Why would people pay $$$ thousands for a pet?

[Kfamr]

Originally posted by Tonya

All I have to say is money doesn't necessarily buy you the perfect dog.

And that's the truth!

Love, Devotion, and LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS (AND LOTS!!!) of patients does though!

[FurMomx6]

I didn't vote because none of those fit for me. We have spent over 1k for Rocky & Chloe and don't regret it. They are both English Bulldogs and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. I know you all rave on how stupid people are for spending so much on a dog & would like to slap everyone who does, But we loved the breed and knew they would be perfect for us. I wouldn't put off the option of adopting a shelter dog but I also wouldn't just blow off a dog from a breeder. That's all I have to say and I hope you guys wouldn't be so harsh about buying a dog from a breeder.

[Christiansmommy]

As most of you know, Dale is a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, and he is rare breed, therefore we did spend a pretty penny on him, not multiple thousands, but he was up there in price. We wanted a breed that would be great for our son to grow up with, hang on...play with, and not have to worry about the dog not liking it. Swissies are known for being great with kids...(of course Dale is still a puppy and active and jumpy), but once he settles down, he will be the ultimate dog for Christian to be around. I am sure there are plenty of dogs at shelters we could have adopted, but it is always hard to know,when buying a giant breed dog, what personality comes with it...once Christian is older, we may adopt an adult large breed dog (we like big dogs), maybe even a small one...but right now, we wanted a Swissie, so we got one. Rob may get into carting with Dale too, which this breed is known for, and they make great therapy dogs, (i may end up wanting to do this with Dale, or another dog in the future.)

So, anyway, those were my reasons...i voted for "b/c it is the best breed for me"...

Robyn

I should also mention, that if you go to petfinder.com, you might find one purebred Swissie...but they are rarely, if ever, put into a shelter, if the owner no longer wants the dog, they are to be sent back to the breeder...there is a very tight group of Swissie breeders out there...very few and far between as well...

[Twisterdog]

Originally posted by FurMomx6
I didn't vote because none of those fit for me. We have spent over 1k for Rocky & Chloe and don't regret it. They are both English Bulldogs and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. I know you all rave on how stupid people are for spending so much on a dog & would like to slap everyone who does, But we loved the breed and knew they would be perfect for us. I wouldn't put off the option of adopting a shelter dog but I also wouldn't just blow off a dog from a breeder. That's all I have to say and I hope you guys wouldn't be so harsh about buying a dog from a breeder.

Well, speaking for myself only obviously .... I have always tried to make a big distinction between a bad breeder (i.e. puppy mill or back yard breeder) and a good, responsible breeder.

I happen to like purebred dogs a lot. I own six purebreds. I have NOTHING AT ALL against responsible breeders of well-bred purebreds. SOMEone has to breed, and of all the possible choices, responsible purebred breeders are far and away the best.

I DESPISE back yard breeders and puppy mills. There surely is a special place in hell for them.

Just wanted to let you know, I am not harsh about ALL breeders, just irresponsible, stupid ones.

[Cheshirekatt]

Originally posted by FurMomx6
I didn't vote because none of those fit for me. We have spent over 1k for Rocky & Chloe and don't regret it. They are both English Bulldogs and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. I know you all rave on how stupid people are for spending so much on a dog & would like to slap everyone who does, But we loved the breed and knew they would be perfect for us. I wouldn't put off the option of adopting a shelter dog but I also wouldn't just blow off a dog from a breeder. That's all I have to say and I hope you guys wouldn't be so harsh about buying a dog from a breeder.

My problem with her is that she didn't do any research on this breeder first. She just bought puppies from the first breeder she called who had them when she wanted them. Both of them have cherry eyes and she still paid that much for them. And the advice the breeder gave her is, well.......interesting at best.

I probably should have make that more clear in my original post.

[trayi52]

Twisterdog, I agree with you 100% there! I also have purebred Chihuahuas, and a purebred Rottwieler.

I don't like the puppy mills, seen enough of those to make me sick, and seen backyard breeders that would curl your hair.

