Backyard Breeder Rant
This is not specific to the Corgi breed; however, I have to vent my frustration in regards to my latest experience with backyard breeders on here.
I'm work at an apartment complex, and one of our maintenance employee's Bichon Frise just had ANOTHER litter of puppies. Mind you, she is 8 years old and this is her third litter. (She had two litters this past year alone.) The puppies are, of course, adorable and look like fat little teddy bears. Regardless of their adorable appearance, I'm totally disgusted with the fact that the owners have put the mother through wayyyyy too many pregnancies, especially for her age. In addition to that, the puppies are not purebred, they're mixed with miniature poodle. Despite the fact that the dogs are technically mutts, the maintenance employee was asking $350-400 per dog. Not only is their asking price ridiculously high, but the puppies haven't been de-wormed or given their first vaccination. They've sold one of the three pups to someone already, and he just sold one to a tenant for $350. When he handed over the pup, he did not mention the fact that he needed to be dewormed and fully vaccinated immediately. He also did not tell the purchaser that the puppy cannot go outside until it receives all of its shots. It wasn't until I saw the tenant leave the building with the dog in hand, ready to take it for a walk when I had to flag her down and let her know that the puppy shouldn't be outside until he's had his shots because he could contract parvo or distemper. She then replied, "Oh, I've had a couple dogs that have gotten that. One died, one survived. Where's the cheapest place to get puppy shots?" At that point, I didn't know whether or not to cry or slap my forehead in total disbelief. I gave her the address and phone number to the SPCA, and encouraged her to socialize him in safe, indoor environments or carry him when outside until his vaccinations were complete.
Multiple things deeply disturbed me about this scenario, but I think the worst part was the maintenance guy's reaction when I told him I had to stop the tenant from taking the puppy outside. His reaction? "Well, I don't want them to spend all their money on puppy shots before they pay the dog off. Besides, he's out of my hands now." Since this person is technically my colleague, it took everything I had to stay professional and not scream at him for his disgustingly selfish ignorance. I just said, "Well you don't want the puppy to die before they pay it off either!"
I want to make sure that the puppy survives its new home. I really want this puppy to be safe and happy, but I doubt that the tenant who purchased him is up to speed or aware of the expenses and care required for a dog. I feel like I've assisted as much as an outsider can in a situation like this, but I really want to prevent this BYB from breeding his dog in the future again. Has anyone here ever encountered a backyard breeder with no scruples before? Did you call them out on it? Give them advice?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Lemmy Winks on
-
I'll admit, I got my Lemmy from a backyard breeder, however the guy did have enough sense to get dewormed and first set of shots.... however, Lemmy has only 1 eye, and they guy really expected my husband to pay $250 for him.... The mother apparently had all the tests done, but the dad didn't. We only paid enough to cover the provided vet work, plus we are very well prepared/aware for future health problems and extra vet costs, even before we purchased him.
I see "designer pups", like you said no flipping vet work done, or if vet work has been done then they want like $800. People need to understand, there is nothing "designer" about it, it's a MUTT. I have a mutt, you know how much I paid for him? $75 and that was so the lady could get her female fixed so there'd be no more "oops!" litters.
Try contacting your local humane society or a rescue group and hopefully they can do something to help with the "breeder".
-
Permalink Reply by Yuki & Ellie on
-
In college, I knew this woman whose family had two dogs. One was a beautiful, pure-bred golden retriever. The other was a mutt, but was equally stunning in her own way. She was frequently mistaken for being a pure-bred of some sort. Her mother had just sold the last of the mutt's puppies the week before college started. I asked why it was that they let the two dogs breed. The woman said, and I quote, "My mother has had dogs since she was a little girl and breeds her dogs so that they calm down."
I was honestly so dumbfounded that I couldn't respond to that. I later found out that the poor dog had already had five litters of puppies in the past three years. I have no problem with mixed breeds, especially since mutts tend to be healthier and live longer than their pure-bred parents (hybrid vigor), but I do not agree with breeding the poor things over and over again. I don't agree with breeding two dogs together just because "their puppies will be so cuuuuuute!" or because they want their female to "experience motherhood." I also don't agree with breeding a mutt to another mutt, or even a mutt to a pure-bred, as hybrid vigor affects only the first generation the most. Dogs should be bred for a reason, a true purpose, and not just because someone wants to have cute puppies or, worse, just to make money from selling the little pups off.
