How do purebred bulldogs end up in rescue? We generally keep our facebook feed positive and focused on adoptable dogs, but also feel that its necessary to educate people on the challenges we face daily. The number one contributor to homeless bulldogs is irresponsible breeding. This includes backyard breeders but also many who are accredited by the AKC. Often these breeders fail to notify customers of what taking care of a bulldog entails. Here is an example right in our backyard of one who describes their bulldogs as needing moderate care and minimum space. (nolabullies) When customers dont know how, or cant afford to care for the dog, they call us. Its often the case that the dog has serious health issues which could have been prevented with routine care. Very few breeders are willing to take back a dog that they are unable to resell, and not a single one has ever given us a donation despite making thousands and thousands of dollars in profit. The phrase the cheapest part of owning a bulldog is getting one is very true - though you only hear that coming from rescue organizations, veterinarians, and bulldog owners- not breeders. Irresponsible breeding also renders many dogs who are bred over and over, and then dumped at a local shelter (or worse) when they are older. We have taken in about 20 dogs from this exact scenario. On one hand, its incredibly heartwarming to provide a dog with their first positive human relationship. On the other, the amount of time they wait for this to happen, and the physical and emotional toll of the repetitive breeding, is heartbreaking. Almost all of these dogs have been neglected in every way that doesnt affect their birthing (i.e. eyes, ears, teeth, etc...) Another big problem we face is the breeding standards promulgated by the American Kennel Club. Everyone loves the English bulldog face and build, but these standards completely ignore (or simply accept) the greatly increased risk for just about every health issue imaginable. Make no mistake, these standard are focused on bulldog aesthetics only at the expenses of dogs well being and longevity. This is a big reason we take in dogs of different breeds since many people decide against adopting a bulldog when they learn about these issues. Even worse, the American Kennel Club, who claims to be a champion for dogs, is anything but. They refused to acknowledge the disturbing trends in pursuit of these standards, unlike the British Kennel Club whose standards have evolved to produce healthier bulldogs with longer snouts. The American Kennel Club is also against any restrictions on breeding whatsoever, even if you want to do it in your backyard with no knowledge, or suggest that your puppies need only moderate care. This nonsensical stance is a complete slap in the face to shelters and rescues, and ignores the millions of healthy pets who are euthanized every year. If you are going to buy from a breeder, we encourage you to ask lots of questions. It is illegal to sell a dog in a parking lot in Louisiana, so you should be able to visit their location and see the conditions of their other dogs. The best breeders will also agree to take their dogs back should something happen (even if the dog cannot be resold). Our rescue group was booted from the Bulldog Club of America Rescue Network because we take in multiple breeds (though we assume its because we noticed this hypocrisy). For more info, please view this video: youtu.be/CUa21nr0Uhw
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 20:00:08 +0000
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