Ode to Backyard Breeders

(Please note that the following is written with extreme sarcasm, remember the grumpy in the intro? he he. As a person who picks up the slack that bad breeders leave behind, I feel like I have the right to make these comments. And keep in mind that these are now our personal pets, and we love them, flaws and all.)

Thank you, backyard breeder, for breeding animals and giving them to every Joe Schmoe on the street who wants one. If you had screened me, then you would have seen that I was completely unprepared for my Border Collie and she would not be with me today. If you had screened me, then you would have known that I was not prepared for the energy and the constant motion that comes with a Border Collie. Luckily, I was one of the people who cared enough about my girl to take the time to train her and give her a job to do so that we can live with her, in the house, and share our lives with her. I thank you for not screening me and seeing that I had no knowledge of the breed, because I do not know what I would do without my Maggie. Any reputable breeder would not have let me have her. Thank you.

Thank you, backyard breeder, for breeding animals and allowing people to purchase them who do not have fenced yards or adequate means of containment for the pets that they are getting. If you required people to sign a restraint agreement, then they would not run free and end up in a shelter somewhere and I would not have my Beagle, Butter. We adopted her from a shelter and love her dearly. She had two broken legs when we got her because she was hit by a car. Thank you.

Thank you, backyard breeder, for not making people who purchase pet quality puppies from you sign a contract stating that they will spay and neuter those pets. If you did, then they would not breed with the neighbor's dog and I would not have my lab mix, Molly, who was found in a storm drain when she was 6 weeks old, a product of several breeds coming together because you did not make them sign an agreement to spay and neuter. Thank you.

Thank you, backyard breeder, for breeding dogs who have terrible temperaments and not caring if you're passing bad traits along. If you didn't we would not have our Cocker Spaniel, Woody, who will bite you as fast as he will look at you. He is very unpredictable, as probably were his parents. He is a rescue for whom we had planned to find a home. I fell head over heels in love with him the first time he growled at me, and he's staying here with us. He's pretty lucky that he found us, and we're lucky that you're breeding dogs with poor traits, because we love him dearly. Thank you.

Thank you, backyard breeder, for selling your dogs to old people who won't be around long enough to care for them. We would hate for you to send them to a shelter to adopt an older dog who is more their speed. If you did, we would not have our Poodle, Curly. His mom was moved to a nursing home and her children quickly dumped Curly at a local shelter. She loved him dearly, but was in a wheelchair on the day she got him and could never care for him properly. Thank you.

Thank you, backyard breeder, for dumping all your dogs at a local shelter when you were evicted from your home. If you hadn't dumped that little one who had been making money for you for 9 years, then we would not have our Peanut. We really enjoyed having the vets remove the bb's from her chest when he was spaying her. And we especially love that we have to give her medication when we leave her alone because she's afraid we're not going to come back to her. Thanks for throwing that little money maker out like yesterday's trash. We love our Shih Tzu, Peanut. Thank you.

Disclaimer: Until pet overpopulation problems can be solved, our statement is that breeders should breed for the betterment of the breed or not at all. If you're breeding "perfect" dogs for show, more power to you. Pet quality puppies should be spayed or neutered. All pets should be contained. Pets are a lifetime committment.

 

On a cold night in December, I sit in my cage and peer through the bars,
Listening intently to the sound of the cars.
They come and they go, bringing children to look
For that perfect puppy like they see in the book.
I know I'm not perfect, far from it, in fact.
I'm like most of the others, and this place is so packed.
Not much hope for a home and I understand why.
I think there's no justice and wish I could die.

Last Christmas, I brought smiles to their faces.
I sat with my bow and a smile and won their good graces.
My mother was a mutt, no breed you could pick,
But they called me Sweetie, and the name, it did stick.
I rolled and I tumbled with the kids in the snow, 
Not once feeling cold, but I didn't know
How soon I'd be here, begging "Please look at me!"
And wishing for warmth and for someone to see
The fabulous companion that I can be.
My only wish would be to have a family.

There are so many pets here, wishing for homes
Where they can lay on the couch with a big pile o' bones.
When Santa's out and making his trip,
Do you think he'll think of me, and Spot and Flip?
Do you think he'll stop and pick us up?
Instead of going to the pet store for a bunch of pups?
I doubt that he'll do it, but we can all pray
That us discarded pups can have a family some day.
We've such devotion, can't you see?
That we'll love you forever just as you need.
We may not be perfect, pretty and pedigreed, 
But we'll be so thankful, you should take heed.
There's no love like the one you'll get find in a shelter.
And you'll be able to save one, to help him or help her.
Guess we'll wait and see what choice you make.
What kind of pet will you choose to take?
A pet bred for sale, or a pet in need of a home.
You better hurry, or soon we'll be gone.
I'll be here just waiting to see......
Maybe I'll be lucky, and you'll choose to help me.