Adopt or buy?

I personally don’t use the phrase “Adopt, Don’t Shop” even though I support pet adoption.

The saying Adopt Don’t Shop is used to promote dog adoptions vs. buying a puppy from a pet shop (puppy mill) or breeder. You’ll see it on t-shirts, bumper stickers and as a hashtag.

The reason I don’t use the phrase “Adopt Don’t Shop” is because it’s OK for a dog lover to responsibly get a dog from a breeder OR from a shelter. It’s also extremely important for good breeders and good rescue groups to work together.

Rescue groups need good breeders.

Adopting a dog is wonderful! Buying a puppy is wonderful too!

You SHOULD “shop” for the right breeder or the right rescue group or shelter. It’s important to do your research and get the dog that is right for your family.

Of course, I understand where people are coming from. They mean well.

It’s good to promote dog adoptions and “Adopt Don’t Shop” is a catchy phrase – especially if you’re standing outside a pet shop protesting puppy mills.

I’d even say it makes sense to use the phrase Adopt Don’t Shop in that exact scenario, if you’re protesting a puppy mill or pet shop.

I get it. We can all agree that puppy mills are terrible.

The problem is when people use the phrase Adopt Don’t Shop to represent ALL breeders.

Adopt Don’t Shop controversy

The phrase Adopt Don’t Shop or other similar phrases could potentially alienate a huge percentage of dog owners who have happily purchased their dogs.

These are dog owners who would like to help your rescue or shelter because they love the breed or they love dogs. They are dog lovers who don't feel guilty about buying a purebred puppy but they also want to put an end to shelter killings.

I bought a goldendoodle puppy, for example, but I also support my local shelter. In my family, we also have an adopted pit mix and rottweiler mix and we have adopted cats. Many families have both “rescued” pets and pets from breeders.

The problem is when people use the phrase – Adopt Don’t Shop – to include ALL breeders, not just irresponsible breeders or puppy mills. Some people take the phrase literally.

But buying a puppy from a breeder is not necessarily a bad thing.

We can support breeders and shelters at the same time

Sometimes rescue volunteers forget a large percentage of dog owners are proud of buying their dogs from breeders but would ALSO love to support true no-kill shelters. It is possible to support both responsible breeders and responsible rescues!

Maybe they’d like to volunteer, foster, donate, attend a fundraiser – or even adopt their next dog!

They need to feel welcomed in order to do so! Not alienated because of where they got their previous dog.

You could argue, “Who cares! It’s about helping the dogs! I don’t have time to worry about a ‘breeder’s’ hurt feelings.” But this isn’t helpful, because we need good dog owners to open their homes for dogs in need when it’s a good fit.

Do you think this phrase “Adopt, don’t shop” actually helps more dogs get adopted?

Or does the slogan perhaps harm dogs by turning away the large percentage of dog lovers who would like to foster, donate or volunteer but feel bad or embarrassed when they hear “Adopt! Don’t shop!” Or “Don’t buy when shelter pets die!”?

Some people want a specific breed or type of dog or specifically, a puppy they can train from the beginning. Those types of dogs sometimes are not available at the shelter. When this happens, we should not make people feel guilty for purchasing a dog or puppy. People should get the type of dog they want either from a breeder or a shelter, this way they will want to keep it.