1. Cortney | 12.17.08

Are you kidding me? Even if this puppy was produced in a puppy mill, it’s still alive and still needs a home, and VP Elect Biden is giving it a home. It’s origins are no ones business. Clearly the breeder’s bad practices have been brought into the light, and animal rights activists and lawmakers should rightly shut down her operation. Yes, it’s unfortunate that some people breed dogs in less-than-ideal conditions, but IT’S NOT THE DOGS FAULT, and this puppy shouldn’t be punished becasue some person was irresponsible. Who are these up-in-arms people who think it’s a better idea to throw out this puppy than allow it to stay in a home where it will be appreciated and well cared for?

2. sage | 12.17.08

I agree, how stupid are these people to even suggest that he should not have this puppy or to take it back , that puppy is Blessed to find a home! i hate puppy mills and i think they should be closed, but my God, the puppy has a home now.the dogs and puppies need a home just as much as the ones in a shelter.

3. SFO Dog Lover | 12.17.08

It is a good thing that Mr. Biden got a puppy out of that breeder’s unsatis”factory” operation.
The Second Puppy could have ended up at the Dog Shelter.
It is a good thing that The Veep “intervened” and saved The Second Pup from further abuse.
Whew… that was a close call for that puppy!

4. jles | 12.17.08

When you give money to a puppy miller, like what went on in this case - it perpetuates mills. Come on people, get educated.

5. Chrissy | 12.17.08

I agree with Cortney. That is an innocent puppy that needs a home. If you send it back to the breeder and she gets shut down then that same puppy ends up at the pound and possibly put to sleep. How is giving it back going to improve its life. It is peoples fault that there are so many animals in shelters being put to death. If people would sterilize their animals, less unwanted ones would be born to a life of suffering. He should keep the dog.

6. Bear | 12.17.08

Thank-you for providing the facts of the kennel inspection. Another thing that bothers me is the puppy was only 6 weeks old when Biden bought it. Reputable breeders do not sell puppies until they are at least eight weeks old as they need the socialization of Mom and littermates. In Michigan, it’s a state law. Pennsylvania is notorious for it’s puppy mills. Unfortunately it’s not just the Amish…….

7. jim | 12.17.08

Making a huge deal out of nothing again…..get over it, people buy dogs from puppy mills everyday.

8. DogLover | 12.17.08

Are you kidding me. With all that is going on in the world right now, give thanks that one little puppy has found a home – and I’m sure a very nice once as well. This preoccupation with having to “rescue” a dog as opposed to buying one from a breeder is another example of sociopoltical correctness one crazy. What is more, it has become very obvious to me that many of the “rescue only” brigade get their dogs in this way because it makes them somehow “holier than thou” at the doggie park. Don’t dogs bred in other ways deserve a good home home too. Next thing you know it will only be socially acceptable to some people to adopt children instead of breeding them yourself. Give me a break. Nice dog Mr. Biden. Great choice!!

9. Eugen | 12.17.08

I thought the country is on the edge of the worst economic crisis in decades? Are there no serious problems to write about. People are starving and loosing their jobs and homes but papers and blogs are full of Bidens pup or Obamas smoking habits. Let those people have at least some privacy. The next rant is about the sort of toilet paper they are using (bleached and too fluffy, hence bad for the environment. http://www.get_clean_wipe_green.com)

10. Carl | 12.17.08

Ohhh Good GOD, let it rest - you’ve had your miserable 8 years - give it up!

11. Alexandra | 12.17.08

WHAT!? I am vehemently against puppy mills — but asking Biden to return his puppy to this despicable breeder is an outrage. Any “animal rights activist” who advocates doing that is a monster, not an animal advocate. I’ve been an animal rights activist for 40 years, and I would keep that poor innocent puppy. I would never give it back to the breeder. Instead, ask Biden to donate to the campaign to end puppy mill breeding. That would be a far more positive and compassionate action.

