Essay Sample: Why Rescue Dogs are Better than Bred Dogs

Looking for a new furry friend? When looking for a new dog for the family or as a friend, rescue dogs are the best choice. It’s the most humane choice compared to specially bred dogs, as some of the newest breeds are born with genetic health problems. Rescue dog adoptions also help save mistreated dogs, giving them the second chance they deserve, making it morally correct as well. In addition, many more choices and more of a variety of dog breeds. In addition, the availability of rescue dogs, you don’t have to join a waitlist. Adoption fees are also much cheaper than breeder fees.

Being born with genetic health issues because of the breed of a dog seems very inhumane. Purebred dogs are 2.8x more inclined than mixed breed dogs to receive a recessive health disorder (avma.org). Strict selective breeding has caused health conditions to be passed down to multiple generations. One of the most popular purebreds, German Shepherds, are infamously known for hip dysplasia (caes.ucdavis.edu),  which is the hip socket not fully covering the ball portion of the upper thigh bone. This causes extortionate veterinarian bills for the owner trying to help their condition.

Who doesn't enjoy the feeling of doing a good thing? Well, adopting rescue dogs can give a dog a second chance of having a new home. Some of the sheltered dogs have had  previously been in extremely traumatic past living conditions and deserve the chance at a loving home. Extending a helping hand instead of just going for the youngest and “best looking dog” should be the new standard. Not to mention how inexpensive adoption fees are compared to purebred dogs, as purebred dogs can range from $500 to $3000 while rescue dogs only range from $50 to $200 (onegreenplanet.org).

Having multiple options when making a hard decision always aids the process. There is a much broader variety of dogs to choose from when at a rescue shelter. Purebreds rarely come past the age of puppy, so the rescue shelters provide older dogs that have much less energy than puppies. Training a puppy from nothing is an extremely exhausting and time consuming process, so for people that don’t have the time, rescue dogs are the perfect fit.

Waiting is never enjoyable, so why wait when it’s unnecessary?  Purebred breeders typically have a waiting list of 6+ months (hsnt.org). Joining a waiting list seems very inconvenient when going about purchasing a dog. However, rescue dogs are accessible at any time to come in and take a look and even interact with the dogs to get a better understanding of their personality. When looking for a new pet, it’s plausible that most people want to interact with them before making a serious commitment.