Dear Craigslister,

While I know you love your dog and mean the best for him, please reconsider breeding him. Yes, I am sure he is a great dog, and that you love him. But so many dogs get put to sleep at shelters every day that bringing more pups into the world isn't a wise thing to do. And the temperament of a dog is not necessarily passed on to the pups - the most neurotic dog I ever knew (love you anyway, RB Katie, biscuit?) was the puppy of a marvelous, wonderful sweet, kind and stable dog.

Give some of the dogs currently languishing in shelters a chance to find a good home, where they, too, can be loved and treasured as you treasure your wonderful dog. Everyone is won over by a puppy, but too many people don't realize the responsibility of a growing dog, and so they end up dumped and often euthanized.

Please go forward with your plan to get him "fixed," even though he doesn't know he's broken! (Family joke) A good way to pass on his temperament is to consider becoming a foster home for shelter pups - they can learn from his good, kind, sweet example! Or become a puppy-raiser for guide-dogs, or even adopting a needy friend from the shelter for him, to whom he can pass along his knowledge.

Please think ong and hard about the tragedy of too many unwanted dogs and not enough homes for them, and reconsider your choice to breed him.

Most sincerely,
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