12. Sandy | 12.17.08

I think Biden shoudn’t have gotten his puppy there. That is an obvious puppy mill. I do belive in pure bread dogs as I do own them and show them, but he should have went to a responsible breeder not a puppy mill. He should have some some research and went to a dog show to find a reputable breeder. Another good plce to go to find a breeder is the German shepherd club of America. They will most likely have a list of breeders that have agreed to the clubs bylaws to breed ethically.
I do agree that it nice that the puppy got a good home, but the problem with people buying dogs from puppy mills is that it wil not discourage them from just breeding more dogs in unsatisfactory conditions. They way the parents are kept and overbred at puppy mills is disgusting.
While the puppy may be disease free/healthy etc. like I hear all the time I’m more than sure the parents haven’t been tested for hip displasia or any other hereditary diseases. Additionally, the dogs are just thrown together to produce puppies without any thought to breeding to the standard so he isn’t getting a top quality purebred puppy anyway.

Off of my soap box now. Thanks for letting me vent.

13. John | 12.17.08

So let me get this straight….human trafficking is appalling but animal trafficking is acceptable.

Disconnect.

14. Phillip | 12.17.08

Yawn….
Who cares!

15. owlafaye | 12.17.08

I am sure the law can find something wrong with ANY operation (or person). This is purely a political ploy to cast shadows on Obama’s administration. Look at all the damage Bush is deliberately doing to the country as he leaves office. Republicans are deternmined to crash down all that they can to hamper any Dermocratic administration’s efforts to turn around America.

A nice puppy farm, (better conditions than most homes) and very very far from the conditions of a “puppy mill”.

16. Leo | 12.17.08

My wife & I have discovered over the years that our (shelter-rescue) dogs seem much happier when we have 2 dogs, not just 1, as they can play with each other when my wife & I are away at work, a movie, meeting with the President (ha, ha), etc. So maybe Mr. Biden should keep this dog but get it a playmate from the shelter…

17. sally | 12.17.08

Come on people! I completely agree with Cortney…. this puppy needs a home too! What is Biden supposed to do? Give the puppy back to supposably bad conditions after it is already is accustomed to a warm cuddly life with Biden and his family. I 100% agree that we should always adopt and rescue instead of supporting breeders but if the animals rights activists are going to point out that conditions were poor and procedures are not being dome correctly then the breeder should be shut down and the puppies will then need homes regardless. It’s not the animals fault!

18. Lady Sweet | 12.17.08

I wonder if the same people who are so against this is just this outspoken to abused children, or women. I don’t recall seeing any picket signs at the Family Services or marching for the poor and neglect children of the world. No they are outrage about where Biden got his puppy. Get a life.

19. GP | 12.17.08

Even if you think Biden “rescued” that puppy from the puppy mill, he helped to kill another dog in a shelter, and more in the future. Puppy mills and backyard breeders stay in operation because people BUY THEIR PUPPIES. If nobody buys them (ie: they adopt or buy from a reputable breeder), they will be forced to stop breeding puppies. Boycotting them doesn’t help those dogs (not until they get busted by the ASPCA) but it does help in the long run to stop the vicious cycle. Biden should have set a better example in his choice, and I hope it doesn’t come around to bite him. Puppy mill and BYB dogs tend to be sick and have genetic problems that properly bred (or mutted) dogs don’t usually have.

20. Jeffrey G | 12.17.08

Although I agree that the Biden family should have adopted from a shelter, the proposition that they should ‘give the dog back’ is outright insanity. The damage is done, and a puppy, who had no control over where he was born, has found a welcoming home - where he/she should stay. Pure insanity, CSM.

21. Dan | 12.17.08

First, I doubt 99% of the people who are opposed to Biden purchasing a puppy are animal RIGHTS activists. They may be welfare advocates, but let’s call them that rather than conflate rights and welfare.

Second, Biden should have adopted a shelter dog. Animals are not things. They are beings and their lives are as important to them as our lives are to us.

Third, humans may be losing jobs, but about 12 billion nonhuman beings are intentionally killed annually in the US alone. It is only by the dogmatic cultural prejudice of spesiesism and anthropocentrism that anyone dismisses animal rights as “unimportant”.

22. dman | 12.17.08

If Biden had not purchased his puppy from a farm, then the bad practices would not have been exposed and hopefully change. This is a good thing because it gives voice to the issue.

23. James | 12.17.08

Jim, do you really think this is a rational argument? “Making a huge deal out of nothing again…..get over it, people buy dogs from puppy mills everyday.”

Let’s apply your logic elsewhere:

Making a huge deal out of nothing again…..get over it, people murder other people everyday.

Making a huge deal out of nothing again…..get over it, children get abused everyday.

