Just seen this on facebook and thought that it should be posted so that others who come on to this forum for advice.
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I'm a vet. Some details changed or omitted for anonymity purposes and because I'll get flamed for this.

Today a man brought his dog in to me.

The dog was a large, boisterous adolescent puppy. He hurtled into the room, bouncing up to me excitedly, wagging his tail all the time and nudging at my hand with his muzzle. His big squishy paws crashed against my chest each time he paused to greet me, as he bounded around the room investigating all the smells. He was an unusual cross, very striking to look at and obviously a bright and energetic dog. He was adorable.

The history went like this:

The dog had been bought as a tiny puppy by a couple who were told it was a "designer" cross between two specific small breeds. Now, if the people who bought this puppy had had the slightest inkling about what they were doing it would have been immediately obvious to them that this was most certainly not a cross between two small breeds. But anyway, they didn't have a clue so they bought the cute little puppy from this dubious source (probably at a cost of several hundred pounds) and took it back to their family home, complete with toddler.

The dog grew a bit and it became clear that it was actually going to be really big. It was bouncy, energetic and destructive. It kept racing around and knocking over their small child. So they rehomed it to a family member.

The family member also had children but they were slightly bigger children. The family member really wanted to do the right thing, so they tried to "discipline" the dog. The dog began to show occasional signs of aggression and was completely hyperactive in the home, destructive and unmanageable. I was not surprised to hear this, since it was obvious to me from this dog's heritage that it was the sort of dog which had significant needs in terms of exercise and stimulation. In an attempt to magically resolve the issues the family member had the dog neutered. Which unsurprisingly made no difference.

Today the dog was brought in to be put to sleep. It had growled very aggressively when a child had put its face near his, and between this and an imminent change in circumstances the family member felt unable to manage the dog any more. He had tried local and national rescue organisations, all of which were full. He had nobody to care for the dog overnight tonight. He was not able to take the dog home, partly because of safety concerns and partly because the decision had been taken together as a family that it was the right thing to do.

So I put this healthy, affectionate, vibrant dog to sleep while it munched on treats and the third owner in its short life cried into his fur. Then when it was just me and the body of this poor puppy I had a good old cry myself.

I know there will be people who think I was right to put down a dog who has shown any signs of aggression under any circumstances. I disagree.

I know there will be people who think I was wrong to put down a dog when I could have taken it and found it a new home. I disagree.

I also know that there will be many many people who have no idea that this is happening all the time in this country because of irresponsible ignorant greedy people, selling dogs to irresponsible ignorant feckless people, who then pass them on to naive and thoughtless "rescuers" who eventually get to the end of their tether and bring them to me for euthanasia. All the time.

These are the dogs who bite children in the home due to a total lack of knowledge, reasonable expectations and effort to socialise them adequately.

These are the dogs whose owners can afford four figure sums to buy the latest random mongrel "breed" with a stupid made-up name, but cannot afford fifty quid to get it vaccinated, far less any money at all to treat even minor illnesses.

These are the dogs who clog up rescue centres all over the country, waiting along with thousands and thousands of others for the home with no children, no other pets and eight-foot fences, with an owner who has experience of managing behavioural problems, works from home, has stainless steel furniture and can write blank cheques to pay for the inherited illnesses the dog suffers from. Homes which don't actually exist.

These are the dogs who I have to put down because I know that it is more responsible of me to painlessly take their life than to condemn them to wait with the rest of the enormous population of "difficult" dogs sitting in rescue kennels all over the country.

Please, please, I implore you. Get advice before you take on a dog - from a vet, a qualified positive behaviourist, the Kennel Club, the Blue Cross, the Dog's Trust, the RSPCA - the information is there for the taking, there is no excuse. Go to a decent breeder, who has a waiting list, or a rescue centre which really grills you thoroughly before matching you with a pet. Find out how to bring your puppies up properly so if you do find your circumstances change then at least they are rehomable. Make sure you can afford to pay for the unexpected. Make sure your expectations are fair.

Please, because I can't keep having to do this.

So sad and so true.
:-(

Was horrified by a similiar story from my former vets. A couple brought in their 7 year old and 7 month rottweiler dogs to be put to sleep. Their reason was they were chasing cattle and couldnt be controlled. I have such sympathy for vets having to do this. People are fools.

I am so sorry to hear that you had to do this, that part of the job must be heart breaking for you. My former vet and I had a conversation about this a while ago, she said that an awful lot of people lie to get her to put an animal to sleep - usually that it is aggressive, when she is really sure the owners just don't want it any more. But as she said (with tears in her eyes talking to me) at least she does it humanely and with kindness, what might these owners do to the animal if she refused to euthanase? Too many people look on animals as a disposable commodity these days rather than a life time commitment.

So so sad - please share this to anyone you know and hopefully the message will get through to some people about the risks in buying 'designer cross breeds'.

