You got a new dog from a breeder. You are posting photos all over Facebook. That’s nice – I’m not happy for you.
If you’re happy, cool. You are having a kid? I don’t like kids but I’ll be happy for you! Moving to New Jersey? That sounds terrible but I’ll be happy for you! But you bought a new dog from a breeder, and I just refuse to get behind it. I cannot possibly bring myself to be happy that you bought a dog from a breeder. I just can’t.
This is a struggle for me. A majority of my friends are all about animal rescue, but I do have a few acquaintances who buy dogs from “responsible” breeders. It makes me cringe. As I’m scrolling through Facebook and looking at all of the dogs who are going to be euthanized at the shelter tomorrow, I’m really pissed off at you. How could you possibly spend all that money on a dog, when the amount you spent could probably have saved at least 5 dogs from death at your local kill shelter?
I just can’t be happy for you.
Don’t ask me to celebrate the addition of the new family member that you bought. I won’t. I won’t like your puppy pictures on Facebook. I won’t reply to your Instagram stories. Instead, I will pray that the dogs you didn’t bother to consider at the local animal shelter find homes. I can’t even look at your dog with a “oh she’s so cute!” attitude, because I’m just mad. In fact, I may “unfollow” you.
I just can’t be happy for you.
It makes me ill, really. People want puppies. People want specific breeds. That’s all fine and well. I get it. But did you know that there are PLENTY of puppies in shelters? Pregnant dogs end up at kill shelters and their puppies need homes. Puppies are found abandoned and taken to shelters. They need homes. There are breed specific rescues all over the place. Can’t find one in your state? Transportation is often available, and I guarantee it’ll be cheaper than that breeder dog you bought.
The emotion I’m feeling right now is anger. I can’t bring myself to understand why. Like, are you cool with buying a dog when there are millions of innocent animals dying in shelters each year? How is that okay?
If you have a friend who had an “accidental” litter of puppies and you adopt one, okay. It is what it is. Give the puppy a home and tell your friend to get their dog fixed. But going out of your way to buy a dog from a breeder is inexcusable in my eyes.
And don’t even get me started on the breeding itself. I think the act is sick and disgusting. I can’t imagine forcing dogs to have sex so they can reproduce puppies. Don’t try to put that whole “we need to continue perpetuating the breed standard” crap. I won’t hear a minute of it. Would you want to be forced to have sex to reproduce? Yeah, uh, something tells me no.
I don’t blame your new puppy. I blame you for buying it and making the process look glamorous. Too many dogs are dying, and you are part of the problem.
That is all.
Dawn Morris says
Oh, how I love this post. Someone very close to me recently bought a puppy and my heart shattered in a million pieces. I could not fathom that after all these years of watching me rescue dogs and volunteer and talk about the importance of rescue that this sweet person would allow her boyfriend to BUY A DOG for them! They had recently been approved to foster dogs for the local humane society. WTH?
I am still processing it in my tiny brain and plan to write about it next week, but much of what you said here mirrors my thoughts. Sigh. Thanks for writing this post.
Anastasia says
Leaving breadcrumbs for all my Twitter followers… Remember that in today’s economy we vote and speak with our dollars. When you “shop” for a dog, you are saying “I don’t care that millions of otherwise healthy dogs will be KILLED this year, because their lives are less valuable than ME getting to have the status symbol of having “x” dog breed.”
Honestly- how much more selfish, and disgustingly absurd can you be?
And if you are the type of person that’s ok with that level of self-absorption, I don’t need you in my world.
Period.
Akmuffinmama says
I’m struggling with this same feeling. I have an internal immediate repulsion, feelings of deep disappointment and sadness whenever someone close to me decides to buy a dog from a breeder. Especially because they know I am so pro-adoption, spay and neuter, etc. I feel like an outsider because I can’t just fake a smile and say “yay a puppy!” and “accept other peoples choices” and “be happy for them.” I feel like I’m being very harshly judged for not mustering up the socially accepted ability to say “ I love the choices your make no matter what impact they have on others!” It seriously causes me anguish, distress and resentment because if I don’t just “play along” then I’m a negative downer. Ugh