Making a huge deal out of nothing again…..get over it, innocent animals are tortured and killed everyday.

Making a huge deal out of nothing again…..get over it, {insert horrible yet commonplace acts) everyday.

Is that really your argument Jim?

24. Jay | 12.17.08

12 Billion are killed each year? Where do you get those numbers from? Yes puppy mills are bad, blah, blah, but at that point, like everyone says, someone had to buy the puppy or else it probably would have ended up dead anyways or in a shelter. Its upto lawmakers to punish these people rather than ‘write them up’. Ooooo. And don’t people have other things to worry about. Always love have someone from PETA would walk over a homeless person to spit on someone wearing a furcoat.

25. James | 12.17.08

Interesting how Lady Sweet begins by wondering “if the same people who are so against this is just this outspoken to abused children, or women”, yet then seems to make up her mind because she doesn’t “recall seeing any picket signs at the Family Services” and says “Get a life.”

That’s not a logical retort at all.

1) Lady Sweet has absolutely no idea what the position of these animal rights activists is on human rights.

2) It doesn’t even matter. This case should be viewed on the merits, no need to wander into oblivion wondering about irrelevant details and then telling those who try to stand up for victims of abuse, neglect, torture, and worse to get a life.

26. AL | 12.17.08

Puppy breeders get bad raps for a number of issues 1) breeding animals that are already in high supply and not enough demand 2) inbreeding which causes health risks and 3) they are not always the model business and the places the animals stay is dirty.

Biden has the puppy - he should keep it. Plus it’s cute as a button!

27. AngelLayne | 12.17.08

For those that think he already has the puppy at 6 weeks of age–he doesn’t. The puppy is being trained by a certified trainer and Biden will not actually take the pup home until some time in January when his family moves to D.C.–so get your facts straight.

And if he wants to get a puppy from Mars–it is HIS business. The fact is that a homeless animal got a home and where that puppy came from should not matter. Yes, we have overpopulation. Yes, there are animals at the pound–but it is NOT the puppy’s fault and he should be made homeless just to satisfy a bunch of “holier than thou” hypocrites.

I do animal rescue and know of what I am speaking of–and after knowing what I know about neglect and abuse I can still be happy for this pup. One less animal is suffering.

28. alison baker | 12.17.08

Joe the Biden did a good thing. He gave a home to a puppy that needed one; and by drawing attention to the breeder’s facility, he made sure that the conditions there will be closely examined and improved.

29. Brandon P | 12.17.08

Why don’t you shut up about dogs and focus on humans. There are plenty of humans in slavery conditions in countries such as Saipan. If you want a cause, focus on people first. Unless you hate humanity of course, but if that’s the case, take a introspective look at why you hate humanity, it’s probably because of things like slavery…

30. Rose | 12.17.08

In my lifetime I have had five pets purchased from responsible breeders and four who were adopted from shelters. Of the four from shelters, all but one turned out to have behavior and/or medical issues, whereas the responsibly bred pets were all without those issues. I am an opponent of puppy mills and I think adopting a dog or cat from a shelter is a beautiful option for informed and experienced pet owners. I am dismayed, however, by the fact that when a puppy mill is exposed, responsible breeders often get lumped into the same category as puppy mills. Shelter dogs and cats aren’t right for every family! Adopt OR research your breeder and find someone committed to the breed.

31. john turningpin | 12.17.08

*This* is news? Pathetic.

32. Linda | 12.17.08

Jim - yes people get murdered everyday , children are abused everyday - so what you are saying is that makes it okay? You must be one of those that would look the other way and not get involved or stand up for anything that you believe in - a person of no backbone or principles -how sad.
I do not believe that Biden should take the puppy back but people need to become more educated about rescuing dogs from shelters - we got our Newfoundland/Lab mix when she was 9 months old -after losing our other rescue do to cancer. She is a wonderful do - no issues that people are always so afraid of - if people would just take a little time to go to obedience training with their dogs and children - for that matter - it might be a better place.