Poor puppies, they didn't ask to be born but deserve longer and happier lives than many of them have.

Sadly I think there have always been people like this. Some episodes have stuck in my mind forever. There was the first vet I worked for, around 1980-81. Somebody brought a 20 year old cat in with kittens. Yes it was her kittens! They thought it was unfair for a cat so old to have to look after kittens so opted to have the queen AND kittens all put to sleep!! The kittens weren't even newborn but will have been on solid food. Then a few years later with the second vet I worked for, two 4 month old pups were brought in because they had a skin problem -turned out to be a food allergy, they were Rough Collie crosses, absolutely stunning pups.  The vet said treatment would involve putting them on a different diet, treating the sore skin etc. The people went home with all info etc, then came back a couple of days later and said it was too much work, please just put them both to sleep! These were two different people, they owned one pup each, were just friends, did not live together, and had gone out and bought these pups that were from an accidental mating.

Had I not been a teenager still living with my mum I would have come home with animals all the time when incidences like these happened.  I knew I couldn't do it with dogs and cats. However one day I arrived to work to be told the vet had saved me a rat and a hamster. They had been booked in as a GERBIL and a hamster, both to be put to sleep as they were no longer wanted. At least those two I was able to bring home as my mum never minded how many small animals I had.

I don't think it's just designer crossbreeds but irresponsible casual or commercial minded breeding/selling to just anyone, as just anyone of this type is unlikely to pass muster with a decent breeder.

So it's a vicious circle of demand, supply and disposal.

Sorry, but I don't think its just breeders of cross breeds, irresponsible back yard breeders, commercial breeders either.  I currently have 8 rescue/rehomed dogs 4 of whom are pedigrees and come with impressive paperwork, one even from a champion show and stud dog.  All the pedigrees have either temperament or health problems, some serious and extremely expensive.   The 4 cross breeds are completely healthy and although one is reactive to noise they don't have temperament problems either.  I know of 3 KC registered breeders who have failed to find homes for all of their last 2 litters but still go on breeding without having any 'demand' lined up first.  This is a universal problem and is not specific to cross breed, irresponsible or commercial breeders.  We have too many dogs being bred Period and a society that expects instant gratification and buys anything on a whim.  I've spent the last 29 years rehoming other people's unwanted dogs after they have been badly bred, badly raised or become just plain inconvenient.  Its tragic.

Whew!  What a brave vet to open up like that.  I even cried while reading it.  I can't visit rescue centres because I know that I can't save the world.  I just have to be content that my dogs are all loved, don't know what cruelty or neglect means, and have a forever home.

>We have too many dogs being bred Period and a society that expects instant gratification and buys anything on a whim.

but based on the number of dogs in the UK and average lifespan all the pedigree dogs registered (and some of those will be commercially motivated by byb and volume breeders) with the Kennel club only meet about  third of demand. (piece in Our dogs by David Cavill refers).

As for your examples I am sure oteh5rs can site the opposite.

impressive paperwork means nothing it's the responsibility the breeder takes for puppies produced.

If the breeder couldn't home the puppies I am assuming they must have kept them.

If the well papered dogs were not re-homed from the breeder or with the help of them, then they fell very short of responsible breeding, so still fall into the category of commercial/ irresponsible breeding with poor homing, to which this thread refers.

Thank you for posting this. I will be sharing it later on my facebook page and hope that all my friends share too. We need to spread the message. Far too may people see dogs as another materialistic possession to dispose of when they see fit. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. Its refreshing to hear from a vets point of view, who sadly probably isn't alone in having to put healthy animals to sleep. My heart breaks for these poor animals

>My heart breaks for these poor animals

And for the poor vets

    
but based on the number of dogs in the UK and average lifespan all the pedigree dogs registered (and some of those will be commercially motivated by byb and volume breeders) with the Kennel club only meet about  third of demand. (piece in Our dogs by David Cavill refers).

If that's the case (and I can't see how on earth anyone can quantify the demand) then you have to beg the question why there are  more and more pedigree dogs (with papers) up for rehoming via breed specific rescue organisations and also appearing more frequently in rescue general centres.

As for your examples I am sure oteh5rs can site the opposite

Maybe they can but in the breeds I have a particular intrest in, the health of pedigree dogs has been steadily declining over the last 20 years to the point that although I love them I will never have another based purely on the helath risks involved.

impressive paperwork means nothing it's the responsibility the breeder takes for puppies produced.

True, but like I said, of the 3 I personally know they struggled to find homes but still carried on breeding more litters.  Insane!!

If the breeder couldn't home the puppies I am assuming they must have kept them.

Not before reducing the price several times and some pups finally going to homes at 20+ weeks, ill-socialised because the breeders had too many dogs and pups to do the job properly themselves and some were kept (though not by choice).  I also know that the criteria for assessing suitable new homes and owners was also dumbed down in order to get rid of the surplus puppies.

