To keep or not to keep?

[Vela]

I realize you don't have control over the situation, and I know nobody was intentionally trying to upset you or make you feel bad. It's just so sad to us when we see so many dogs dying every day, even full blooded dogs with AKC papers. If you can't convince your step-dad, then there is really nothing you can do and that isn't your fault, but please try to take this information you see with you for the future so that when you are a pet owner you can make the best decisions for your own dogs. Just because a dog has AKC papers doesn't mean they are a good specimen to be bred. LOTS of dogs with AKC papers are bred by "back yard breeders" and people rarely do the appropriate health testing to make sure they aren't passing on genetic traits that you can't see, such as dysplasia, heart problems, etc. A vet looking at a dog and saying sure, it's healthy go ahed and breed isn't the same thing. Don't take this as a personal attack, just take the knowledge and save it away so when you are the person who can make the decisions you can make the best ones. Your step-dad is doing the wrong thing if he isn't doing it to better the breed, adequate health testing, etc etc. AKC papers don't mean much. If you can, go to the shelter, look on petfinder, see all of the dogs with papers that probably won't find homes..there are just too many, and that doesn't even count all of those without them. I hope you can see past the frustration you are feeling at the responses and realize why people are making them, and it's definintely not an attack against you. Good luck!

[abbersmom]

Nothing against you here...We're just offering advice & realize that it is your step-dad wanting to breed the dog...
That said...
Yes. Many dogs in shelters are pure bred dogs with papers...

Here's some statistics on how quickly jut ONE mother dog can produce a LOT of offspring:
A male or female dog of breeding age can produce an average of 6 puppies twice a year (12 total). Those 12 pups could potentially produce a total of 144 more puppies by the following year. Those 144 puppies could potentially produce 1,728 more puppies by the year after that. And so on and so on. Do the math. The numbers are astronomical. Every owner who makes the responsible and vital choice to spay or neuter will ultimately save thousands of lives.

Hard to imagine in just a couple years how many puppies those puppies can have...THAT'S how we end up with all those shelter dogs...

Good luck in whatever your step dad chooses to do...you seem to be a person that truly cares & loves animals! you're making the best first step by asking questions...

And by the way, welcome to the site, hope you enjoy it here!

[dab_20]

Very well said everyone above me. I'd just like to add again, that it seems like you do want to do what's best for your dog, but you don't have control over breeding her. I wish her and the pups the best. And btw, Welcome to PT! I'd love to see pictures of your beautiful girl.