33. Laura | 12.17.08

I have been an animal rights activist for 40 years. I’ve also been a HUGE fan of Joe Biden’s for 20 of them, and have been lucky enough to talk to him in person on several occasions. He wrote legislation long ago to make it illegal to fish on dolphin for tuna. He also wrote legislation to ban canned hunting. He’s the author of the Violence Against Women Act — which I have supported and hailed over the years because — like many animal rights activists — I am also a human rights activist, a women’s rights activist, a gay and civil and environmental rights activist. Those who accuse us of caring only about animals miss the point of our foundation (the first society to defend children happened to be an animal welfare organization!).

Having said all that, and having immense respect for Biden for personal and political reasons, and being an activist of stature in the animal rights movement, I hope Biden keeps the puppy — and then, through the power he’s wielded for so many years now, works with animal rights and animal welfare activists to shut down puppy mills. THAT’S where our focus should be. Biden has a history of human and animal defense to his credit. We can educate him and get more done for all, human and animal, or we can blast him. I choose the former. He is, I have seen, a reasonable man.

I also suggest that those of you who are brushing animal rights aside and prejudging how we think and feel about animals and humans might do well to educate themselves, too. I think you’ll be surprised.

34. 1readersview | 12.17.08

If you want to stop puppy mills, breeders, etc. Go after them. Make it hard to do business. Make it less profitable by requiring huge fees, insurance and expensive, state of the art facilities. Any animal is fortunate to find a home, regardless where it comes from. If this puppy was 3 months old, no doubt it was soon bound for a shelter, so it was saved from adding to the shelters that are already over crowded.

35. Linda | 12.17.08

Jim - yes people get murdered everyday , children are abused everyday - so what you are saying is that makes it okay? You must be one of those that would look the other way and not get involved or stand up for anything that you believe in - a person of no backbone or principles -how sad.
I do not believe that Biden should take the puppy back but people need to become more educated about rescuing dogs from shelters - we got our Newfoundland/Lab mix when she was 9 months old -after losing our other rescue due to cancer. She is a wonderful dog - no issues that people are always so afraid of - if people would just take a little time to go to obedience training with their dogs and children - for that matter - it might be a better place.

36. Dan | 12.17.08

Jay (see Jay’s comment #24), the total for all “food animals” is 9.4 billion with the breakdown and sources of information as follows:

Chicken slaughter: 9 billion (9 million of the unit “1,000 head”)
Duck slaughter: 28 million (28,000 of the unit “1,000 head”)
Turkey slaughter: 265 million (265,969 of the unit “1,000 head)

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/PoulSlauSu/PoulSlauSu-02-28-2008.pdf

Cattle and calf slaughter: 35 million
Hog slaughter: 109.2 million
Sheep and lamb: 2.69 million

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/LiveSlauSu/LiveSlauSu-03-07-2008_revision.pdf

This does NOT include hunting, fishing, animal experimentation, cat and dog “euthanasia” and other ways we exploit and kill animals. When we include these, the total is at least 12 billion.

37. engineerGA | 12.17.08

This “outrage” is stupid. I have been to the pound, and they did NOT have any full-breed puppies. Yes, the dogs there are just as worthy of life and potentially just as loving in most cases. However, Biden didn’t want a mix-breed dog. Find him a pure-bred puppy of his desired breed in a pound, and I’m sure he’d want to adopt it (along with 1000 other people that day - pure-bred dogs are expensive!).

If you want a specific breed, you can check the pounds, but I’m sure you’re not going to have much luck that way. Certain breeds have certain needs and certain temperaments that may fit your desires for a canine companion better. I don’t want a Rottweiler to play with my daughter. My Cocker Spaniel is great with her, though.

Get over the phony outrage. There are better things to campaign against with your time than a reputable breeder who meets the mandated levels of care but didn’t get a perfect score. If she didn’t meet the levels, they would shut her down.

38. Jim | 12.17.08

This is ridiculous. As if breeder(even puppy mill) dogs are inferior to pound puppies. Let’s not politicize this! He picked the dog he liked and that pup deserves a home just as much as a mutt does. Jeez….let’s not make a mountain out of less than a molehill.

39. James | 12.17.08

Brandon, what a wonderful false dilemma you paint, either we focus exclusively on humans 1st unless we hate humanity?

Simply absurd.

We can focus on all sentient life, and that is the ethically consistent way to go about it. It may also be the most effective way to help humans as well.

