The Today Show recommends buying dogs as Christmas presents

[uppity_heathen]

This morning they had a bunch of purebreds on the Today Show and they were saying who to buy each kind of puppy for. then they got to a shelter dog and the host mentions that from his experience shelter dogs are just a world of problems and medical bills

Comments

[lucystrawberry]

I would only ever get a dog or cat from a shelter or some kind of rescue organization, but what the host said is often, not always, true. I got a shelter cat and within a few months spend thousands at the vet saving her life after she became deeply ill due to her exposure to kennel cold and the feline herpes virus. I happily did it, and would do it again, and am thrilled that she is my cat instead of any other cat, but what he said can be true and people should be aware of it. The conditions that shelter animals live in are not always ideal, and their exposure to a constant stream of animals can expose them to sicknesses that a careful and thoughtful breeder would more able to control ( not avoid entirely of course, but control more carefully).

What this means to me of course is that we should all lobby government and nonprofits to increase their funding of shelters and rescue organizations so that the playing field can be leveled at least a little bit so that this kind of gap does not have to occur. and give ourselves as well of course.

But 'just a world of problems'-- No...my cat cost a pretty penny in vet bills but she is also my companion and brings so much joy to my life and I love her beyond what I could express and am so thankful she is in my family!

[catnip13]

That can and does happen with purebreeds too. Anybody taking resposibility for an animal from any source needs to realize that that animal will cost them thousands of dollars in care over the course of their lifetime and have a plan for how they are going to fund emergency vet care.

[madacee]

exactly. most of the time, the conditions these "purebred" animals are living in are just as bad or worse than shelter animals. i guess it just depends on the breeder... but i would never put any type of animal breeder at the top of my list anyways.