If the well papered dogs were not re-homed from the breeder or with the help of them, then they fell very short of responsible breeding, so still fall into the category of commercial/ irresponsible breeding with poor homing, to which this thread refers.

If only that were so but these breeders are and were at the time of finding homes for their pups (and dogs), listed on the KC website under the assured breeder scheme.  So how are people (Jo Public)  to know who to trust?  I'm sure there ARE good responsible breeders but even when people take all the recommended steps   they can still get unhealthy pups with bad temperament and the wrong puppy can still get sold to the wrong owners.

 

Thank you for putting this 'from the other side of the table' story on here.   It's a pity that for the most part however, you are preaching to the converted.   I hope you will find other outlets for your story.   This is why I'd never make it as a vet's receptionist.   Even sitting in the waiting area sometimes I have to bite hard on my tongue when I see some people coming in.   And that includes people wandering in with clearly unvaccinated puppies walking alongside.

I have long said how much I wished BREEDERS would take more responsibility for not only what they breed in the first place, but where they send their precious puppies.   Sadly most of this, not all, is down to BYBs who just want money for the puppies they produce and could care less about who takes them.

I hope the joy you get out of your work mosly outweighs what you have to do with a perfectly healthy animal.

FWIW I hope you know about Basset Welfare so no Basset has to be pts by you?

Thank you for putting this 'from the other side of the table' story on here.   It's a pity that for the most part however, you are preaching to the converted.   I hope you will find other outlets for your story.   This is why I'd never make it as a vet's receptionist.   Even sitting in the waiting area sometimes I have to bite hard on my tongue when I see some people coming in.   And that includes people wandering in with clearly unvaccinated puppies walking alongside.

I have long said how much I wished BREEDERS would take more responsibility for not only what they breed in the first place, but where they send their precious puppies.   Sadly most of this, not all, is down to BYBs who just want money for the puppies they produce and could care less about who takes them.

I hope the joy you get out of your work mosly outweighs what you have to do with a perfectly healthy animal.

FWIW I hope you know about Basset Welfare so no Basset has to be pts by you?

someone I know of who breeds there dogs for money, had to take on to the vets after being hit by a car, they would told it would need 6 weeks cage rest and said they couldn't breed it again due to the breaks to its pelvis (they wanted to spay it but they said no) after hearing they couldn't breed it again they wanted it putdown saying the cage rest wouldn't be fair. The vet refused and said just give it cage rest and as it will cost them money to go to another vet its getting cage rest (pdsa are treating it so she doent have to pay with them). They asked a friend if her vet would put it down and she said he probably wouldn't.
The same person wants her old dog putdown as its annoying them now as it doesn't want to go out to the toilet anymore.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">I can't see how on earth anyone can quantify the demand)

based on the average canine lifespan and replacing the estimated number of dogs in the UK at this time.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">why there are  more and more pedigree dogs (with papers) up for rehoming via breed specific rescue organisations and also appearing more frequently in rescue general centres.<br />

Again I don't know if overall this is the case, but there are specific increases with whatever breed seems to be in fashion, (thinking Siberians and now French bulldogs, Pugs, Chis) and those that feed the demand due to fashion are not the breeders who do things properly (they re-home their own).

As for general rescue, I have seen very few what I would call pedigree dogs (loads of Staffie types the odd GSD types and border collie types) the rest seem to be terrier collie or retriever crosses and out and out bitsa's, but maybe that's just Bristol dogs home.  In the autumn there was not a single what I'd call pedigree dog in Bristol Dogs home when we went to donate companion show proceeds.

In the autumn there was not a single what I'd call pedigree dog in Bristol Dogs home when we went to donate companion show proceeds.

Much the same here. You see Staffies, ENDLESS Staffie crosses, other crosses, JR crosses, and the odd Akita, and that's it.

We have a small rescue centre just over the road from us. Just checked the website and they currently have 5 Staffie types, 1 Terrier cross, a GSD cross and a Lurcher. Last time I checked it was a very similar mix.

Just looked at Dogs Trust.  They have 808 dogs currently listed across all their centres.  Under Breeds they have 303 crossbreeds and all the rest (505) are listed by breed with the current number of each recorded.  Maybe not all have papers but they are obviously regarded by DT as a 'breed'. This of course doesn't detract from all the pedigrees that are up for rehoming under breed specific rescue organisations.  The OP certainly makes a profound point, my point is that it is not limited to byb, puppy mills and other commercial breeders as was suggested.  Unfortunately, it goes a lot further that that.

Hi floJO - I would just like to say that of the "3 KC registered breeders who have failed to find homes for all of their last 2 litters but still go on breeding without having any 'demand' lined up first." - I can't imagine many of the posters on here approve of this. I share your frustration that this does happen but, on this occasion, I must say how would the KC stop it? How can they know what demand this person has? 

