The shelters near us are not full of purebred dogs, they are full of pits, beagle-mix, lab-mix, terrier-mix. My nephew bought a purebred puppy from a backyard breeder. It was 20 degrees out and the puppies were outside. He knew it wasn't a good situation, but he wanted to get at least one puppy out of there. The puppy had fleas, worms and now they've discovered it has a parasite. It had not had shots when they bought it, the "breeder" "hadn't gotten around to it". He seems otherwise healthy, fortunately. The puppy was sold intact with papers. Responsible breeders (of dogs or cats) do certain things. They only sell "intact" animals with papers to other proven breeders (papers on animals too young to fix have their papers held until proof of neutering is shown to the breeder), they get excellent vet care, they are bred to minimize genetic issues and inbreeding, they are screened for issues where screening is possible (my cats' parents has their hearts scanned by ultrasound), they don't sell to anyone who walks in off the street, they require the animal be returned to them if for some reason it can't be kept, they do not breed their animals until there is nothing left of them.

annz, cynthia and lily316 What I've been telling you is not a story it is real and it has been killing me for a long time. Its hurts me more when you tell me I'm part of the problem when I've cried and set up nights worried sick but did not know what to do. You don't understand, where we live you don't mess with anyone's things but your own. I have to be very careful because I have a home and family that I have to protect. This person is right beside me. My heart has been so hurt with this that I don't know if I can come back and hear you say its my fault. I understand your hurt because that is what I've been living with only much worse because I have to live beside it and see. Where we live everyone keeps their dogs outside and most chained. I don't like it but that is the way it is. I wish it was not that way. We use to have a dog. We loved her so much. After about 16 years she got sick and died. The vets could not get over how well we took care of her each time we took her for her check up. They always would brag on her. She had regular baths and never without food and good. We did not keep her chained and she was an outside dog but only in the day. We would bring her in the garage in the evening and close the door. If we left for vacation our family came every day to take care of her. We kept a really good very thick bed for her in the garage attached to our home. We would bring her in from time to time. She was our baby. We love animals and take very good care of them. We have a cat that stays in the house with us now. She has never been out. We love her and take the best of care of her. So, we love animals and take them regular to the vet. I'm sorry that you feel that I'm part of the problem. I know you feel for them because I'm just like you. I hope it helps you with your hurt to know when I say we will try to do everything we can for the dogs. There is nothing here to help animals but one animal shelter which in a few days if no one comes to get them they kill them. I know that can be better than living in some cases. I don't think very many people go there to get animals. They were shut down for terrible things they were doing themselves but have now reopened. There is nothing here but the sheriff. It is so different her than other places when it comes to animals. I have family that live in other states and the laws protect their animals as much as people almost. There are so many neighbors all around you but here its not that way I'm the only one beside this owner. If something is done he knows its me. I will come back and let you know.

I agree to neuter your dog first then take it to meet the potential new dog. I also would like to add to lift it's feet, touch it's ears and handle it's mouth, try looking inside. See how it responds to these. If it is overly aggressive make sure you know what you're getting into and are ready for it. I would even take a brush along and see how the dog acts. Sometimes a dog will get along great with general handling and even with other dogs but be aggressive. The behavior can be changed but takes time and lots of work usually with a trainer. I would also see if the dog has been tested for food aggression. These suggestions are all for adult dog adoptions. If adopting a puppy and you want one that is a bit more laid back hold it in your hands and turn it on it's back. If it's healthy and doesn't squirm a lot then it's a more mellow dog. I also want to say that adopting a dog from a rescue group that has fostered it does not guarantee health, mine had gihardea (sp?)! They said that they are not responsible once the dog is adopted. Our shelter has shelter care insurance for 3 months and it would have been taken care of no charge.

My vet; or rather Harry's vet, was treating a horse out on a farm last summer. It had a strange litany of sympt0ms; it bit and attacked Dr. S. It was rabid, and for about the third time in his career he had to have the complete rabies series again. Sam's vet, Dr. O., has never gone below the "safe" levels in his antigens. Apparently all vets are given a series of rabies shots during vet school and then are tested yearly. If their "antigen numbers" are above a certain level, they don't have to have booster shots unless they're exposed by a fresh, rabid animal bite. Dr. S said he has to get boosters nearly every year, while Dr. O has never fallen below the "safe" numbers. I was one of those weird kids that was always dragging home wayward animals...stray c@ts and dogs, rabbits, squirrels, turtles, frogs, ducks...anything I could get my hands on. Grandma was always warning me, but it didn't slow me down. I know I had angels watching over me: I was never exposed to anything worse than a flea or a tick (and they can be bad enough for some people.) She did, absolutely, draw the line at skunks. I was to never, ever try to touch one or pick it up, and after about age 8 the urge left me. Thankfully, I've gotten much more cautious in my old age. I've had to trap a couple stray/feral cats here, but I'm super careful when moving the traps and taking them to the shelter. I use a broom handle to pick up the trap; set the trap in a large cardboard box, and then set that in the cargo area of my car. When I get home I burn the box. I no longer run up to loose dogs, either.