They Are Not 'Less Than'

That's right. My dogs, several of which have had the appearance and all the characteristics of purebred dogs, are not 'less than.'

I have always adopted my dogs from humane societies and rescue groups. Six of my dogs have had all the hallmarks of purebred dogs, but without the fancy names, pedigrees and 'papers.' Five of my dogs were golden retrievers, and one was an English springer spaniel. I also have adopted seven dogs of mixed parentage.

The first of my goldens got a PAL (Purebred Alternative Listing, previously known as an ILP) number, which allowed him to compete in American Kennel Club-sanctioned obedience trials. And compete he did! He won several matches in the 'novice handler' category. He earned both his CD and CDX titles. It always made me so happy when Casey (that was his full name -- no long and fancy names for him) defeated a bunch of 'papered' purebred golden retrievers.

Don't get me wrong. I know a lot of people who have magnificent, beloved goldens purchased from reputable, careful breeders. But not everybody wants or can afford to spend thousands of dollars on a purebred dog. And I always get a good feeling when I give a loving home to a dog that had no home. So to each her own. People have many reasons for buying from a breeder. And as long as the breeder is responsible, does his/her research, breeds only the occasional litter with the goal of actually improving the breed and isn't just churning out puppies to make a quick buck, who am I to criticize? The important thing is that these animals are beloved family members.

But I sometimes got the feeling that the breed snobs -- and they do exist -- always looked down on my 'less than' dogs. I definitely don't get that feeling from the purebred dog people I know now, but it was definitely a feeling years ago when I got my first few goldens.

The area where we all agree is that backyard breeders and puppy mills — not responsible breeders — are the problem. These are, in the first case, people who think it would be 'fun' to breed their dog because she is 'nice' or pretty or 'has a good temperament.' There is no testing for genetic diseases or temperament issues. But hey, let's breed our sweet Molly and get some puppies to sell for cash, right? Oughta be fun.

And the puppy millers -- don't get me started on those devils! Animals to them are just a cash commodity. Dogs are bred constantly regardless of health or temperament issues. Veterinary care is nonexistent. The breeder dogs spend their lives in small, cramped, wire cages with little to no human interaction. It's all about maximizing profits. Puppies are usually shipped to stores such as Petland and other mall stores that sell puppies for high prices. Among the biggest offenders are the Amish, who see dogs as nothing more than a cash crop. For more information about these hell-hole facilities (which are licensed and 'approved' by the US Department of Agriculture), visit www. harleysdream.org.

So the feeling that my adopted dogs are 'less than' isn't an issue these days. What prompted me to write this post was a recent item on Facebook that claims that the 'adopt don't shop' movement is an attack on responsible breeders.

I don't believe that is the case at all. It is an attack on puppy mills, backyard breeders and stores that sell puppies from these places. And it is a plea to people in search of a new canine family member to either adopt a dog or go to a reputable breeder.

I love my dogs regardless of where they were born or whether they meet the breed standards. I am proud to let people know that the beautiful dogs they see at the end of the leashes in my hands are rescues. What matters far more than whether the dogs have papers or don't is that they are beloved family members.

But for me, the source of a new canine member of my family will always, always be a rescue or humane society.