I saw the figures you posted from the DT - all I can say is our local rescues are about 50/50 when it comes to "breeds" but many share a vague resemblance to the breed they are meant to be.
I also agree with you when you say "but I don't think its just breeders of cross breeds, irresponsible back yard breeders, commercial breeders either" but I bet they make up the bulk. If the first 3 breeders you mention do not keep their unsold pups then they are, in my opinion, irresponsible byb - I don't care how nice their set up is.
Jeff.  

>my point is that it is not limited to byb, puppy mills and other commercial breeders

I did say irresponsible breeders, who are purely commercially motivated, which is anyone who does not take care of their breeding long term.  If they are ending up in rescues then they are not being looked after by their breeder, unless the owners are failing to make them aware.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">I saw the figures you posted from the DT - all I can say is our local rescues are about 50/50 when it comes to "breeds" but many share a vague resemblance to the breed they are meant to be.

I agree - my local DT has a Flatcoat for rehoming at the moment - to me it bears very little resemblance to a FR but I am no expert http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/dog/1107150/daisydolly#.UtgnzrRrvm4

The majority of dogs at the centre are mainly SBT type dogs or terrier crosses. Having said that my GR came from there and was surrendered with his KC papers - we weren't allowed to see them though or be given any details of who bred him, his KC name or even his real date of birth.

She looks like a mongrel to me-very pretty though

Just looked at Dogs Trust.  They have 808 dogs currently listed across all their centres.  Under Breeds they have 303 crossbreeds and all the rest (505) are listed by breed with the current number of each recorded.  Maybe not all have papers but they are obviously regarded by DT as a 'breed'.

And the great majority no doubt "breeds" like "Staffie" -most likely a cross- or "Collie" -ditto, etc etc.

Little experiment: On DT's website, not a clue how to check for ALL centres, but taking the London one as an example and going through all the dogs listed. Under "Alsatian" up pops a crossbreed. Basenji looks like a crossbreed. 2 Bassett Hounds listed, one looks like a pedigree dog, the other not. The 2 Bichons could be either that or crosses or even Poodles. Of the 2 "Border Collies" one looks like it could be, the other looks like a Spaniel cross. Then you have 4 Collie CROSSES listed as such. Then 1 Golden Retriever that looks like a pedigree. 2 Greyhounds. Under GSD cross up pops the one also listed as Alsatian. 2 Jack Russells. 2 "Lab cross". The SAME 2 also listed as Labradors. 4 Longdogs, where the same Greyhounds as before appear. 2 Lurchers, also listed as Longdogs. 4 Mastiffs, all look like crosses to me. 3 Bullmastiff, also listed before, also all crosses. 1 Neapolitan, ditto.  1 Retriever, which is also listed under both "Golden Retriever" and "Goldie". 4 "Running dogs" -up pops the Greyhounds, Lurchers and Longdogs again, same as listed before. 1 Samoyed. 1 Setter -yes could be a working English one. Same one listed under English Setter. 1 Spaniel, listed as a Brittany -the jury is out on that one, also listed as Brittany under different heading. 6 Staffordshire Bullterriers which could easily all be crosses. 3 SBT crosses which were also listed as Staffies so listed as both pedigree and crossbreed and again listed twice. 9 Terriers, 3 of which looks like they could be actual pedigree dogs (A Yorkie, A Westie and a Wire Fox) but also one listed as Yorkshire Terrier which is anything but, plus various crosses and JRs. 2 Terrier crosses, listed before. 1 Wire Fox terrier, ditto. 1 Patterdale, 2 Yorkshire Terriers -ditto, one def. a cross. 2 "Trailhound" -could be anything. 1 West Highland White Terrier, 1 Westie, listed before, so same dog listed 3 times.

So that is just the examples from one Dogs Trust rescue centre, and what do we have? An overwhelming majority of crossbreeds, most dogs listed 2 or 3 times making it LOOK like there are more pedigree dogs than there are, in fact more dogs full stop, and a small number of dogs appearing to be purebred but which quite possibly originated from puppy farms.

Hence I'd definitely NOT believe the figures on "pedigree dogs" from the Dogs Trust.

Our breed rescue took on a dog purportedly as one of our breed, (Battersea had had her for some time) so was duly collected. I fostered her, she was definitely not purebred, she was a husky crossed with probably our breed.

For anyone looking for a typical one of my breed she would have been very unsuitable in energy levels and general temperament and character.  Fortuantely her new owner was a patient dog lover used to another large Spitz breed that we do not have in this country (he obtained the dog while living abroad).

Very pack orientated, very happy within a pack of dogs, (mine) very unhappy showing SA when only with one other (formerly sole dog) in her new home.  Took 6 months for her to settle, and her energy levels were like one of ours on speed. .