[Inga]

Today I was looking up rescues as I am starting my search for another dog for myself. I looked up Rottweiler rescues, Doberman rescues, Mastiff and Italian Mastiff. I came across one that had all these more rare breeds, South African Boerboels, Italian Mastiffs, Sasquashs??? All of the dogs were younger adults and puppies. Adoption fee..... $990.00. It said to cover the cost of the rescues. Are you kidding? It also had all kinds of mixes of these types of dogs. Sounds pretty strange to me. I also was completely disgusted to see that there are all kinds of "Breeders" that you can pick a pup out on line, never see the pup or the parents in real life. Pay for it on your pay pal account and have it delivered to your house. These are not Pizzas. What is the matter with people? I know that I am one of the last living human beings that is practically computer illiterate (technologically challenged) but this is soooo wrong. Is it just me, or do some of you other dog lovers find this as wrong as I do? I mean I would love a cute healthy puppy of the breed of my choice showing up at my door too, but come on!
I think it is not only sad that they would pose as rescues and ruin the rep of other hard working breed rescues, but it is just as bad that people fall for that on a regular basis. They probably go away feeling good about themselves thinking they "rescued" a dog. What type of suffering did they actually promote and support? What do you all think?

[Dogstar]

Let me guess: Gentle Giants?

[briteday]

I see breeders advertising dogs all the time on the internet. And I recently ran into a "breeder" at a dog event who says she is no longer breeding just poodles, but doing designer mixed breeds because she gets more money for them, often from people 2000 miles away. She ships them at 6 weeks of age and gets a fortune for them. Yikes!

We found our breeder through a series of contacts and initially emailed her to ask if she even had any puppies available. She wrote back saying that if we were seriously interested that we would need to travel to her home (4 hours away) to visit her. And that she would not consider a sale to us until she had the opportunity to visit our home as well. And she ended her email by saying that she rarely ever sold a dog to someone who contacted her by email. Most of her waiting lists are by word of mouth. It was only because we had been referred to her by another reputable breeder in our area that she would even consider talking to us.

I find it ugly that people breed dogs without having homes for them beforehand. It's bad enough when someone is advertising them in a local newspaper. But to put them on the internet for the whole world to see, buy, and ship around the world...it's just wrong.

[Darkmoon]

Originally Posted by briteday

I find it ugly that people breed dogs without having homes for them beforehand. It's bad enough when someone is advertising them in a local newspaper. But to put them on the internet for the whole world to see, buy, and ship around the world...it's just wrong.

Why I agree that shipping dogs is just wrong, I wouldn't mind seeing good breeders in the paper. I'm currently looking for a Doberman Pincher breeder in my area, but all I have been able to locate is about an 8 hour drive, I don't want to have a puppy in the car for that long, nor do I really want to drive that far, 16 hour round trip makes me tired just thinking about it. I know there are some in the area, but I just can't find them anywhere. Most people who own Dobermans around here either don't remember the breeder or their breeder has stopped breeding. I've even gone to dog shows to find breeders and they are like non-existent around here. I'm even thinking about rescuing one (which I personally prefer but my fiance wants a puppy) but even there, I'm looking at a 6 hour drive to the nearest rescue.... *sighs* It would at least make my job easier if they advertised in the paper....

[branwells]

I completely agree with you. I have two designer dogs actually. I didn't get them "shipped" to me like many people do these days (like with pizzas). It took me doing several hours worth of research to find the puppies that I have now. One is a Shih-poo (shih-tzu/poodle) and the other, my newest one is a Coton-tzu (coton de tulear/shih-tzu). I drove 7 1/2 hours ONE WAY to get our coton-tzu. It's worth it because God only knows what baggage these puppies come with. Good luck on your search!

[BoxMeIn21]

Actually, South African Boerboels are indeed a rare breed. http://www.theabc.us/abc.nsf!Open
They are not a fad, they were accepted into the AKC Foundation Stock Service program in 2006 and there are some very dedicated breeders who are working towards full registration.

On a side note...I have you all beat. I drove 16 hours up and 20 hours back for Disco. Yep, she's a special gal. Anyone ever been to Dubuque, Iowa?

[lovemygreys]

To the OP: I didn't have to read far to know *which* group you were referring to. If you google their name, you'll find a couple of sites that are focused on exposing them.

[DogAdvocat]

Originally Posted by Dogstar

Let me guess: Gentle Giants?

What's that?

[GreyhoundGirl]

Originally Posted by BoxMeIn21

On a side note...I have you all beat. I drove 16 hours up and 20 hours back for Disco. Yep, she's a special gal. Anyone ever been to Dubuque, Iowa?

lol my friend drove 4258km to get her sport bred border collie.

