$900 for a cat - would you do it?

>I always try to stay out of these kinds of posts but I must
>also add that I am in total agreement with Carola and Dallys.
>I have 5 cats-all are purebread persians and I "spent money"
>on 4 of them and one I adopted from the shelter. These are my
>favorite breed of cats and I spent ALOT of money "acquiring"
>them and would do it all over again. Alot of people get
>animals from a breeder then breed them-well I "SAVED" these
>kitties from breeding because not only do they have a
>wonderful home and a mommie who adores them but they will
>NEVER be bred as I have fixed all of my animals. And yes my
>cats do poop diamonds and pee gold!!!
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Lisa
>
Lisa,

I know you usually stay out of this kinds of discussions and I am very proud of you. You are a terrific person and I know you love all of your kitties. I remember discussing your concerns about "buying" your last kitty.

I sometimes feel like the odd person out and I feel like I have to apologize that I bought the dogs that I bought. I am all FOR resueing, in fact I volunteer for a rescue group and I am to the point to start a new non-profit organization.

I just gotta say, I try and rescue dogs (mostly dogs, sometimes cats) where I can, I have found dogs abandonned at the dog park with a bag of dog food, dogs and cats have shown up on my door step (I think I have a sign on my entry that says, abandonned dogs and cats, come on in :) ) and I have found new homes for them and some of them I have kept. I try to do right by any creature, but I just feel cornerd sometimes because I dared to BUY the dogs that I wanted to get. In my mind, they adopted ME, in my mind, they saved my life and still I feel like the odd person out. Yes, I have spent an extraordinary amount of money on my dogs, I probably could have gotten a new car for what I have spent.

I donate money and time to recue groups and I still want to do more.

Yes, my dog will be having puppies this month, but it does NOT make me a bad person, it does not make me a careless person, it does NOT make the breeder I bought them from a careless person. That breeder had tears in her eyes EVERY TIME, I picked up a puppy/dog from her place, even after breeding dogs for 25 years. She calls me, she emails me and every time she sees one of her dogs, she gets all excited and so do the dogs. She genuinely cares about her dogs/puppies and not all breeders are bad and out for the money. Not all of us who don't rescue every single time are bad people and I am tired of being judged. I foster dogs where I can, I rescue dogs where I can, but for Godness sakes stop judging people.

Carola
 
Carola- you are not the odd one out. I agree with all you have posted. I too am feeling judged by 'buying' the dogs that I've had. Which is crazy and I'm over it now :). I, like you, have found homes for many dogs and also taken in quite a few, I've had dogs left at my door (having a grooming shop in my home, I'm a target). But, I also completely enjoy a well bred dog and the activites that come with it and I like to raise them from a pup and I'm fastinated by Pedigrees and I just don't care what others think. I 'buy' from great breeders who care very much where their puppies end up and they keep track of them throughout their lives. I've never had an unwanted litter. I take great care of all the dogs I've owned no matter where they come from or how they are 'bought'.

http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sports/barbell.gif ~Dallys~

www.picturetrail.com/keeponthesunnyside
 
I can understand that animals in shelters are on borrowed time and it does break my heart, but if the animals in shops and from breeders aren't placed where do they go? They need homes too.
 
I understand where you are coming from Carola, the breeders that I got my babies from all had tears in thier eyes as well. And when I got my new bird last year that breeder also had tears in her eye as I promised I would always take care of him. I also look for reputable breeders and I take my time when I am looking for a persian. I absolutely looooovvvveee the breed and so that is all I have had in the last 15 years. I am very responsible and I brush and love to brush them every day-they get dental cleanings once a year (the 2 older ones do) and I do spend whatever it takes to take care of them. I agree with DeeDee where do these animals go? Do they end up in the shelter when they cant find a home for them? All animals need a home whether they are at the shelter, breeder or store. We should all be thankful that there are people like us out there to adopt the animals from the shelter, breeders or stores. Its okay to disagree but no one persons view is right or wrong thats what makes the world go around. Lets celebrate the fact that we all love animals thats what matters anyway.

Lisa
 
All my cats have been rescues in one way or another. So was my dog. However, I wouldn't blink to pay $900 for a Bengal or Savannah because I've heard for years how wonderful both breeds are. I will adopt, purchase, and take in strays. I'm not picky. Besides, the "free" cat that found me (I didn't find her, she found me) in my work parking lot ended up costing me over $1000 in vet bills in the first three months I had her because she kept getting urinary tract infections. She cleaned out my savings account, but every week, I say to her at least once that she was worth every penny. I've had her about 10 years now and she is my little precious and I couldn't imagine life without her. I know she's getting old, but I try not to think of the inevitable. This is one cat I can actually see myself cremating just so I'll always have her near me. She's a real comfort.
 
