To Breed or Not To Breed...

For those of us in the rescue world, there’s no question. But to many pet owners who adore their dog or cat and are proud of their furry family member’s personality and whiskery good looks, they think the greatest tribute is to breed him/her and share the wonderful puppies with the world.

I’m going to assume that the vast majority of people reading this blog fall into the first category, the rescue-minded folks. Your pets are probably spayed or neutered, but I bet you know someone -- or you will know someone -- who falls into the second category. This post is to give you a few quick tools to help others arrive at the right conclusion.

1) The Numbers. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 6-8 million animals enter shelters each year. Half of those are euthanized. I’ve seen other estimates that are much higher. When there are at least three to four million animals dying each year, is it really fair to add another litter to the mix? Sure, some of those animals being euthanized aren’t considered adoptable, but many of them are puppies. What if you (person considering breeding) can’t find homes for all of the puppies? Are you going to keep them all, multiplying the cost, time, and emotional commitment of your pet care? Are you going to drop them off at the shelter? If you know of people who would want your dog’s puppies, why not send them to your local shelter to adopt a puppy that’s already in the world -- but statistically might not be for long.

2) Cute isn’t Enough. The tricky part about genetics and reproduction is that it’s far beyond skin deep. Just about everyone has a family member or two that proves that point. There are all sorts of health and behavior problems that a dog may not develop until it’s older, or may never develop, but will pass on to the next generation. Also, there’s no way to tell what kind of birth your dog might have or whether she’ll be a good mother. These are all potential problems that can cost lots of money, and the lives of the puppies, or even the momma dog. Check out Virtual Breeding -- a Choose Your Own Adventure that walks you through some of the misadventures that can happen with dog breeding.

3) If You Love Your Dog, Keep Him/Her Alive. If you could reduce or eliminate the chances of your dog getting sick, wouldn’t you? A spayed female won’t get ovarian cancer and is far less likely (the earlier it’s done the better) to get mammary cancer. A neutered male won’t get testicular cancer. Not only that, but getting rid of hormones can also get rid of a lot of unwanted behaviors such as wanderlust and certain types of aggression.

The surgery is minimally invasive. There are all sorts of resources to help out with cost. The myths about spayed and neutered animals getting fat and lazy are just myths.

These are just a few of the reasons why breeding isn’t the answer … and I can think of at least three to four million more.

Photo credit: Meagan