Consider that much of the problems humans face are contributed to or outright caused by animal abuse. People who abuse, neglect, torture, and kill animals are far more likely to do the same to people. Or take starvation and human slavery, these things are greatly exacerbated by the massive waste of food and other resources dedicated to meat, leather, and the production of animal products in general. Meat production can take 10-20+ times more resources to make the same amount of food/nutrition that can be obtained from producing vegetarian food. Humans are busy exploiting, abusing and neglecting animals so that a few people can profit. Not only does this make food and resources scarce, pollute and degrade the quality of land and life worldwide, but it is the exact exploitive and uncompassionate business model used in human slave labor.

The best most ethically consistent way to combat violence against humans is to extend rights to all sentient beings. Otherwise, if you want to abuse a human, you simply can consider or classify them as an animal or subhuman.

40. Linda Nelson | 12.17.08

I’m absolutely astonished in regards to some of these comments posted!

<> The choice of the puppy’s breeder was left to someone else and not done by the Biden family. I worry about someone’s judgment when they can’t (or won’t) do their own research to insure a new family member is conducive to their lifestyle, came from the proper background, etc. Did the idea of a new puppy for the Obamas garner enough attention that the Bidens didn’t want to be left out? I know people who will send countless hours doing their own research to insure their choice for a new family member is the right one – usually these choices don’t end up in shelters down the road. Enough said?

<> No, the puppy would have been sold through a broker to a petshop somewhere across this nation as do the majority of those bred by the puppy millers.

<> Yes, far too many people buy puppies from petshops, puppy millers and backyard breeders – does that make it right? Especially when we are killing over 5 million healthy companion pets each year in this country? Furthermore, if only reputable breeders were the ones selling their puppies, our shelters and rescues wouldn’t be busting at the seams from the huge unwanted overpopulation!

<> EXACTLY~!! The ONLY way you get rid of puppy mill puppies is to stop supporting their industry!

<> 35-40% of the dogs in the current shelter system are actually purebreds (and I use that term loosely for since the AKC instituted the DNA program, MANY litters have been rejected for impure lines and/or fraudulent registrations – see their website and read through the minutes).

<> Cocker Spaniels actually have more reported bites than Rottweilers!

<> Unfortunately, rarely does the USDA actually shut down a miller – they generally issue citations and with 70 inspectors and over 10,000 facilities to check, just how frequently do you think any one facility gets rechecked? Why would they shut down millers? It is a great source of revenue with the licensing fees!

Bottom line is this… few have commented that are educated in the pet trade industry. Reputable breeders can no longer compete with the millers, backyard breeders and Internet breeders. Consequently overall the quality of the popular breeds have rapidly decreased as the profiteer breeders engage in a business that is inhumanely being conducted. Animal advocates realize that the chances of slowing down a multi-billion dollar business which is largely unregulated and not overseen by anything but one agency of the federal government has little chance of ever happening. No one selling puppies on the Internet is required to even be inspected by the USDA, nor are the petshops across the nation. And the USDA inspections that are done seldom shut down a miller. Some large operations have 1,000+ dogs and females that are bred each and EVERY heat - 4 to 5 females in a confined area with a male. Even the USDA requirements for kennels is only 6″ larger than the height, depth and width of the dog… there is no required exercise time or space for these dogs and puppies are pulled too soon for them to be properly socialized and learn the proper canine manners they should. Then we wonder why dogs become aggressive as they grow older, can’t be potty trained, etc.? All the inconvenient dogs end up in the shelters and if not adopted, killed and taken to rendering plants where their carcasses are ground up to make other products and fertilizers, along with female cosmetics. Is the system in any way humane or right as a moral country? Is this the role model we want - a VP to have someone else do their research, choose a breeder for them and hope it is the right choice? What happens when it is not something as critical as choosing a new puppy for the family? I’m sure Mr. Biden is now VERY sorry he allowed someone else to handle this choice, and hopefully he is now aware that HE should have been the one doing this himself! The humane and moral thing would be for this trainer (who chose the dog) himself purchase the dog and train it for something worthwhile, making it the trainer’s problem down the road when the puppy mill puppy does not perform adequately or has numerous health issues and vet bills. Shut the miller down and ask Mr. Biden to reconsider his choice to add a puppy to his family when he himself is not willing to do what all of us responsible dog owners have done - do our own research, do the training for our canine family members and be responsible for our choices.

41. Muffet | 12.17.08

I’m shocked any dog lover would suggest Biden should return the dog to the puppy mill!

