PLFXpert

Absolutely! Help fund low/no cost spay & neuter programs in your local area. Ours is a No More Homeless Pets program. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I appreciate a certain level of requirements (though, I have not personally seen or read about any "making adoption difficult"). I_have_however read about breeders with such home inspection and meeting personally requirements. Ironically, I think those are the better or "reputable" breeders. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

The former is unfortunate. Had you been willing to meet halfway, I would have brought you one. My neighbors just rescued one from a nearby papillon rescue--the very same one I pointed my parents toward when they were looking again (all their/our previous papillons came from pet stores. ) Where there is a will, there is a way. One can check breed-specific rescues nationwide on Petfinder.com, and I would bet many would be willing to work something out. You wanted a papillon and no other dog would do so you did what you needed to find a good breeder and get one. I understand that--I, too, am a woman who knows what she wants and gets it. The difference between you and me, in this case, is I wanted to give a dog a home and prevent one from being euthanized whereas your good breeder (correct me, if I am wrong) would not have euthanized your papillon had you not adopted him. I went into open-minded (which was scary for me at first--having grown up only with papillons and a miniature schnauzer), but with my own absolutely-necessary criteria: He or she had to be submissive to the king of the house--Sabre, my beloved cat. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I tend to agree, but subscribe to the theory it would only exist on a far lesser scale. A far lesser scale would be wonderful! The trend is already shifting toward the uniqueness (and health--there it is again) of a mutt or mix. This could be taken word for word from an HSUS pamphlet about rescuing/adopting in the FAQ. Education is a great solution--not an infallible one--that would change the mind of such people. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

The intention of your words were unclear; I understood your statement: "I guess I don't see why it's preferable to have them euthanized." as asking why it would be preferable to have a dog euthanized than be given a good home. It's not, as I said. I would prefer if less dogs--ideally none--were euthanized. So, given the choice today, I would adopt from the shelter even if it meant a breeder dog would instead be euthanized. The breeder would not make any money on his/her product, so given no other critieria other than "shelter" or "breeder" dog, the shelter one would win my home due to that reason alone. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

But, if it is_not_from the 10% (maybe only 5%!) that are reputable, they are keeping the breeder in the business of breeding and thus supporting the status quo of the number of homeless pets being euthanized instead of helping to reduce it. If there are special needs and the person has considerably limited options for a potential dog, go to the reputable breeder. Anyone else would either A. Surprise you and even themselves by adopting from a reputable rescue--probably a breed-specific one or B. (The less likely option) Actually, not adopt. I am OK with that. Caring for a pet is not for everyone--especially someone with extreme expectations. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Great post! Cannot disagree with most of it.

The shelter. Eventually most breeders (the other 90%, per Rosebud) will stop breeding if they are no longer making money. Kris, if the "good breeders" (is this different than "reputable"?) are not breeding for profit, is it your opinion the rest are or are not? For the purpose of this discussion, let's leave puppy mills out of the equation and stick to the backyard breeder. I hate when people go for the "well, I know someone who did" argument, so consider the following merely "sharing" since it is fresh for me on the brain: Just last week--in the shopping center next to another with a Petco holding adoptions (the most successful adoption location in my city and surrounding!

by James Vernacotola. Be sure to check out the 2/8/10 launch he captured, as well! It is my favorite. I have stood on this very bridge watching the shuttle launch through the dark sky.

This term "reputable breeder" is used often in these threads. What defines a "reputable breeder" as opposed to the backyard breeder or any other and what percentage of breeders do_you_believe fall into the "reputable" category? "Reputable" breeder or not, there is plenty of information out there supporting rescue/adoption as the best means to reduce pet overpopulation and the status quo of homeless & unwanted pets being euthanized and/or inhumanely killed. Edit: From those in favor of purchasing pets from a store or breeder: A. Is pet overpopulation a concern of yours? B. If so, what strategy do you support to reduce the status quo of homeless and unwanted pets being euthanized and/or inhumanely killed? It would be silly for me to take the time to debate rescue vs. purchase with A. Someone who is not concerned, nor likely to be or B. Someone who does not have a valid alternative strategy to support. P.S. My apologies to the OP for the thread hijack. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

It's not. Who said that? Breeders often breed more than there is a market for. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

One can help reduce the number of homeless pets killed by rescuing instead of purchasing from a breeder. Simply having a pet is not all one can do to reduce the number of homeless pets dying. I would cite references, but it seems like you are baiting for something else. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I missed this thread before... Happy belated!

Largely agree with your assessment of the fore-mentioned comedians--Jim Carrey, especially. I love him.

Concur. With the exception of the end where cliche overwhelmed, I was happy the screenwriter did not shy away from adapting Lynn Barber's memoir as it was. To portray it any other way would have felt less genuine. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Damn you! I was about to edit that out. I get a lot of you-look-likes and she is one of those mentioned more than once and one of the few I do not mind--except I realize how the comparison comes across to actually repeat. Oops. No, I was NOT thinking of Tom Cruise, nor do I agree Clooney has played a variety of roles. Characters, yes. Roles, no. His role is to be ultimately charming. I am so uncharmed. And so over talking about it further. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Not dark at all, but exactly what I mean. It is like he is afraid to be ugly and unacceptable. I have received countless blonde-Hollywood-you-look-likes, but I love when I get the Charlize Theron one because she totally went there in Monster. Of course--she was still a bit likeable as a vigilante. But, you get the idea. Clooney needs to get ugly and get brutal. That is my peace. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

This, I loved.

Yes, I have seen it and rated it better than I did this film. I am even less a fan of Pitt, however. I like Damon, though. What I mean is--w/r/t a future Clooney role I would like to see--I think Clooney is capable of playing a main character that is dark, distrubing with a sick habit or desire. Not a two-dollar horror film, but a good thriller. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I thought it was awful. And I am really tired of Clooney. I would like to see him in a different role--i.e. one where the viewer will be disgusted/upset by him--almost as much as I would love to see Jenn Aniston play a badass bitch. I am tired of the charm-boring roles. Yawn. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Well, you got me there. Wouldn't it be ironic, though, if they were! I meant to include this in my earlier post: For those looking for any dog, cat, et al.--breed-specific or otherwise--be sure to visit Petfinder.com and play with the search categories.

The difference is whether or not one is supporting the status quo of homeless dogs dying or whether one facilitates reducing that number. Rescuing does not limit personal choice. Most breed-specific rescues know just as much about their pups as any breeder will. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Agree! (Especially, with the latter.) I grew up with breeder pups--six Papillons and a Schnauzer in our immediate fam--all of which had my heart... Long stories short, rescue = healthier. And, of course, mutts/mixes rule. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I filled out a bit more than that, but...

That is pretty close to my juxtaposition. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.