[skunkstripe]

Inga I learned that too when I posted on petfinder that I was looking for a dog.
Someone contacted me with a story that was strange and here it is in a nutshell.

They said that they were "rescuing" dogs from a situation where a breeder had been kenneling his/her dogs at a vet's, but was unable to pay for the kenneling. So the vet was willing to turn them over to this "rescue" and had kindly given them a thorough phsyical. However, the "rescue" was not willing to turn over the results of the check up because the vet did not want to reveal his/her name. Oh and they asked if $400 sounded ok for an adoption fee.

It sounded very suspicious so I broke off all contact with them but it is really really sad that there are people who play the "rescue" card and in reality are BYBs or fronts for PMs. You cannot be too careful it seems.

[naoki]

Yes, it sounds like Gentle Giant.

http://www.gentlegiantsrescue.com/

I actually thought about drive all way down to get there to just see what type of facility they have. (Well, it'll take about 8~9 hours (could be even more...) to get to Riverside, CA from here Reno, NV.)
Yes, their adoption fee is so much more than regular rescue adoption fees but they seem to be pretty decent. (well, on the website)

I like Molossers too! I love Tosas and am thinking about getting one. Have you ever thought about them?

-n

[Inga]

[quote=BoxMeIn21;92761]Actually, South African Boerboels are indeed a rare breed. http://www.theabc.us/abc.nsf!Open
They are not a fad, they were accepted into the AKC Foundation Stock Service program in 2006 and there are some very dedicated breeders who are working towards full registration.

Yes, I am aware that South African Boerboels are rare breeds. My problem is people mixing breeds to invent "designers." I also have done a lot of rescue, and I know $990.00 is a huge adoption fee. I would say someone is making quite a profit, and I question the care of the breeding dogs. Puppy mill comes to mind. They are just breeding dogs that many folks haven't heard of. I think it is sad. At the end of the day, these people have fat wallets, and the animals suffer. Where are peoples morals? Good breeders must just cringe every time they hear these types of stories. I wish there were good Rottweiler breeders in my area too as I would love to have one right now, without traveling, but I refuse to help out a backyard breeder or puppy mill. It only keeps the bad people doing it. I know that my buying 1 dog will not make or brake them, but it is the point, and I am not willing to help them out.

Naoki, That is funny, I just checked out that web site. It is not the one I was looking at, but I recognized the people. The guy is "Robin" from the old Bat Man and Robin TV show. I saw them on Animal Planet once. They used to do Great Dane rescue, now it looks like more breeds. This is not the one I saw. I hope I can find it again to share with you all. It was obviously a scam. My friend that is a Humane Animal Control officer was here when I looked at it, we were both appalled. Thank God there are still good people in the world that are legitimate rescues.

[Dogstar]

Here's some more information on GGR:

http://gentlegiantsnews.com/

[Inga]

I just think buying puppies or dogs on-line sight unseen is scary and sad. It hurts me to think of all the dogs suffering in horrible conditions to pump out puppies to keep up with the supply and demand of certain breeds and human financial gain. Call me old fashion.

[Jen D]

We had a person thrown out of the rescue because they were showing rescue dogs with other dogs papers. This was UKC not AKC and they were also back yard breeders that used the rescue dogs to breed instead of getting them fixed.

[DogAdvocat]

Originally Posted by Dogstar

Here's some more information on GGR:

http://gentlegiantsnews.com/

Did you click on this link, because it doesn't appear to go anywhere of interest.

[dachlover]

I agree with you Inga. I feel sad thinking of how terrified those poor puppies must be when they're shipped all by themselves in planes. They're scared enough being taken away from their siblings and parents and they have to be so confused. Seems like if you at least pick them up yourself they can start to rely on you.

What I always wonder if how do people know they're going to like the puppy if they haven't even met it to see what it's personality/temparament is like.

[Inga]

Originally Posted by dachlover

I agree with you Inga. I feel sad thinking of how terrified those poor puppies must be when they're shipped all by themselves in planes. They're scared enough being taken away from their siblings and parents and they have to be so confused. Seems like if you at least pick them up yourself they can start to rely on you.

What I always wonder if how do people know they're going to like the puppy if they haven't even met it to see what it's personality/temparament is like.

Yes, and not to mention the parents of that cute little puppy spending it's entire existence stuffed into a horrible little crate and popping out puppies as often as physically possible just to make it's owner money. sad

[Dogstar]

Originally Posted by DogAdvocat

Did you click on this link, because it doesn't appear to go anywhere of interest.

Oops, sorry- have to put the www on.

http://www.gentlegiantnews.com/

[Inga]

Interesting, very interesting. Rescue huh?