Biden made a mistake, but the dog still needs a loving home!

42. Sue | 12.17.08

As you can see, the breeders here are DEFENDING a puppy mill

That is because groups like the AKC makes lots of money registering puppy mill puppies

http://www.bogartsdaddy.com/Bouvier/Bouv_Pages/article-inquire-puppymills-AKC.htm

Breeders, even a lot of “reputable” ones, don’t care if people support the abuse and consumer fraud at puppy mills. That is because their dog shows, dog sale promotion, lobbying are PAID FOR with blood money from the puppy mills

43. Sue | 12.17.08

This kind of situation is how puppy mills continue to go on. They deceive with a a blanket of supposed “reputable” character, but there is abuse and disease hidden behind their operations

Too many uninformed people get tricked into buying from the mill breeders

Note also the lack of reporting true numbers of dogs sold. Many many puppy mill breeders don’t report income and don’t pay taxes!

It’s a very ugly business!

44. Delaware Dog lover! | 12.17.08

#7 Jim — you are one of the the same ill-minded fools that think it’s OK to BUY from a puppy mill that produces HOW many dogs a year — their cash crop. But how many dogs do they let starve, or worse yet, kill in their own backyards but they keep doing it if people think its ok and hand over the cash to these sick, useless, poor excuse for humans! Did you not read the part that 4 million animals are euthanized a year?!
Biden was a complete IDIOT to think he was buying from a “breeder in PA” — there is no such thing — PA is the “puppy mill capital of the world”. Biden’s house is a short drive to Lancaster — he knew better. He was too wrapped up in trying to “one up” Obama (You can’t take the spotlight off of Biden for one second). Yet again, Biden’s ego got in the way of his thinking.

45. Enid | 12.17.08

The puppy has a home and that’s where he should stay, but Veep Elect Biden needs to take responsibility for making a stupid choice. I thought that I read somewhere that his people checked out this breeder. Obivously, they did a rotten job. With all the flack about Obama adopting a dog for his children, I thought that Biden would adopt, as well.

So, Mr. VP, you need to make a statement and encourage peoople to adopt, not shop. The puppy would probably like a companion.

46. It is a people issue | 12.17.08

Millions are going to kill and warehouse unwanted animals, including money from our taxes and tax deductible donations given to non profit animal shelters. Obama and Biden ran on issues of government efficiency. Encouraging breeders (who often claim tax exempt status as a hobby and who often don’t collect required local sales taxes and report income, is not in the best interests of this county. Obama and Biden ran on issues of concern for the community, humanity and doing the right thing even if it is not in one’s own personal interest (remember spread the wealth?) There are children who not only lost their homes to foreclosures but who also had to give up their pets. What a message of humanity and hope it would have sent to these kids to see the vice president elect rescue a dog from a shelter. They could hope Maybe their dog or cat got rescued too. Adopting a dog from a shelter would have encouraged others to do the same. The President and VP represent the nation’s families - they need to set an example. We were subject to months of campaign promises with personal stories from the candidates to tug our hearts and get us to put our trust in them. Now it is time for them to deliver on their promises for change. This breeder got a lot of free publicity. REgardless of the bad publicity, many ignorant people will rush to her to get a dog. If that dog is not accepted by the VP, someone else will take it. Don’t worry about that dog, worry about the dogs and cats sitting on death row right now whose last seconds of life are slipping away.

47. JAB | 12.17.08

Hey, it’s his dog. Wherever he gets the dog, that’s his right. One more dog has a home. That’s something to be thankful for. What makes us think we have the right to run every detail of the lives of our elected officials?

