Cross Breeds

how come mixed breeds end up in the shelter and pure breeds dont?

i've always wondered that when i went to the shelter. i own one pure bred dog from a reliable breeder and two dogs from the shelter so called "mutts." i dont understand why mixed breeds end up in the streets and pure breeds dont. they are equally beautiful, intellegent, and lovable. so why is it that mixed breeds end up in shelters and pure breeds dont? well, i didnt mean NO pure breeds i meant why not as many

Public Comments

1. Pure breeds often do end up in shelters but they tend to get adopted out faster.
2. there are purebreds in shelters, just not as many. there are so many irresponsible breeders & owners that they just let their once-was purebred mate and have litters that aren't wanted, thus, ending up in shelters. going from one home to another and back to the shelter.
3. purebreds do end up in shelters.. but they are often adopted out more easily, or a breed-specific rescue group ussually pulls them from the shelter.
4. What? Plenty of pure breds end up in the shelter. It's just that a lot of pure bred owners and breeders will "rescue" dogs in their breed and good breeders will always take a pure bred pup that they bred back instead of letting it go to the shelter. No matter how old the pup/dog is. People who breed mixed breeds don't make the same kind of commitment to the puppies they raise and sell.
5. There are plenty of purebreds in shelters. Lots of times breed rescues will take the purebreds though.
6. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! MANY purebred dogs end up in shelters. I have adopted purebreds from shelters.
7. they do i got a pure breed yellow lab with papers he was rescued for a puppy mill.
8. I always see pit bull's in the shelters :(!!!
9. People spend money on full bloods. People take care of things that cost alot.
10. Purebreds do end up in the shelters, but as another person said they get adopted out much faster. At a shelter close to me they have breed specfic wait lists for people looking to adopt a specific breed if one comes into the shelter.
11. For some reason, many people think that purebred dogs are "better". They would rather pay money for a dog than adopt one that really needs a home. They get certain breeds because they think they are cool, or cute, or somehow suit their needs. Mixed breed dogs just aren't "good enough" for some people. What people don't realize is that dogs are dogs, and all dogs are loving and loyal, and wonderful companions. They don't have to be a specific breed to make a great pet and a wonderful friend. Also, if people have purebred dogs who they don't have fixed, unwanted breeding can occur, resulting in mixed breed puppies. People will pay a lot of money for "purebred" dogs, and not so much for mixed breeds, so those end up in shelters. Can't make much money selling Heinz dogs.
12. Purebreds are known for the standards of the breed and people assume they are better! Soime people also think purebreds are smarter and cuter and better! Purebreds do end up in shelters but are adopted easily! FOR SOME REASON! =)
13. Pure breds DO end up in the shelters! The majority of purebreds from responsible breeders do not end up in shelters because these good breeders often require a contract that the owner will return the dog to them should they decide to not keep it (but I said majority, b/c things may happen such as a run away dog or someone that just completely ignores the contract.) But that's a small percetage of breeders. Most really don't care about the dogs they are producing or the people they sell them to. And THOSE are the purebreds that will end up sitting in shelters. *I adopted a purebred lab from the city pound....and he wasn't the only PB sitting in there.
14. Because that statement is false. Purebred most certainly end up at shelters. Right now out of 13 dogs...four of ours are purebred at our shelter. And just last week we had two more, but they were euthanized/adopted out. Many people don't see purebreds because they are adopted out quickly. It's also why many people assume all shelter dogs have behavioral issues, because the ones that don't are scooped up quick and the ones that do stick around for awhile. Mixed breeds end up at shelters more often because ALL of them are bred by irresponsible people who don't look into the homes their puppies are going to. We even have a "Morkie" right now who has small eye, a genetic defect that could have been prevented had the parents not been bred together. And who was the little dog sold to? A 16 year old girl who allowed the dog to piss/crap wherever it wanted, develop a serious eye infection and become matted to hell. I hate people.
15. It would be wrong to generalize that Pedigree dogs do not end up in shelter, because some do. Your observation that more shelter dogs are Mutts is valid though. Strikes me as simple economics. Pedigree dogs cost money, hence it's more likely that a buyer has put some thought into the decision and is better informed and equipped to follow through on the commitment. Mutts are much easier and more likely to end up in a home on a spur of the moment whim.
16. At my local shelter about 1/3 of the dogs there are purebreds. I myself have adopted 2 purebreds from shelters. I have also adopted mutts from shelters. Sometimes purebreds are mis identified as mixes. And you are correct, Mixes and purebreds are equally beautiful, intellegent and lovable.
17. cause people can sale pure breed dogs and get money for them and mix breed dogs you can't sale.so they put them in the shelters to get rid of them.
18. I know that around here, the rescues go through the shelters and take out the dogs that they think have a chance. For example, the Border Collie rescue goes through and takes out the Border Collies. A lot of the time, they don't get the breeds right for the dogs in the shelter because they just guess. I know that our local kill shelter tries to contact rescues to come and get dogs. Just an idea. I know I've seen my fair share of purebreds.
19. Are you kidding? There plenty of purebreds in shelters!
20. Pure breeds from REPUTABLE breeders do not often end up in shelters because the breeder will keep tabs on the dogs they adopt out. Pure breeds often do end up in shelters though. People get two pure breeds, breed them in their back yard for profit, and don't watch the dogs. Puppy mills are often stocked full of pure breed dogs (at least the paper work says so) that can and do end up in the streets and shelters all over as well. There are a few reasons you see more mixed breeds than pure breeds in shelters though. 1) Reputable breeders keep tabs on their dogs. 2) People who care enough to pay that kind of money for a pure breed aren't as often going to cast their animal into the streets. 3) There are breed specific rescues that talk to shelters all over and will often get first dibs on a dog of a specific breed (often why you don't see smaller breeds in shelters as well). People can call ahead about this sort of thing as well and get put on a waiting list. These dogs won't hit the adoption floor. There are, of course, many more reasons than this, but these are the top three reasons that I've always thought were why we see mixed breeds instead of pure breeds in shelters.