Recent media exposure on the horrific conditions of puppy mills has led to widespread public awareness, but far less attention has been paid to the practice of backyard breeding. The truth is, backyard breeders are one of the leading causes of shelter overpopulation, often leading to the mass euthanasia of these unwanted pets.
A backyard breeder can have any number of reasons for producing litters. Some backyard breeders are attracted by the idea of "easy money" after seeing how much legitimate breeders charge for pups. Others mistakenly believe that every dog needs to produce at least one litter in their lifetime to truly feel fulfilled. Perhaps the most common reason is the one with the greatest of intentions: the loving owners of a family pet feel that their dog is so wonderful and so loved by everyone who meets it that they should produce litters of its offspring. That way, everyone could enjoy a pet as fantastic as theirs!
Unlike puppy mill owners, who operate high-volume breeding programs in squalid living conditions, the term "backyard breeder" (or "BYB") can apply to any number of situations. Some backyard breeders, particularly the ones operating under the goal of financial gain, share similar characteristics with puppy mill owners. They may produce high volumes of litters, generally of many different breeds, or the pups may be kept in sub-standard living conditions such as rows of small or dirty cages.
However, other backyard breeders can be difficult to spot or may seem harmless, breeding only a litter or two and keeping the puppies indoors in the family home. Perhaps both parents are even on-site and you're welcomed in to meet them and see the area in which the puppies are raised. When you're greeted at the door by a family pet with tail wagging and presented with a clean and spacious living area in which to meet the pups, it can be difficult to imagine that you might be dealing with a backyard breeder - the truth is, most backyard breeders have only the best of intentions and don't even realize that they're doing anything wrong.
Article comments
1 - James
Thanks AJ for the article. You have many valid points but it seems to me that you are being a bit snobbish with your view. Do you think that all "reputable" breeders just magically appeared on the scene one day with a good reputation and references? Of course not, initially they had to advertise their services. The first puppies that they sold might have even been an "accident". In fact many "reputable" breeders start out as backyard breeders. It is there love and dedication to the breed that eventually raises them to the top of their field and gets them that coveted "reputable status.
2 - AJ McDowell
Thanks for taking the time to read my article and comment, James! It wasn't my intention to appear "snobbish", just to point out the harsh reality that even with the best of intentions, backyard breeders are one of the leading causes of shelter overpopulation.
I'm sure that some breeders do start out "accidentally" or by advertising their first few litters. However, many of the most reputable breeders did not accidentally find themselves in the field. Through their love of the breed, they entered their own dogs into competition and agility trials, learned from mentors, and gained a solid understanding of their chosen breed and the requirements for meeting breed standards.
I'm not saying that it's impossible for a backyard breeder to eventually develop into a reputable breeder, but what happens to those first half a dozen litters who DO have health or temperament issues? It's irresponsible to breed a litter of pups without first knowing that you're not passing on any hereditary problems or having suitable homes to place the puppies into. Instead of loving a breed and committing to the improvement of it's genetics, unknowledgeable breeders are instead contributing to health & temperament issues and mass euthanasia.
3 - collette
Wow AJ, so now you're an expert? What personal experience or professional training has brought you to collect all of this data? Your so-called guidelines are nothing more than scripted propoganda from groups like the HSUS, PETA & ASPCA.
Most people don't fall for this 'emotional' information anymore, and are waking up to realize the truth finally. Your article is obviously injected with Animal Rights propoganda. I've lived in a big city, and for the life of me, I just never saw a lot of dogs roaming the streets that were homeless that people like yourself, want everyone to believe. The shelters used to have low numbers until they realized what a market it was once you played the 'emotional' card and convinced people that the dogs were abused. Is that why they are flying canines in from 3rd world countries by the planefulls, complete with diseases that harm our own animals here in the States? If there was so many 'homeless' shelter dogs, why fly them in by the droves from other countries?
By the way, when is the last time anyone tried to 'adopt' a dog? You can adopt a human easier than the Animal Rights 'red tape' nonsense! If they really wanted to see these dogs go to homes instead of euthanizing them, they'd let them go to homes. Example: Family filled out a 'pamphlet' to try and adopt a Beagle. Beagle responded well with family, vice versa, however, upon evaluation, they were denied. Why? Because the family was planning on keeping him outside periodically. Complete with fenced in yard AND dog house! Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't dogs equipped to withstand some outside elements? They weren't even planning on keeping him outside for long periods at a time! Beagle probably got euthanized instead. If they're there too long, they take up valuable space for a 'cuter' dog that may bring in some 'adoption' $$$$$
4 - AJ McDowell
Hello Collette -
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my article, although it was more about the problems with backyard breeding than it was about animal rescue or abused animals. However, since your concerns pertain to shelters, let me respond to those comments directly.
