Question of the Day

"Do you hook up people who want to breed their dogs?"

Someone actually walked up to me at an adoption event this weekend and asked me that question. I wish I could say I calmly educated the gentleman on the reasons why he might want to consider spaying his dog instead of breeding her. Unfortunately, all I could think of at the time was the idiot/a$$hole who dumped eight two-week old puppies at Houston's city shelter because they didn't look like his dog. Under the circumstances, I'm alternating between kicking myself for missing an opportunity to gently educate and congratulating myself on not beating him with the roll of paper towels I had in my hands.

Just to clarify, I have no problem with responsible people who responsibly breed for the love of a specific breed. I know some wonderful people who create outstanding dogs. (As a side note, it's an expensive hobby, they're not making any money breeding dogs; they work their day jobs to support their hobby, so if you're thinking about breeding your dog to make a little extra cash, think again!) It's the amateur, backyard, happenstance, accidental "breeder" I take issue with and of course, puppy mills. The former act out of ignorance; the later out of greed. It is my firm belief that there is a special place in hell for those who exploit others, be it animals or people, for their own benefit.

Climbing off the soap box, now. Thank you for indulging me.