29
    Senior Dog dxboon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JenC View Post
    I sometimes wonder where people looking for puppies get their info. I had one guy send me what looked like the "perfect" form letter (I wasn't buying it) and the clincher was when he said he would only get a dog where he would be provided copies of the parents DNA. I am fairly positive he meant the DNA identification info vs. the DNA clearances. I wrote back and said I don't do that DNA testing...never heard back.
    Who knows what people are thinking? I think placement of puppies is one of the most nerve-wracking issues for many breeders. I know a lot of folks love getting repeat families where they know the family keeps in touch and is doing a great job with their current dog.

  12. #30
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Don't think I could ever be a breeder and go through the agony of letting puppies go even after all you have to go through. Dang, I hunt for months and months just to find a senior knowing I will be facing senior issues, not if but when. Would love to have a puppy but know we could not do it's needs justice. The breeders I've gotten seniors from are just as concerned about placing them and I hope they are about their puppies. It's not a decision to be taken lightly by either party. Way too many times I've seen people opt to get a puppy because they kids want one, "it will complete the family", it's fashionable, the thing to do. UGH! They want it to be no more complicated than choosing a loaf of bread.

    I'm at that point now where I would love to have a second senior lab, a retiree to join our house of retirees. Getting the property next door, an open lot, and having it fenced in this week, I just seen two romping/moseying around. As it has in the past, the right set of brown eyes will appear when we least expect it, I hope.
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