Say NO to breeders

Breeders, and the people who use them, are a large part of the reason shelters are full of unwanted dogs and other animals, some of whom are then put down.

There are numerous reasons to avoid breeders.

Above all else, breeders keep unwanted dogs in shelters. That dog may end up being put down. Breeders create life where there is already enough life without love and home.

Breeders reduce life to the level of commodity, to buy and sell. It's common to find different prices among a single litter, based on a dog's eye colour, "cuteness" and other superficial attributes.

Yet all right-thinking people would balk at the idea of treating people this way. Can you imagine would-be foster parents "choosing" a child, far less on the basis of their eye or skin colour? We don't talk about racism in the animal world; but the equivalent, speciesism, is just as egregious. Life is an equivalence; you don't need a fluffy dog, or one of a certain colour, you just need a dog.

Now, there's breeders and there's breeders. We're not saying they're all evil pantomime villains running puppy farms (though some of them are.) Some of them are not breeders at all but just ended up with a pregnant dog and, voila, here's a litter of pups we have to rehome. (Lesson: always neuter/spey your dog.) But would you want your children sold off?

But many are in it for the money. Animal welfare, and the fact they're causing dogs to be put down, are not considered. There are horrific stories of female dogs being used for over-breeding, like machines never switched off and allowed to cool down. The effects on them are not good.

What's more, many breeders have no idea what they're doing and may actually be encouraging poor geneology. There are many reports of breeders mixing dogs who are poorly matched and resulting in dogs with epilepsy, unnatural aggression and other traits. Humans have been responsible for all sorts of dumb breeding combinations; pugs and bulldogs, for example, both human creations, can't even breathe properly.

What's more, you'll nearly always end up paying a lot more for a dog via a breeder than via a shelter. A shelter dog will typically cost up to £200, and that money goes towards helping a good cause. A breeder will charge you anywhere from £500 to several thousands.

Be awesome; rescue a dog. Don't fund the breeders; don't fund injustice and cruelty.

Find a shelter near you

Reasons to avoid breeders: a summary

  • Keeps dogs in shelters

    Using a breeder means keeping a dog in a shelter, possibly at risk of being put down, a dog who just wants a chance at life and love. They deserve your support; they will reward you for life.

  • Cruel

    Not only is it cruel to leave dogs languishing in shelters the actual breeding process is cruel enough. Many female dogs are over-bred and, even then, would you like to have your children sold off?

  • Expensive

    A rescue dog will cost you up to £200, usually. A breeder, who may well set prices according to a dog's colour, "cuteness" and other vapid ideas of value, will cost you much more, and sometimes thousands.

  • Promotes speciesism

    We don't tolerate racism among people, yet dogs and animals are subject to 'speciesism' all the time. Breeders promote the idea that you should get little Freya a fluffy dog, a cute one. Life is an equivalence.

  • Reduces life to commodity

    Life is not a commodity to be bought and sold, and breeders treat it as precisely this; it is alive and sentient and deserves love and respect. We used to buy and sell people - yet how repugnant an idea is that?

  • Risk of unsuitable combos

    Many breeders have no idea what they're doing. Inbreeding can result in encouraging poor genology resulting in handicapped or otherwise hindered dogs in the litters. These traits may not manifest until much later.

Back to Top