[Twisterdog]

Originally posted by Cheshirekatt
My problem with her is that she didn't do any research on this breeder first. She just bought puppies from the first breeder she called who had them when she wanted them. Both of them have cherry eyes and she still paid that much for them. And the advice the breeder gave her is, well.......interesting at best.

I probably should have make that more clear in my original post.

Ok, stupid question ... you are talking about the girl you work with, and not FurMomx6, right? LOL I just wanted to clarify that, since they both apparently own two English Bulldogs, and I didn't want feelings to get hurt over a misunderstanding.


And, I agree ... if you don't research breeders, and you buy dogs from any old breeder that comes along, your are most certainly part of the problem, and not part of the solution.

[Cheshirekatt]

Originally posted by Twisterdog
Ok, stupid question ... you are talking about the girl you work with, and not FurMomx6, right? LOL I just wanted to clarify that, since they both apparently own two English Bulldogs, and I didn't want feelings to get hurt over a misunderstanding.


And, I agree ... if you don't research breeders, and you buy dogs from any old breeder that comes along, your are most certainly part of the problem, and not part of the solution.

Yes, I'm talking about the girl I work with...sorry for any confusion. I don't know FurMomx6 so I'd never dream of making any assumtions about her.

[Twisterdog]

Here's a story about purebreds and breeders ... and my sister.

My sister wanted Siberian huskies. She did her research, and decided to buy two puppies. She said, "I've saved enough mutts in my lifetime, I can buy these purebred puppies and not feel bad. I am going to get exactly what I want, and I'm not going to feel bad about paying for them. I've done my part to help." Ok, no problem.

So, I find her a breeder, she picks out the puppies she wants. She wants two blue-eyed, silver and white females. The breeder assures her that is what they will be, and she puts down her deposit. Well, slight disappointment when one of the puppies eyes turn brown. Well, by then my sister is attached to them, and buys her anyway ... although she is a little bummed about not getting "exactly what she wants" after having paid a pretty penny for that right.

Then, at ten months old, one of her puppies has a grand mal seizure that they vet cannot stop. Everything is tried for hours and hours and hours ... finally the dog dies. HUGE heartbreak there.

After a while, my sister goes looking for another Sibe, since Lazer needs a friend. Well, that opened the door to discovering how very many, many, many homeless Sibes there are out there. My sister had not idea. She assumed that because they are a pretty, purebred dog, that they would never end up at a shelter, or on death-row at a pound. Soooo wrong.

Now, my sister runs a small Siberian rescue. She currently has nine dogs, but many, many dozens have found new homes through her. She says that she realizes now that she made a big, big mistake by assuming she had to buy a puppy from a breeder to get "just what she wanted", and didn't end up getting it afterall. She has found exactly the dogs she always wanted now, though ... in her adopted and rescue dogs.

[PayItForward]

I am just thinking of all the good that could be done with that kind of money.

I wouldn't spend thousands of dollars/pounds adopting a pet whilst so many cats die in shelters or wander my neighbourhood homeless.

IMO $2000 could fund rescue/rehome of dozens of cats.

I am not anti-breeders, if they are properly trained in genetics etc of their choose breed etc.

But I wish more people (not PT people) would look at rescue animals first. If they can't find what they want fine - go to the breeders.

[moosmom]

I would NEVER line the pockets of a breeder simply to get a purebred! I have 3 purebreds that are rescues, all from bad breeders. There are PLENTY of purebred rescues out there. Give me a rescue kitty ANYDAY!!!

[trayi52]

As far as kitties go, I have my Grover, and she came out of a trashcan. Okay so my daughter likes to dig in the trash, but look what she found!! My treasure, which was my mothers day present. Best mothers day present I ever got!!

[Cheshirekatt]

Originally posted by trayi52
As far as kitties go, I have my Grover, and she came out of a trashcan. Okay so my daughter likes to dig in the trash, but look what she found!! My treasure, which was my mothers day present. Best mothers day present I ever got!!

I have to agree with you here! I found my sweet Elvis kitty scrounging around in a Taco Bell dumpster and he's the coolest cat around.

[trayi52]

Whats that saying? Another persons trash is another persons treasure!!!!