Ethics and dog acquisition

2285 Views 19 Replies 18 Participants Last post by SpicyBulldog, Jan 31, 2016

RoughDiamond

Discussion Starter · Jan 26, 2016

Hey dog-savvy people!

I have a scenario I want to run by ya'll, because it treads precariously close to my code of ethics and I want to be sure I'm not straying into a weakness of character.

I live in the country, in the SE USA. There are a lot of hog hunters, deer hunters and general "woodspeople" who make their homes here, and some of them are my neighbors. Many of these people breed certain breeds and crossbreeds of dog for that "tuff huntin' dawg" mentality. I do not agree with this.

A neighbor of mine had a litter last year from his Rottweiler female, by a Malinois from a "buddy" of his that was, ahm, a "personal protection dog". This was a Malinois that wagged his tail at little girls and kittens, so I don't think the protection part quite worked out, but my point that neither of these owners are modern or conscientious is made.

A year later, a female pup my neighbor kept is no longer wanted. She'll be exactly a year in a couple weeks, I think. My neighbor has said he's rehoming her and I'd love to take her rather than see her go somewhere where she'll live in a pen and chase wild pigs.

Buuuuut technically, would this be me supporting backyard breeding rather than rescuing her from an unsavory situation? For all my neighbors woes he does keep vetwork current on his dogs and she's spayed so it's not like she'd be out making more ill-bred puppies if I don't take her.

I can just see, if I get her, taking her out and about and telling people her story and getting dirty looks because they think I'm a byb supporter when I am absolutely the opposite.

So, second opinions on the situation?

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1 - 20 of 20 Posts

miniaturehorse

· #2 · Jan 26, 2016

It's a rehome so I personally think it's fine if you aren't going to be buying her the same way you'd buy her as a young puppy. A small rehome fee wouldn't be unusual but I wouldn't pay puppy price if you're against his breeding practices.
In any rehome situation the dogs often are from less than ideal places. Dogs in shelters or found on the street included. It's not like you just find reputably bred dogs waiting around for rehome everywhere..
If you're really worried about what people will say just mention that she was a rehome. You don't have to mention the BYB part if you don't want.

Reactions: 1

Rain

· #3 · Jan 26, 2016

Explain that she is a rescue. Let them know what her life likely would have been if you did not take her. If I gave him any money it'd be just enough to cover her vet cost and no more.

Let people know that she needed a home and that's why you have her. That no one profited off of her.

Reactions: 2

SusanLynn

· #4 · Jan 26, 2016

If you were planning to acquire a puppy from this breeder, we would be having a conversation about ethics. However, this is not a puppy, but instead an adult dog that needs a good home, one which you can provide. You can certainly go ahead without feeling that you are doing something wrong.

Reactions: 2

MHDDOG2016

· #5 · Jan 26, 2016

Why do you owe anyone an explanation about where/why you got her? Can you simply say "One of my neighbors was rehoming her so I adopted her. Isn't she cute?" End of story.

I feel like there is so much opinion and judgment about where people acquire their dogs. I agree 100% no pet shops, Amish "dog farms", etc. but for some people, they receive judgement even if they choose to purchase from a reputable breeder, rather than adopt/rescue. For some people, they need the predictability of a specific breed for various reasons, or will be doing specific things with their dog that a specific breed is known for.

I guess my point is, if you want the dog, get the dog. It's your choice and no one should care or judge you

Reactions: 3

Elrohwen

· #6 · Jan 26, 2016

Are you paying money for her? If not, then I don't see any issue with it. You're adopting a dog like any other dog. The fact that you know where it came from doesn't make it worse.

Now if you were paying $500 or something then it might be more of an ethical issue because you would be supporting the poor breeding practices.

Shandula

· #7 · Jan 26, 2016

I would think of this more like a rescue. This is simply an adult dog that needs a new home, and you're willing to step up and help out.

Reactions: 1

Esand

· #8 · Jan 26, 2016

MHDDOG2016 said:
Why do you owe anyone an explanation about where/why you got her? Can you simply say "One of my neighbors was rehoming her so I adopted her. Isn't she cute?" End of story.

This

Dawnben

· #9 · Jan 26, 2016

Just tell people she is a rescue and leave it at that.

RaiderBaider

· #10 · Jan 26, 2016

Just give the dog a home where she will be safe and protected. Let haters hate. They're gonna anyways.

jclark343

· #11 · Jan 26, 2016

I agree that this situation is far more like a rehome then supporting a BYB. She is being placed because she is no longer wanted in a home, not because they are wanting to make money on her. Plus with her coming vaccinated and spayed, it shows some responsibility on the owners part.

Noting, that is the weirdest breed mix I've heard for a hog dog. Around here it is mostly pit/hound mixes. Around my neck of the woods, the most popular mix is pit catahoula because they love the colors they can get out of them.

Reactions: 1

TiggerBounce

· #12 · Jan 26, 2016

RoughDiamond said:
Hey dog-savvy people!

I have a scenario I want to run by ya'll, because it treads precariously close to my code of ethics and I want to be sure I'm not straying into a weakness of character.

I live in the country, in the SE USA. There are a lot of hog hunters, deer hunters and general "woodspeople" who make their homes here, and some of them are my neighbors. Many of these people breed certain breeds and crossbreeds of dog for that "tuff huntin' dawg" mentality. I do not agree with this.

A neighbor of mine had a litter last year from his Rottweiler female, by a Malinois from a "buddy" of his that was, ahm, a "personal protection dog". This was a Malinois that wagged his tail at little girls and kittens, so I don't think the protection part quite worked out, but my point that neither of these owners are modern or conscientious is made.

