Lately, I've seen many stories in the paper about the overabundance of certain dog breeds like Chihuahuas, Dalmations and Pitbulls. Many times, these dogs have come into popularity because of a certain movie like Beverly Hills Chihuahua or 101 Dalmations. Other times, a high profile celebrity will bring attention to the breed. Worse yet, they'll become popular because of a heinous misdeed done to them such as, subjecting them to dog fighting. Also, if there is more demand for a certain brand of dog that's in the limelight, there will be a higher chance they will be bred by puppy mill owners.
This week, I heard about the fifteen chihuahuas being flown to the east coast from San Francisco. last year, there was a man who had over 150 chihuahuas living in Dearborn, Michigan, who had the dogs taken from his house. Granted, this was not a cut and dry situation, but the dogs suffered the most. The humane society was overwhelmed with finding homes for as many of these dogs as they could.
Probably one of the most notorious cases were the bunch of pit bulls from the Michael Vick dog fighting ring. While dogs like these were able to be saved, so many others wind up being euthanized or living their life in a shelter if they are lucky.
The Right Choice
It's so easy these days to watch a movie that has an incredible dog in it and want to adopt that breed. While it's great that a person is willing to help a dog find a home, if it's not the right dog for that person, the dog will wind up being discarded.
We all act on impulse. It gives us instant gratification and reminds us how important it is to live in the moment. It's great if you become inspired to bring a pet into your home, especially if you have been on the fence about it. Maybe watching that movie is all that you needed to jump over it.
The Right Dog
Just remember, it's as important to know what you are looking for in a dog and how well that type of dog will fit into your life style. If you are a couch potato, the last thing you want is a Border Collie. If you are an active person, then a Bichon Frise may not be the best choice for you.
If you have recently added a new dog to your home and you're not too familiar with the breed, the best thing you can do is learn all you can by doing the necessary research. It will help you understand the dog better and make the transition easier.
There are some great applications out there to help a prospective dog owner to make the right choice for their lifestyle. If you are considering bringing a new family member into your house but are not sure which type of dog to get, you may find one of these website helpful:
Animal PlanetBreeder RetrieverSelect SmartLet's Discuss
Have any of you had difficulty in deciding which dog to choose? Have you known of a dog who was adopted because the person saw the breed in a movie? How did that work out?
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