Rescue or Breeder?

We all remember the promises Obama said when campaigning. Tax cuts, health care, energy, reform, dog for the kids, etc. So far he is doing an excellent job of keeping those promises. This week he made good on the canine promise. He adopted Bo, a 6 month old Portugese Water Dog from Ted Kennedy, who breeds the dogs. Obama is happy, his children are happy, the dog has a home. If only the media and public were that easily pleased.

Apparently Obama stated "rescue" dog when mentioning a puppy for the girls during the campaign interviews. Now the media and a good part of animal rescues are up in arms debating if Bo qualifies as a rescue or not. Do these people not have day jobs? Bo was first purchased by another family who returned him to the breeder at 4 months old because he was too much work. That qualifies as a adopted dog to me.

The part that irks me the most is how these people are saying Obama should have taken his daughters to a traditional shelter, pound, or breed specific rescue and picked out a dog that way. Adopting a dog in need of a home from a friend apparently is the same as purchasing one to them. There are flaws in that logic though.

A regular shelter or pound is a great place for a regular family to adopt a dog. However the Obama's lifestyle may prove difficult when finding the right dog. Shelters take in dogs with little or no information on their background. The dog may later in life prove to be not good with children, upset at traveling, aggressive with strangers or have training issues. For a regular person that is a small challenge which requires a bit of work. Being in the public eye however, it's ten times worse to have it come out that your dog bit it's dogwalker or chewed up Air Force One. Additionally, it would be a bit upsetting to the shelter workers and animals to have to close down for hours or days to let the Secret Service and Obama come through.

The rescues that are the most upset at Obama don't seem to be considering his lifestyle either. I did a bit of Googling and according to most of their adopter requirements, Obama wouldn't even be allowed to adopt from them. Stringent requirements such as no children, a certain amount of free time per week, a backyard with specific types and heights of fencing, and a background with the breed. Most people wouldn't even fit that description, let alone the President. Breed specific rescues are so intent on babying "their breed" and making sure the dogs are in the best hands they go overboard. The dog they chose is a good choice in my eye. Young enough to learn to deal with a versatile life, but still a puppy. Portugese Water Dogs are obedient, aloof, and don't shed which is what you want in a family dog that will have change on a daily basis. I'm highly doubting Obama will be walking this pup himself, and the girls are too young.

Although I am an advocate for shelter dogs, in cases like this you really almost need a dog from a breeder. Dog's from a breeder can be bred to have specific qualities or personalities. They generally come with guaranteed health, some training, and the breeder is almost always willing to act as a trainer or guide if you need help. Should you not be able to keep the dog, the breeder takes it back and will rehome it into a better fitting family.