I can assure you that I'm not affiliated with any of the organizations that you listed, and while I never claimed to be an "expert", I do have both personal and professional experience pertaining to the subject matter. I first began working with dogs over 12 years ago, when I spent more than 5 years as a volunteer at an animal shelter. In my experience, many of the dogs that were surrendered to our shelter did have health or temperament issues, and a handful of them at any given time had lived with abuse. The animal shelter that I worked for was a no-kill shelter, so there wouldn't have been any animals that were euthanized because they had been there "too long", but there were numerous occasions that we did have to turn surrenders away because there was simply not enough space. I, myself, signed off on many adoption contracts in my time there, so I am speaking from experience when I say that animals can be - and are - adopted from shelters daily.
On top of that, I am currently training to be a dog obedience trainer. Part of my training has included learning basic veterinary issues, ethology of dogs, breed information, testing and selection of puppies, temperament evaluation, and information about breeders and puppy mills. I'm sorry that you feel my article reads as "propaganda", but I would be happy to direct you to information about backyard breeders or data on pet overpopulation that can be found on websites outside of the HSUS, PETA, ASPCA type groups if you would like.
5 - jamie hale
Everyone does have to start evrywhere, but a big part of being a responsible breeder includes screening your own dogs and their ancestors for both temperament and health issues. It is undeniable that many if not most people who are producing litters haven't had their dogs evaluated, x rayed, etc. And more often than not (and very sadly) dogs are bred for their looks. I believe that only perfect specimens of a breed should be chosen to pass on their traits, and they should closely conform to breed standards. That's not to say that irresponsibly bred puppies are always bad animals, but there are absolutely too many being born and too many have issues. Its hard to see wonderful dogs being euthanized because supply is higher than demand. It is an emotional subject, of course people will and should respond emotionally. And that's why I have 4 shelter pit bulls who all have issues (and also why I'm laying on a tiny corner of my couch while my dogs are stretched out comfortably)
I say... good for you for speaking your mind aj on a controversial topic.
6 - AJ McDowell
Thanks for your input, Jamie. I'm glad you enjoyed my article, and I agree with you 100% - people will respond emotionally to controversial or emotional subjects. I applaud you for choosing to adopt (4 times!), and especially for adopting dogs with issues that may have otherwise been put down.
7 - collette
How about this article? Gee, it goes right along with my comment I posted about a month ago.
People should educate themselves, before they try and spread more decepetive theories that contain no truths. Can't argue with facts when they are all around us.
Breeding companion pets for families are not the problem, however, flooding our shelters with diseased ridden animals from other countries IS the problem.
Read up folks!!... More and more Americans are realizing that the comments by A.J. are not truths, and are nothing more than the standard same ole, same ole by the Animal Rights movement... just in a 'nicer' form.
Read from the link below, and then read again!... INFORM yourself, don't let people like A.J. educate you. She is just passing on information that she 'thinks' is the truth!... It's FALSE and MISLEADING!
8 - Sara
AJ, great article.. Would you mind if we published this on our website?
9 - Mary
I am fed up with people that only get a dog, to breed it & make money. This is a person's 3rd dog in 51/2 yrs. Never take it for a walk or play or love it. Always left alone in a cage to cry most of the time. Dogs need love & caring. It breaks my heart & I wish there was something I could do about it. ???
10 - Buddy Rescue Foundation
Hi Collette--Not sure what big city you live in, but your comment "I've lived in a big city, and for the life of me, I just never saw a lot of dogs roaming the streets that were homeless that people like yourself, want everyone to believe." That's because strays are trying to survive and are quite crafty at remaining under the radar to avoid being picked up by animal control--they are probably in neighborhoods you wouldn't frequent. But they are eventually captured and housed in shelters. Rescue groups are out there trying to save as many as possible every day, looking at the "URGENT-TO BE EUTHANIZED TODAY" lists that are published every day on email and Facebook by city shelters. The Manhattan and Brooklyn shelter lists show pictures of hundreds of dogs daily that were picked up or turned in as strays. The Orange County Calif. shelter posts their URGENT lists as well. There are countless rescue groups scrambling everyday to save as many as they can. We have saved many but not enough. And the worst part of all this are the "REST IN PEACE" lists that circulate later--the dogs that could not be saved and were euthanized that day. I'd urge you to look a little deeper, visit a shelter in your city. I'd be happy to help you and research the situation in your city to see how you and others can help. Sure, statistics are published that support both sides of the argument--but the statistics I see, where many healthy puppies and dogs are euthanized everyday due to overcrowding at shelters are the statistics that tell the real story. Backyard breeders do create excess animals in the system, there is no denying that--for every dog bred that finds a home, there is one less home for a shelter dog. And many bred dogs end up in shelters as well--just talk to anyone at the thousands of breed rescue groups across the country that take purebreds out of shelters to find homes for them. Please friend us on Facebook at buddyrescue and look at our wall--look into the eyes of the many dogs that are posted to our wall everyday by other rescues in a desperate attempt to find someone to adopt or foster a dog located at some shelter across the country so it can be saved. These animals are not from other countries--they are "Made in the USA"...and they are euthanized here as well. The Buddy Rescue Foundation