A year later, a female pup my neighbor kept is no longer wanted. She'll be exactly a year in a couple weeks, I think. My neighbor has said he's rehoming her and I'd love to take her rather than see her go somewhere where she'll live in a pen and chase wild pigs.

Buuuuut technically, would this be me supporting backyard breeding rather than rescuing her from an unsavory situation? For all my neighbors woes he does keep vetwork current on his dogs and she's spayed so it's not like she'd be out making more ill-bred puppies if I don't take her.

I can just see, if I get her, taking her out and about and telling people her story and getting dirty looks because they think I'm a byb supporter when I am absolutely the opposite.

So, second opinions on the situation?

I would not say that it's supporting a BYB if he's just giving her to you. She's a rehome. They're not selling her, you're not supporting their breeding practices. You're taking in an unwanted dog that may otherwise end up at a shelter, or other less-savory situation. If he were selling her, that would be a different story.

traciek88

· #13 · Jan 26, 2016

I have to agree this is a straight up rehoming, and not supporting a backyard breeder. Whether a dog came from a champion breeder, a shelter, a puppy mill or country byb, it's rehoming/rescue if someone says "I can't keep this dog, can you take her?" It's not like you're paying for this dog right? Generally I think supporting mills and BYBs is giving people significant financial encouragement to keep breeding dogs. That's not what this situation is, so I think your hands are clean.

Reactions: 1

KayWilson

· #14 · Jan 27, 2016

I don't you have any ethical dilemma here. You have a loving home to give and she needs a home, no issue in my opinion.

Then again I'm also a bit looser on the whole BYB definition. To me, a BYBer is a person who is carelessly breeding dogs for no reason other than to profit or because it's something to do because they think they have a really cool dog.

I too live in a more rural area in, although up here in Southern Alberta Canada. People around here breed hunting/gun dogs and working farm dogs. Many of these are not pure bred but the breeds that are bred are done so for a purpose, most often they are better taken care of the most children (because the earn the people money working the prairie or farms), have firmer personalities, are healthier, and are not sold to make a profit to just any person. I know of a few of these BYBers through work and they are in constant contact with their "clients" and many have been known to do follow up calls at least yearly to see how their litters turned out and are working.

To me buying or rehoming a dog from a breeder like this ok.They have a vested interest in where their litters go. A BYBer looks at their dogs as money makers by pumping out as many litters as possible and selling them to whomever has the cash in hand - no follow ups, no contracts, no concern for the pups future.

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Reactions: 2

TruckersMom

· #15 · Jan 27, 2016

If you want her you should take her. There is no problem with this, it is not giving in to byb or any other such nonsense it is merely re-homing a dog that you would like.

Reactions: 1

TruckersMom

· #16 · Jan 27, 2016

jclark343 said:
Noting, that is the weirdest breed mix I've heard for a hog dog. Around here it is mostly pit/hound mixes. Around my neck of the woods, the most popular mix is pit catahoula because they love the colors they can get out of them.

I thought this too. Most hog hunting breed mixes I know are not that (I know of a couple beautiful

Dogo Argentino/Catahoula Leopard Cur Mixes).

SusanLynn

· #17 · Jan 27, 2016

You know, we'd all like to see some photos!

Reactions: 2

seashoreduck

· #18 · Jan 27, 2016

My current dog, a german shepard/basenji mix was very much intended to be a "personal protection" dog for some "bad arse" pseudo criminal deep in NYC. When, by 6 months it was very apparent she was not a big, bad dangerous Malinois/German Shepard she was dumped in a shelter. (in fact her name was a riff on "dangerous" which couldn't be less like who she is if you tried) There she remained for a year and a half...almost 2 years...before I got her.

She was most certainly "back yard" bread, but had I the opportunity, I would of rather gotten her at 6mo than languishing in a shelter for almost 2 years.

Reactions: 1

Laco

· #19 · Jan 31, 2016

Your taking a unwanted dog and providing a loving home and protection for her. End of story, you are doing a good thing.

Reactions: 1

SpicyBulldog

· #20 · Jan 31, 2016

RoughDiamond said:
I live in the country, in the SE USA. There are a lot of hog hunters, deer hunters and general "woodspeople" who make their homes here, and some of them are my neighbors. Many of these people breed certain breeds and crossbreeds of dog for that "tuff huntin' dawg" mentality. I do not agree with this.

Why don't you agree with this?

A neighbor of mine had a litter last year from his Rottweiler female, by a Malinois from a "buddy" of his that was, ahm, a "personal protection dog". This was a Malinois that wagged his tail at little girls and kittens, so I don't think the protection part quite worked out, but my point that neither of these owners are modern or conscientious is made.

I would hope so! I'm not sure what you expect, but I can't see how little girls or kittens would be threatening.

A year later, a female pup my neighbor kept is no longer wanted. She'll be exactly a year in a couple weeks, I think. My neighbor has said he's rehoming her and I'd love to take her rather than see her go somewhere where she'll live in a pen and chase wild pigs.

Do people actually consider this cross for hog hunting?

Buuuuut technically, would this be me supporting backyard breeding rather than rescuing her from an unsavory situation? For all my neighbors woes he does keep vetwork current on his dogs and she's spayed so it's not like she'd be out making more ill-bred puppies if I don't take her.

I can just see, if I get her, taking her out and about and telling people her story and getting dirty looks because they think I'm a byb supporter when I am absolutely the opposite.

So, second opinions on the situation?

Get her if you want to get her. So he actually vets his dogs and got her spayed. Hopefully he won't be doing anymore unnecessary litters/byb. That'd be nice. I've learned not to care what others think, you can't please everyone. I also wonder why you would even have to explain? "What is wrong with saying she's a Rott/Mal cross, I got her when she was a year as the previous owners didn't want her."

Reactions: 1

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