What would you do?
By Trace86
@Trace86 (5030)
United States
July 26, 2008 9:36pm CST
My sister has been fostering boxer dogs for this lady for about five years. After two litters, my sister gets to keep the mother for free. Her second dog just had her first litter. One of the male puppies from this litter is deaf. The breeder told my sister that she was going to put it down. Of course, my sister said she would take him rather than have her kill him. If she can't find a home for him, they will keep him. She will have to apply for a variance as her town allows only two dogs per household.
My question is: Is this a common practice for breeders to kill unsaleable puppies?
It just doesn't seem right. Would you have taken the pup?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@defeated (141)
• United States
27 Jul 08
Unfortunately it is - they will tell you they do it for the "betterment of the breed"...to keep "defective" dogs from being bred. :(
And to answer your last question - yes I would have taken him in a heartbeat. Please let us know what happens with the puppy?
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
27 Jul 08
Unfortunately, yes, there are breeders who do have unsuitable pups put to sleep. My dog before this one was a great Dane, he was supposed to be put to sleep because of his coloring...he was what's called a merle. Both his mother and father were papered, and I took him on the grounds that he would not be used for breeding purposes, and I could not have his registration papers. If I hadn't have taken him he would have been put down just because he wasn't the right color! I think that's absolutely nuts.
My one cousin has a deaf dog. It was papered too and he was to be put down because of it (by the breeder because it was deemed unsaleable.) My cousin felt bad and took the dog. Raising a deaf dog is not without it's total challenges, yet I wouldn't put an animal down just because of it. For instance, when he was outside he always had to be on a lead, even out in the countryside here. You simply cannot call a dog back to you that is deaf to it's commands. I must say though that as a dog in the house he did wonderfully well, and learned his manners and all. A challenge...yes; Impossible...no, but it takes even more patience than a normal hearing puppy. I think it's terrible to put a dog down just because of things like that.
1 person likes this
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
27 Jul 08
That's a great idea about the vibrating collar! I'd have never thought of that...good tip! Dogs do learn from watching other dogs. That's true too about pups learning from the other dogs. When I first got my present dog (German Shepherd) as a puppy, I was also babysitting my daughters other older shepherd for a month. That pup watched everything the older dog did and followed suit and I found she learned good habits far more quickly. Good for your sister for coming up with some darned good solutions! Thanks for sharing the info Trace :-)
1 person likes this
@Xdrowninghavocx (3117)
• United States
27 Jul 08
Speaking of Boxers, we are baby sitting one right now. And his name is Toby and he's awesome. So this whole story made me sick. Lots of deaf dogs go on to live full lives. And they can be taught sign language, believe me I've seen it. There's no reason to kill a dog for that. I definitely would have taken the puppy.
1 person likes this
