In their October 26 interview on Channel 8’s morning television show “Despierta Guanajuato” with host Luis Camacho, Amigos volunteers Tony López and Julia Salido discussed the advantages of adopting a dog or cat instead of buying one. You can watch their interview by clicking here.
Amigos de los Animales recommends adoption as the better option in nearly all cases, for the following reasons.
Amigos de los Animales recommends adoption
as the better option in nearly all cases.
First, many puppies, dogs, kittens, and cats need good homes in Guanajuato. Most of these animals are of mixed breeds and make very good pets, especially if their owners or rescuers have already house-trained and socialized them. In many cases the animals have already been vaccinated, treated for parasites, and sterilized when offered for adoption.
In general, mixed-breed dogs and cats are healthier than purebred pets because they haven’t developed genetic diseases associated with breeding within a small gene pool. Selective breeding concentrates both desired and undesired inherited characteristics. Inbreeding—that is, breeding parents with their offspring or siblings with each other—increases even more the chances of having puppies with faulty genes.
For example, purebred and inbred German shepherds, Saint Bernards, and other large dog breeds tend to develop hip dysplasia, which is crippling and extremely painful. Irish setters commonly develop blindness as they age. Bulldogs and pugs, which are bred to have very short muzzles, have respiratory problems and difficulty keeping cool. Dogs bred to have stunted legs, such as dachshunds, suffer from painful spinal problems.
Purebred cats also have genetic health problems. Persians, with their long coats and snub noses, suffer from haircoat disorder, respiratory problems, dental disease, and in many cases a genetic kidney disease. Bengals develop cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, an untreatable degenerative disease that causes blindness. They also are prone to a hereditary heart disease that causes lethargy, difficult breathing, and congestive heart failure. Siamese cats have a higher risk of certain cancers than other cats and are twice as likely to develop intestinal cancer.
Another reason to avoid buying pets is that many puppies and kittens advertised as purebreds are not, despite their high cost. If you buy a dog from a pet store or an online seller, your dog is probably from a puppy mill.
Puppy mills are factory-style breeding facilities that treat the animals as merchandise and put profit above the animals’ welfare. Many dogs and cats bred by irresponsible breeders or puppy mills are already ill when sold. The housing conditions for breeding stock can be appalling.
In the last 20 years or so, the breeding and sales of purebred hybrids called “designer” dogs has exploded. Often costing more than purebred dogs, labradoodles, goldendoodles, puggles, and a whole litany of other crosses have become common. Breeders often promote special characteristics such as hypoallergenic traits, which may or may not be the case. Like purebreds, many designer pups, even though they are hybrid crosses, may have inherited problems that can lead to expensive medical treatments. And because of high consumer demand, many of these dogs come from puppy mills.
Disreputable breeders will continue to operate until people stop buying their “products.” So buyer, beware. Every puppy or kitten purchased from a source other than a researched, reputable breeder supports an industry that should be shut down. By adopting instead of buying your pet, you will avoid contributing to the misery that industry causes.
Every puppy or kitten purchased from a source
other than a reputable breeder
supports an industry that should be shut down.
In a few cases, people who want to acquire a pet are allergic to certain breeds and must choose one they can tolerate. Those people may need to buy a purebred. If so, they should purchase one from a responsible breeder, one who prioritizes the health and function of the dogs it breeds rather than their appearance, and who screens the parents for heritable traits that could negatively affect their offspring. For most of us, however, the choice depends upon our personal preferences.
If you want a dog or cat with certain characteristics, it may be prudent to adopt one that’s a mixture of several breeds having those characteristics. Your pet will likely be genetically healthier than a purebred or a designer dog, and it will certainly be more affordable. It will also be one-of-a-kind!
By adopting your pet, you may save its life, and you will help reduce the number of deserving animals in need of a good home. To find an adoptable pet in Guanajuato, we suggest you contact or visit the city’s Animal Control and Assistance Center (CECA, www.facebook.com/people/Desarrollo-Social-Guanajuato, #AdoptaCECAA), located at Calle Arboledes s/n, Colonial Arroyo Verde. You can also find adoptable pets at the following websites: Amigos Facebook page (www.facebook.com/amigosdelosanimalesguanajuatocapital), AdoptaGuanajuato (www.adoptaguanajuato.com), Pet Lovers of Guanajuato (www.facebook.com/groups/PetLoversOfGuanajuato). Many individual rescuers post photos and descriptions of dogs and cats on those sites. Also, many local veterinarian clinics offer rescued animals for adoption.
Thanks to veterinarians Lori Bierbrier and Marsha Heinke for their contributions to this article.