Wow, this truly is a good topic, if we can all keep it friendly. (Which everyone is doing so far! YAY!
)
Anyway...as one who has worked on the front-lines of rescue...both on the fostering end and in shelters...I must say that I am not opposed to a humane death. And, honestly, its my spiritual beliefs that allow me to accept that. Its complicated, and I won't preach, but I don't believe that life ends with the death of the physical body...sooooo.
..in that vein, I'm OK with a humane euthanasia.
NOT THAT I LIKE IT...I just don't feel as if it is the END for those guys.
Honestly, I've fostered SO MANY dogs with behavior problems that in some ways I have changed my mind about breeders. By that I mean GOOD breeders. I'm still opposed to bringing more animals into the world. However, I have developed a bit more understanding of those people that wish to purchase a pup of sound temperment. I do not think that reputable breeding is the be all and end all of sound temperment, nor do I think that anyone should be profiting off of lives, or that the AKC should be in the business of giving people false confidence in their pup...another subject, I'm sorry, I digress. In any case, having been foster mom to NUMEROUS "problem dogs" I can see why people seek breeders out.
HOWEVER, several of the "problem dogs" I mention have been pure bred dogs. Of questionable origin, I admit. However, many of your average dog buyers do not understand the difference between BYB, Pet store puppies, puppy mills and reputable breeders. In my opinion, the solution lies in education. And education like a MOTHER F'er. Educate, educate, educate. Provide humane education in our elementary schools, so that kids NEVER grow up viewing animals as objects or posessions. Provide humane education to high school and middle school students that are so capable of caring for animals. Make volunteer work in animal shelters worth credit in high schools and colleges. Someone else said require permits for breeding along with classes so you know what you are getting into, and what the costs of your decisions are. I am ALL about education.
People in rescue need to stop being so judgemental of people that find themselves in situations that make them unable to care for their dogs. HELP THEM. TEACH THEM. SHOW THEM AN ALTERNATIVE. But do NOT judge. Most of us are only a thin line away from those people that find themselves in iffy situations. Many people have the perception that those in rescue would rather euthanize than give a dog to a good home...they think we have super high standards and want super-human people to provide homes...stop this! Just because someone feeds Ol' Roy does not mean that they are incapable of love, guidance and discipline.
I know that this is a rant. But I think that we're all responsible in some way for pet overpopulation
. If its because we breed, or because we turn away people that would be "pretty good" pet owners, or because we fail to educate whenever we can (in a NON JUDGEMENTAL manner)...we all have the obligation to advocate for animals whenever and wherever we can.
I guess I didn't really speak to the original topic...do some people put too much into "unadoptables" at the expense of good pets? Well...yes, I think so. Every life has a value...howeve
r...like I said before; I don't think that death of the body means the end of that life. So, whatever. Do what you can. But yeah, trying to re-home the deaf, 3-legged HW positive beagle might not be the most productive effort. In the long run, if that deaf, 3-legged HW positive beagle is held lovingly as he passes to the next phase, is that so bad? The money, time and emotional exhaustion spent on trying to rehome that guy could have gone a LOT farther to rehome a more "adoptable" dog, or trying to educate, help people deal with the behavior problems that might lead them to bring their dog to the shelter, or help people find pet-friendly housing so that they don't have to bring their pet to the shelter when they move.
Just my opinion. Sorry so freaking long.