The Downsides of Animal Breeding

I am clearly an advocate for adopting animals versus buying them. Having worked at a shelter before, I know firsthand how important it is to save those animals from spending any amount of time in a place other than a loving home. Not to mention, there are many homeless animals as is and I don’t believe we need to breed more animals when we could rescue one.

It is possible to find a purebred in a shelter if that is what you’re looking for. Although, I say that “mutts” make some of the best furbabies and can come with fewer problems in the long run. Often, purebred animals have health issues and not all breeders provide safe, humane environments for their animals.

While I don’t want to be completely biased, I can recognize that there are some benefits to buying an animal from a breeder and not all breeders are bad. However, I want to highlight the downsides that are associated with it to hopefully convince you that it is worthwhile to go to adopt, and save, a beloved furbaby from a shelter.

Many people choose to buy from a breeder because they want a specific breed or certain characteristics. While this sounds nice, it does come with some downfalls. People may not necessarily be aware of the predispositions that can come from animals that have been bred, and unfortunately, this could create a circumstance where they are either returned to the breeder or end up in a shelter setting themselves.

Also, when you get an animal from a breeding situation, you are paying a pretty penny just to have the furbaby along with having to pay for them to be spayed/neutered (please!), all the vaccinations required, and get microchipped (if you wish); these fees really add up. On the other hand, if you adopt from a shelter, all these things are included in the much lower adoption fee.

My biggest reason for not supporting breeding is the fact that most breeders are not responsible when it comes to the care of their animals. Inbred animals are common, and situations like puppy mills result from having too many furbabies to care for and not having the proper space and conditions to house them.

Whether you choose to buy or adopt, the biggest thing to consider when getting an animal is to truly find the best fit for your family and ensure that you are in turn the best fit for that furbaby. I highly recommend you do your research on shelters and/or breeders along with the animal you’re considering bringing home. The last thing anyone wants is to commit to an animal only to have to give them up because it’s not working out.