This topic often comes up in conversation when you're discussing pets, and admitting to buying your pet is treated as if you'd just said that all immigrants should go back to their native lands. Even those who do not think of themselves as animal rights activists are guilty of holding rescue animals higher than other animals. Responsible owners the world over get kittens or puppies for free, or they buy a purebred or designer breed. They, automatically, become part of the problem. But are they really?
You see, I feel that a rescue animal is not always the right choice.
Take, for example, me when I bought my small mixed breed dog. I did my research, I knew what I needed, and I went looking. I checked the local humane society, and they had nothing that fit my needs. I branched out, and looked at other reasonably close shelters, but they either didn't have what I was looking for, or didn't adopt outside their own town. I went looking for rescue groups - most of these required fenced yards, someone to be home all the time, specific training requirements, and multiple home visits. I could have just not gotten a dog - I had 2 ferrets at the time, so I wasn't starving for animal companionship, however this was the first time in my life I was in a place and set up, able to get a puppy. I wanted that damn puppy! I finally ended up on Kijiji(Canada's version of Craigs list, with less crazy), and found someone who's dog had gotten caught accidentally, they didn't think the male was old enough to breed, and were selling the pups for a reasonable price, hoping to pay to have the bitch fixed. They were small breed dogs(chihuahua x shih tsu), raised in a home environment, the owners were seemingly being responsible about rehoming(they asked a lot of questions, answered every question I had, wouldn't let the pups leave until 8wks, and kept my boy back[with a deposit] until he was 12wks). I visited them, and their home, and their dog. I met the puppies, and fell in love. They started calling him by my name of choice, so he would get used to his name. Four years later, I still have that dog, he's neutered, up to date on shots, microchipped, well socialized, well trained. He's exactly the dog I wanted in my life. And I bought him.
I have rescued in the past. I've had 4 ferrets in my lifetime, all of them came from bad situations - one was found wandering the streets by myself and friends, one was going to be killed if she didn't find a home, one was "owned" by young girls who tormented him, and one came from the shelter. I loved each and every one of those ferrets for their personality. I didn't use the fact that I had "rescued" them as a badge of honour, most people didn't even know their back stories... They just knew I had ferrets, and those ferrets were well loved.
It's all well and good for me to sit here and provide one example of why shelter animals aren't always the best, but that doesn't really prove my point. For all anyone knows, I'm just heartless and hate rescue animals(I'm not, and I don't.)
Much of the problem comes from rescues and shelters having too strict of regulations. One question answered incorrectly, and your application is going into the shredder. No exceptions. Oh, you're a single person who works? Yeah, you can't adopt, it doesn't matter that you have doggie day care set up. Yard not fenced, or that fence under 6ft? No rescue for you! Oh, you had an animal in the past that passed away, and there's no vet records for that pet? Obviously neglectful, not right for one of OUR precious rescues. You have a 6mth old kitten that you haven't had fixed yet? You are an UNFIT PET OWNER(true story, happened to someone I know). These are not isolated incidents. This happens all the time. People are declared unfit to adopt, and then they are black listed, and will never be approved.
As I can see it, people hold rescue animals in higher regard than any other animal. If an animal is rescued, then it is more deserving of a home, it needs more protection from "crazies" than any other animal, it is simply better. I don't know how people got this idea. I don't know why it is such a popular idea that there should be a rescue animal in every home, and that people who want a specific animal should simply find a rescue of that breed and adopt.
Animal rescues/shelters try to move out their animals as quickly as possible, so they are able to rescue more. Most of these animals have been relinquished from their owners for various reasons, which the owners may or may not be truthful about. When you get a rescue animal, you have no idea how that animal was treated, or what it is conditioned to react to. You don't know if that dog will be afraid of fireworks, or of the mailman. You don't know if that dog is an escape artist, or if that dog reacts negatively to a crying child. You just don't know. And I know, with any animal, that you can never be 100% positive of how it will react to anything, regardless if you've had it from a baby or not. I am aware, and I accept that... However, you can be reasonably sure if Fido is going to lose his poor little mind when the clown shows up for your kid's birthday party if you've had him for his entire life. You come to expect specific reactions from your dog, especially if you've raised it.
I know one thing I've always said, that always irritates people, is that rescue animals are second hand pets. There's nothing wrong with buying used, in any purchase, however you take a used car for a test drive, or you boot up a used computer to be sure it works. Many rescues and shelters do not allow you to "test drive" your new pet, and ensure it is a good fit for your household. Many of them take your adoption fee, and if you bring it back a week later because it is unhappy, or it is making you unhappy, you've lost your adoption fee. (Note : some rescues do allow trial periods, and some even insist upon them. This is becoming a trend lately, and I hope that ALL shelters adopt this policy.)
Too many people are insistent that shelter animals are the ONLY way you should get animals. That taking an animal from the general population(by buying it as a baby, an adult or even taking a free pet) is contributing to the shelter overpopulation. This is not so. If I buy a dog, and that owner was determined to get rid of that dog, do you believe the owner would keep the dog if no one bought it? No, he would put it in the shelter, or dump it on the side of the road! By buying an animal from the general population, you are actually keeping an animal from entering the shelter system. "When you buy, you kill two pets, the one you should have adopted, and the one that would have taken its place." Well, no, because I've just skipped over the one in the shelter, and took the one that would have taken its place.
Do I ever recommend shelter animals to friends or family members? Absolutely! I also recommend that they not adopt an animal simply because it is there and they feel bad, but that they should do their research, have a list of what they need/want in a pet, and be prepared to ask a lot of questions, and meet a lot of animals before finding one that is a good fit for them. I often recommend adult rescue animals to first time owners, and I especially recommend buying kittens from a shelter - they always have them, and it's much cheaper than getting a free kitten and having to do all the vet work on your own dime.
I also know that some shelters are better than others, and have more rigorous testing for their animals. I know that some shelters have caring staff, who want nothing more than to find a good home for each and every animal that comes through the door. I think that there is a lot of great people working to rescue animals, but I also know there are a lot of scummy people as well.
The long and the short of it is, rescue animals have their place, and breeder animals have their place. I think that both can exist in this world. I simply don't think that rescue animals are better than non-rescue animals. I don't think that "rescuing" an animal makes you a better person. I don't think that I, or anyone else, should ever be shamed for wanting to buy a pet that meets their needs, rather than adopt something that might be less suitable.
Adopt or shop, it doesn't matter. As long as that pet has a good home.
Please remember that I do not hate rescue animals, I think that all animals deserve a safe, loving home, where they are well treated and well fed. I wrote a previous blog entry on the Shelter Myth, which is along this same line however more specific to rabbits and how breeders do not actually cause animals to die in the shelter.