You are right. If someone doesn't 'buy' them they would go to a shelter or even worse. I did say earlier that I'd never buy from a pet store, but actually I already have. We got our Cockatiel from the pet store. So, I guess I can't say that anymore. I've just seen so many health problems with dogs 'bought' at pet stores. Almost every petstore dog that comes into my shop has some kind of health problem. But, even the ones with health problems need homes. It never ends.

http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sports/barbell.gif ~Dallys~

www.picturetrail.com/keeponthesunnyside
 
You are so right about "pet stores". When we lost Ralphie our Newfie/Chow mix, my DH had adopted him from a shelter, years before we even met, we realized how much we loved the "Newfie" personality and gentleness. So I did my research and found out about puppy mills and breeders who do it just for the money. These are not breeders who find joy in upholding the integrity of the breed.

I found a reputable breeder in upstate New York and now we have George, our black Newfoundland. Georgie cost 1,200.00, but his hips are good, kidneys, heart cleared, etc....we had very few health issues with him, so worth it! Plus of course he is our "kid". But we wanted a Newf, so it was our responsibility to make sure we contacted a true breeder, we did not want a dime going to the puppy millers.

If we were not so in love with the Newf, we would have gone down to the shelter and picked out our new addition. Which, I would do right now, if it wasn't for my darling hubby's insistence George does not need a little "brother or sister!" Sooner or later I will "break him" I swear!

My point is, be mindful about the breeder you choose, ask lots of questions and if you get a strange vibe, move on.

PS. Catwoman, your story about your stray, was so touching, I totally understand how you feel about her!

Don't you all wish you could take all of them in, dogs, cats, fish, birds, horses, etc...and give them a loving home?? I watch the Animal Planet, those police shows in which the animals are abused and I just cry. To me, children and animals are the innocents in this world, who in their right mind could harm them?
 
>
>I sometimes feel like the odd person out and I feel like I
>have to apologize that I bought the dogs that I bought. I am
>all FOR resueing, in fact I volunteer for a rescue group and I
>am to the point to start a new non-profit organization.
>
Not all of us who
>don't rescue every single time are bad people and I am tired
>of being judged. I foster dogs where I can, I rescue dogs
>where I can, but for Godness sakes stop judging people.
>
>Carola

Nope not the odd one out at all!!! I agree 100000%! I also find it funny that most people have NO problem with people buying (yes buying, when you exchange money for something it is called buying) a dog from a breeder, but are appalled because someone wants to by a purebred or exotic cat. What is the difference I ask?!?! Why is it OK for dogs but not cats? I will tell you this, we have 3 cats, all bought from the shelter. Again bought, I paid money...in fact a lot of money for the last one. But if someone wants a specific breed of cat, then I see nothing wrong with going to a breeder.
However, I would never adopt a dog from a shelter. Both myself and my husband feel this way. If we get a dog(we are in the thought process)We want to get one from a reputable breeder. You know why, we have 2 small children and we want to know the bloodlines of that dog. Although I know that doesn't guarantee that it will be good with the children, after all it is still a dog, we can choose a breed or mix that we know has a good reputation with children. And we will also be able to know the temperament of the parents. There is nothing wrong with that. And until the price of that DNA test comes down so a shelter can guarantee what the mix of that dog is, not just their best guess, I will not be going that route. That doesn't make me a bad person, just a responsible pet owner.
No matter how they got it, anybody that opens their home to an animal is a good person in my books. (as long as it is a loving home)
And you are right, it is not the fault of breeders that there is an overpopulation of animals. It is irresponsible pet owners. In most cases, the person that is shelling out that much money for an animal at a breeder is more likely to be a responsible pet owner than the person that has much less to lose by spending the $50 adoption fee.
 
I am another who bought my two Aussies through a breeder. I knew what I was looking for in both dogs, and I knew I had a much better chance of getting what I wanted if both parents were the same way. I also wanted a puppy because I can control what he is exposed to - people, dogs, loud noises, etc. We constantly have people in our house and sometimes the people bring their kids or dogs. I have to have a very well socialized dog who understands that people (no matter what size) and other dogs are good things and who does not get frightened by unexpected noises or situations.

That is not to say I would not adopt from a shelter or rescue group. In fact my next Aussie will be a rescue. But for these dogs, I felt a breeder was the bst choice.

AND the breeder I went to in both circumstances checked references, and made sure that I was a good home. They also only bred their dogs because they thought the pairing would provide superior puppies. And they were looking to enhance their kennels for themselves (4 of Jimmy's brothers and sisters stayed with the breeder and Tucker's only sibling stayed with his breeder).

Oh, and about how people "own" dogs and cats (and other animals). There are several towns in California (I know, I know) that actually prohibit the term "own" when it comes to animals. The reasoning behind this is to give animals more rights that would otherwise be prohibited if the animals were "owned" and considered property.
 
I can't really judge someone for paying that much for a cat, I paid $4000.00 for a puppy, and excellent quality one at that, so mabe someone likes that breed so much that they want to breed it or own one.
 
Absolutley not. Too many that are put to death in shelters every hour. If I chose my animals by their breed or pedigree, my two girls, Gracie and Gilda, and my fat boy, Archie, would have been doomed. Gracie was on the side of a four-lane highway, Gilda was fending for herself near a river, and poor Archie was barely two months old when we found him under some ivy near a busy intersection.
 
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