The campaign #AdoptDontShop is frequently advocated on social media locally and internationally, seeking to encourage people to adopt dogs from shelters or rescue organisations rather than purchase a dog from a breeder or puppy mill.
But reputable breeders, who can account for every puppy bred under their kennel name, say there is an unfortunate perception of shame attached to people who want to buy a well-bred puppy whose parents have undergone health and temperament tests.
Reputable breeders say the blame must be directed at illicit dog breeders and puppy mills.
But shelters and rescue organisations say they are against any form of breeding and their priority is rescuing animals.
Susan van Niekerk of Dotcom Standard Poodles, who has been showing and breeding standard poodles for 26 years, said she had imported dogs from the US, UK, Sweden and Norway, striving to improve the breed she loves.
“I am committed to improving the breed through careful, selective breeding, and over the years have imported many dogs to improve the gene pool in this country.”
Van Niekerk believes the preservation of breeds is important so that people can choose a dog that fits their lifestyle and fulfils their expectations.
She said KUSA (Kennel Union of Southern Africa) had recently implemented a code of ethics, which placed certain restrictions on breeding dogs such as age and the time period between litters.
She said KUSA was also introducing DNA profiling this year, so all breeding dogs would have to have DNA profiles.
Van Niekerk said dog breeding was an art and one needed to understand pedigrees, ancestry and what possible health issues were in the various bloodlines.
Puppies are ready to leave for their new homes from eight weeks.
After conducting lengthy interviews with prospective families, pups are sold on contract, and should the buyer at any time be unable to keep the dog for whatever reason, it is returned to her with no questions asked.
“Backyard breeders are the main contributors [to overpopulation].”
She said some rescue activists needed to accept that people should not be bullied into adopting a dog.
Nadine Shortland of Mackland Shetland Sheepdogs in the Eastern Cape has been involved with dog sport, judging, training and breeding for 22 years.
Shortland also sits as secretary on the provincial council of KUSA and said each dog breed is developed to perform a function, while traits specific to individual breeds are extremely important to preserve.
Shortland said though KUSA is a registering body, it cannot police every breeder’s conduct.
She said given the costs involved and in instances where litters were small in size, profit is rare and breeding for her is more of a passion.
Shortland said the “Adopt Don’t Shop” campaign really irks ethical breeders who love their animals and are upholding the standard of each breed.
She said individuals who want well-bred dogs are shamed when buying from an ethical breeder.
“The volunteers work tirelessly and endlessly with sad and heartbreaking cases. Their work is truly to be commended.
“People who rescue dogs and adopt from shelters also have their hearts in the right place.”
However, she said blaming ethical preservation breeders is not realistic.
“Unfortunately the ethical breeders are in the minority, and backyard breeding is rife. There will always be dogs in shelters. There will always be people who don’t care.”
She said the Adopt Don’t Shop narrative is dividing welfare workers and breeders, but there are exceptions.
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Animal Welfare Society manager Hannes Stander said the organisation is “totally against any form of breeding” and will not consider working with registered breeders to rehome dogs.
Stander said the nonprofit organisation does not support animals being bought from puppy mills or illegal breeders.
Save-a-pet manager Leigh Done said the shelter always promotes adoption over purchased puppies or kittens and is particularly against illegal breeders.
Done said they will not consider working with registered breeders, as the shelter’s main priority is rescuing animals from impoverished communities.
Breeder and president of the German Shepherd Dog Federation Frikkie van Kraayenburg said the specialist organisation was founded in 1985 with the desire to introduce minimum breeding standards.
Van Kraayenburg said indiscriminate breeding, also known as backyard breeding, can never be condoned and there is certainly an overpopulation of mongrel and low-quality dogs.
“The GSDF will support any movement towards this aim, but will not support a blanket approach where all dogs are regarded [equally] unwanted.
“We do not support the Adopt Don’t Buy approach as we believe this will only cause other problems, such as inadvertently saddling families with problem animals.”
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