-
Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
-
I always wonder what happens to the designer dogs that don't look like they are suppose to:(
-
Permalink Reply by Chris West on
-
I have lost two different sets of friends in the last year or so over this very same issue. One couple bought a doberman and then another one just so that they could breed them and make money off the puppies. They have not trained/disciplined the dogs in any way. The last time we visited, the male was knocking down there 2 year old grandson and stealing his food. They were chastising the grandson for it. They bred the female as soon as she came into her first heat. She ate all but one pup they managed to get away from her. As soon as she came into to heat again, they bred her again. I told them I was disgusted and would not visit them again while this was going on. Another friend of mine had a purebred golden. Then they got a male mastiff/dane/something huge/something huge mix puppy and said they were going to breed them because they would make such huge cute puppies. I once again had to inform one of my friends that I found the situation completely irresponsible and could not be friends with them anymore. No matter how you try to explain to people how irresponsible they are being, they just do not see animals as anything more than a self-reproducing way to make some quick cash. Or so they think. My second friend is still begging people to buy her five remaining puppies from the huge litter they ended up with.
-
Permalink Reply by Chelsea and Wyatt on
-
Wow! That is extremely disturbing; especially the story of the young female doberman eating her pups. I understand where you're coming from though, I don't think I could continue to respect or be friends with someone practicing that sort of disgusting breeding.
-
-
Even more disturbing... ya, she ate the second litter too. : (
-
Permalink Reply by Ludi on
-
Backyard breeders REALLY upset me. I see this stuff happen all the time on Reddit, a site I also frequent - people posting pictures of their bitch about to burst at the seams with puppies, or perhaps a "cute" picture of a teacup mutt looking haggard as she nurses her newborn litter of six. Folks think it's adorable - oh look at how little the dog is, and look how many puppies she had! Yeah well, when I see that it just makes my blood boil. I see an animal being exploited and put in a situation it should have never been in. I see irresponsibility, greed, and complete ignorance at work.
I've had a couple childhood friends who have kept their store-bought pets intact, with the intent to breed them later on. I would ask "Why?", because even at tender ages like 9 or 10, I already knew the ramifications of "random breeding". I was shadowing a professional dog handler from 8 to 13, as I was really serious about junior handling and wanted eventually to go pro. People never had the answer I came to expect out of professional kennel owners. It was always "it's good for her to see what being a mom is like", or "'cause my parents want to make the money back with puppies", or even "it's just cute! Who cares?". Made me angry then, and I'm incensed by the topic now.
-
Permalink Reply by Emily & Scout on
-
Backyard breeders are what give reputable breeders a bad name. I 've seen a few ranting posts about how if you get a puppy from a breeder rather than adopting, it is like murder. More than half the dogs in the humane society are pits/pit mixes, and I am in no way interested in the type. Good breeders breed for a GOOD purpose (herding, etc) and stick to breed standard. It's the ones like you all are talking about that breed "because it's cute" or they need some extra money that ruin it and cause discussions like I've seen.
Unfortunately my aunt breeds like this. She had weimeraners and the poor girl had 4-5 litters in a short time and they had 5 aduld dogs. Well, they all lived pretty short lives. Then they switched to chihuahuas, sold many a litter and I was offered one, but I am not a chihuahua person. Then, they TRADED a chihuahua for an english bulldog and now want pups out of her. They should be happy pets, not livestock. And the cows at the farm my fiance helps may even have better lives than the poor dogs that are mostly indoors and kept down in the basement for a long time when family is gone...
OK... my rant is over...
-
-
I'm sorry to hear that Emily. :( If I ever had a relative who treated animals like that, I don't know what I'd do. My grandmother was a dog breeder for well over 30 years, and my father helped her over so many years, that I've had a better grasp on whelping pups than many clueless first-timers ever would. It's upsetting to know of bitches being bred every time they come into heat, or of a "breeding pair" that pumps out flawed pups destined for short lives. I get teary knowing of the grisly fate that awaits these sweet, loving beings.
-
Permalink Reply by Jane on
-
I hear ya. My brother's girlfriend has 3 shelties (had 4, but one elderly one died recently), all from a BYB. The worst part is they actually got multiple dogs from this person on separate occasions. One they're not sure who the father is, might be a border collie, no biggie right? Oopsies. The other is drastically undersized and ridiculously nervous all the time, and randomly craps on the floor if something scares her (like...someone visiting...).
After the old sheltie passed she immediately wanted a blue merle aussie x border collie pup. I tried to explain how those two temperaments and energy levels mixed together might not be such a good mix, and that no reputable breeder would probably be breeding them. She's like "oh I don't want a show dog or anything so I don't care". Sigh. Oh and she wanted the puppy for a running partner - besides the fact that she had to quit playing college tennis because she tore something in her knee, and she doesn't do any activities with her current dogs. Thankfully her parents seem to think that the 3 pathetically bred dogs are enough for now because I don't think I could keep my mouth shut if she got another designer mutt.
-
Permalink Reply by steve smith on
-
I hate hearing these stories. It is really sad
-
Permalink Reply by Emily Trupiano on
-
Sounds like this person is in it for the money. (Obviously) That's too bad. 8 years old? That's awful. That dog will probably get pyometra.
Rescue Store
Stay Connected
FDA Recall
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Recall
Groups
We support...
Badge
© 2024 Created by Sam Tsang.
Powered by
