By Hannah Lynn, Staff Writer
While it is important to do research before adopting a furry friend, one of the most essential things a new dog parent can consider is where they get their pet. There are some benefits to breeders, but it is important to consider adopting a dog from a shelter rather than a breeder.
Many breeders usually specialize in one breed, and they usually consist of ‘purebred’ or ‘designer dogs.’ While these dogs are loved by everyone, they can face certain hardships health wise.
Some breeders, known as “backyard breeders,” may not know the most responsible way to take care of or breed their chosen animal, so if you do decide to go with one, make sure that the conditions are ethical and that the animals are handled correctly.
“Every dog breed has specific health risks associated with them based on a variety of factors,” remarks Madison White, a certified veterinary assistant, who shadowed at Sunset Point Animal Hospital, and attends University of South Florida “However, this risk may be lower in dogs that are mixed breed because they have a more diverse genetic makeup.”
A purebred dog’s genetic makeup is extremely limited compared to many of the dogs that are found in shelters, and because of this, a variety of health problems that already run in the breed can become more prevalent, for example, hip Dysplasia in German Shepherds.
However, when it comes to adopting from a shelter, one must keep in mind there are health risks involved with that too.
“Overcrowded shelters pose a unique situation to the animals kept in there,” White said. “When animals are kept in close quarters, there is a high probability that they will catch diseases.”
Adopting from a shelter can ensure that the animals get the love and attention they unfortunately may not have due to overcrowding.
Kendyl Ryan, a freshman criminal justice major at Saint Leo University, has two dogs and has tried buying from a breeder as well as adoption. They have an adopted pit bull mix and a labrador from a breeder.
“[We got one of our dogs] from a shelter because we saw someone post about, says Ryan regarding their pit bull mix. “When we wanted a puppy, we bought him because we knew chocolate lab puppies were not common in shelters.”
Manuela Corredor, a freshman international studies major at Saint Leo University, decided to get their furry friend from a breeder.
“While it’s always better to adopt, the Goldendoodle breed is hard to come by in the shelter and I’m allergic to dogs, but they are hypoallergenic,” Corredor said.
Elizabeth Santos, a freshman business major, also bought her bernedoodle from a breeder. However, she did her research first.
“The area my family used to live in did not have many shelters, and my family is usually against breeders. But we did some research and found a suitable one,” Santos said.
Whatever you decide, the most important thing you can do is research and make sure you know what is best for you or your family.
If you or anyone you know are interested in adopting a dog or volunteering at a shelter, there are multiple local animal shelters around Saint Leo, such as Pasco County Animal Services locatedin Land of Lakes, Florida, around an hour away from Saint Leo University.
If you decide that a breeder would be in the best interest, this article from the American Kennel Society will help you know the signs of a reputable breeder.
