Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  What is your attitude towards breeders?

    Posted 07-22-2022 09:28 AM
    Hello Everyone,

    I ask this question because I have been fostering puppies for years and have discovered that there is very little training and support for puppy fosters. Although we may have philosophical differences with breeders (and some of you may loathe the very core of them) I think some may have experience and wisdom that could be shared with the rescue world and visa versa.

    I've been thinking about starting a puppy raising/fostering facebook group that would welcome fosters and breeders to share knowledge and ask questions about raising puppies. Topics would not include actual breeding, tail docking, ear docking, etc. just tips and tricks on preventing and identifying illness, how to setup a puppy area, whelping advise, cheap hacks for enrichment, ideas for socializing and so on.

    The world has become so divided but I think we have more in common than we realize. Do you think these two worlds could come together, despite their differences, for the sake of us all raising healthier, more stable, well socialized puppies?

    As shelter professionals, I value your honest opinions. Thanks for your time.

    #Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
    #EducationandTraining
    #FosterPrograms

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    Diane Zahorodny
    World Ready Pets
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  • 2.  RE: What is your attitude towards breeders?

    Posted 07-23-2022 09:06 AM
    Hi Diane,

    I genuinely have no problem with responsible and ethical breeders. 

    I think a group like this could work. I would recommend looking into Puppy Culture and their Facebook group "Puppy Culture Discussion Group". While the group is focused towards breeders and the posts are mostly from breeders, I've seen a lot of posts from rescue and foster people on there as well.  The group is solely focused on puppy raising rather than breeding, so I think you may find it helpful to join and see how the group runs and functions. I totally think it's possible if your group focus is narrow :)

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    Sam Zuanich, CPDT-KA
    Canine Behavior & Training Coordinator
    Kitsap Humane Society
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  • 3.  RE: What is your attitude towards breeders?

    Posted 07-23-2022 10:40 AM

    I am actually in a few breeders groups - more on building ideas, design and maintenance purely for that reason of gaining knowledge and ideas, but it does get infuriating when they are forcing pregnancy on dogs purely for money - and some of the conditions the dogs live in are so bare minimum basic, its disgusting.

    I think there could be a lot of resentment, breeders have the money to set things up how they want, they also generally sell the pups at 6-8 weeks old, whereas rescue's/shelters generally won't fix before 8 weeks, so there would be that misconnection and what really could the breeders bring to the table that the wealth of experienced animal welfare world couldn't. The animal welfare world deal with emergency situations, are used to helping each other out, are used to dealing with orphans, mums that abandon and all the not so simple situations that probably most breeders never deal of.

    Anything to bring people together is a good idea - but what if you start this group and after a few months or so there starts to be conflict, have you got the time to deal with it - of course there can be conflict in any group - but I do feel for the majority - breeders and rescue/shelters are on opposite ends of the spectrum with totally different mindsets, I wouldn't welcome breeders into a group I set up - I feel if I have a question or need help the animal welfare world is more than equipped, willing and experienced to help - more so these days with forums like this and all the large organizations, foundations that all work so hard to do what is right for the animals that humans have failed.




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    Jenny Cope - Fear Free Certified
    President/Founder
    Give a Dog a Home Rescue
    Greater Goods Charities - GOODS Program Ambassador
    501c3 Non- Profit Corp, Tax ID/EIN 27-5241306
    State of Maine Shelter/Rescue Licence # F1463
    State of Maine Registered Charity: CO11334
    https://giveadogahome.rescuegroups.org/
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