48. Jennifer | 12.17.08

I for one am very glad that this is bringing to light much needed changes to dog-breeding facilities. I love dogs and have owned 2 that I got at shelters. It’s true that they did come with some behavioral problems which were resolved in a few months time with educated training and patience on my part which I was happy to do. I have relatives who only buy purebreds and have had medical problems and social problems with them too. Every case in individual. I thought it was interested the comment on people who say everyone should adopt and not buy from breeders and that there is a holier than thou attitude. I think that’s true and I didn’t realize it before. I have pressured friends into buying (or at least looking) at shelters before breeders and have judged them on only wanting “designer dogs”. And for the record, there are many purebred dogs in shelters however you won’t necessarily see them when you go to a shelter as they are often pulled and stuck in special homes and registered with non-profit rescue for that type of breed. There are great websites for these. Petfinders.com is one and then you can always do a search for a breed you want and then type in “rescue”. For instance, “cocker spaniel rescue”. The dogs that come up are all dogs in need of homes that have been pulled from shelters so they aren’t pulled to sleep.
To the man who thought we should focus on humans instead; I have spent a lot of thought hours on that in the past and finally came to the conclusion that God has given us all certain interests and ways to serve and my love for dogs means I’m one of the people in th world who can make life better for the dogs in addition to whatever I can do for people. One thing I am looking into is visiting the elderly and the homeless shelters with my dog as a “therapy dog” in which we get trained to brighten people’s lives who are struggling.

49. Richard Clark | 12.17.08

. . . only in America!

50. Jackie | 12.18.08

Exactly - Only in America do we kill 5 million companion animals a year while allowing puppy mills to churn out 5 million puppies a year. No too smart. This is a tax issue people. Animal shelters have multi million dollar contracts. Los Angeles Animal Services has a budget of 20 million. Las Vegas Animal shelter has a budget of 6 million. These are YOUR tax dollars. These are tax dollars we could use for schools if we had a handle of the out of control animal breeding going on.

51. luke | 12.18.08

I agree with many of you that Mr. Biden should retain his puppy and fulfill his responsibilities to the dog. I would by no means support him giving the dog back. However, Mr. Biden squandered an unbelievable opportunity to set a positive example by adopting a dog from a shelter. Nonetheless, he needs to be forthright and admit his mistake in judgement.

52. tranquilli | 12.18.08

Gee Eugen (9) why do you bring up Obama’s smokes?
Give him a chance first.

53. shells | 12.18.08

For those who think you can’t get a purebred at the shelters, please be aware that there are breed specific rescue groups for every kind of dog. There are also dedicated rescue groups that will go to any length to find a dog for someone. Biden’s choice did doom a shelter dog and does nothing to address a huge problem in this country. I would urge people who are so concerned about breeder’s and shopper’s rights to go the petshoppuppies.org and get educated. I have been involved in the shut down of a puppymill operation, once you see that kind of misery youu will never be the same.

54. allan birmantas | 12.18.08

It’s a two edged sword.If he doesn’t buy a puppy and it’s not sold to somebody else,it would be euthanized.If he buys it,he is supporting a puppy mill.(or something close to that).
I don’t have the answer.

55. Boston | 12.20.08

I can’t believe this is even an issue.

WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMY???????

56. Bianca | 12.20.08

I’m amazed at people who think that getting a dog at a shelter is so much different from getting one from a commercial breeder. Where do you think puppies go who are rescued from the worst of the puppy mills? To the shelters! Do you think the dogs are then sprinkled with fairy dust so they then become wonderful companion animals, where the day before that, in the mill, they were just sorry excuses for dogs? By and large dogs who end up in shelters a) came from poor living situations, and b) may be “purebred” but likely by puppy mill standards, not from reputable show/conformation/performance lines.

Breed-specific rescues are better choices, usually, for someone with their heart set on a particular breed, especially if they are ok with an adult dog. It’s rare to find a good quality puppy in those situations.

I have a dog (purebred miniature poodle) that I got from a rescue when he was about 5 years old. He’s a great dog and a wonderful pet, and we now do agility and obedience for fun, but I don’t kid myself that he’s perfect in conformation as compared to the ideal poodle standard. He’s smart and has a great temperament, which I tested by means of a Canine Personality Profile before we paid for him. He makes a fine pet.

I agree Biden should have done more research, starting with the German Shepard Club of America, and/or the AKC to find a list of reputable breeders. He should have asked for at least a 3 generation, or better yet, 5 generation pedigree, showing the ancestors of the proposed puppy to be free of hip dysplasia (common in GSDs) and other known genetic risks. He should have been prepared to pay something between $1,000 - $2,000 for a good quality, genetically tested dog.

Since he didn’t do that, he’s got the equivalent of a shelter dog, probably with no genetic guarantees. If he trains it well and spends enough time with it, he can still make a fine pet out of it. I hope he’ll neuter the dog at an appropriate age and use that as a “teaching moment” if he’s so inclined.

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