# The Looming Dog Shortage **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 19, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187 "2018-10-19T03:35:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/1 "2018-10-19T03:35:34Z")
I came across this topic. It seems that spay and neuter programs have done so well that the number of shelter dogs has gone way down and since they clammped down on puppy mills, its harder to finds new dogs. [Here is the story.](https://todaysveterinarybusiness.com/looming-dog-shortage/) It basically says the USA needs about 8 million new dogs per year. I will say I have seen fewer ads for people wanting to give away free puppies and many sought after breeds like bulldogs are quite expensive. What do you all think? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/2 "2018-10-19T03:51:59Z")
I think the pound is full every time I visit. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/3 "2018-10-19T04:07:27Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I think the pound is full every time I visit. Exactly, there are plenty of dogs available for adoption. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/4 "2018-10-19T04:08:19Z")
Here is the solution. > **[Newsflare](https://www.newsflare.com/video/246158/animals/this-otter-makes-some-adorable-noises-when-asking-for-dinner)** > > Online video news community and marketplace for user generated video content. Newsflare specialises in covering news that is too breaking, too remote or too local for traditional news organisations. I can’t think of _any_ problem to which this is not a good solution. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/5 "2018-10-19T04:09:25Z")
That’s not true here in South Arkansas. Occasionally the shelter I visit has taken truck loads of dogs to the north. I assume the shelters there are lacking pups and are willing to take some from here. That’s a good thing. IMO. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/6 "2018-10-19T04:36:14Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Here is the solution. > [Newsflare](https://www.newsflare.com/video/246158/animals/this-otter-makes-some-adorable-noises-when-asking-for-dinner) > I can’t think of _any_ problem to which this is not a good solution. Agree. Shut the internet down. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/7 "2018-10-19T05:04:37Z")
When my wife and I were shopping for a dog, the local shelter had mostly just pit bulls. We were lucky in that a cocker spaniel/chihuahua mix showed up right on the day that we were looking and we snatched her up right away. But mostly it seems there were not many desirable dogs available in the entire city, especially among the smaller breeds. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/8 "2018-10-19T05:41:28Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I think the pound is full every time I visit. Well, I can’t imagine, then, why _ **Today’s Veterinary Business** _ magazine would be worried that the country doesn’t have enough dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/9 "2018-10-19T11:23:56Z")
There’s an imbalance, yes. Some places have fewer dogs to pick from, or a smaller breed selection, and all this is cultural. Places that are mainly white, educated, middle-class, are where most people spay/neuter or don’t breed their dogs. There has also been a huge shift in the way the general public views registered purebred dogs, which since the Victorian era have had a lot of cachet (the purebred dog industry had a lot to do with its own decline). Now, the cool thing to do is "rescue’. If that is your aim, you are going to be dependent on the stream of puppies produced by the non-middle-class and non-educated and non-white. Mostly those are going to be pit bull types, random mutts, and rather misshapen toy breeds. In poor areas dogs and puppies are dumped out of cars on deserted roads all the time. ALL the time. In the middle class, there is such a desire to feel virtuous about “saving a life” that street dogs are now imported from Mexico among other places, for adoption in the US. This is causing concern because these dogs are bringing in interesting parasites and diseases not normally seen here. Nothing simple about the dog thing. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/10 "2018-10-19T13:10:43Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > When my wife and I were shopping for a dog, the local shelter had mostly just pit bulls. We were lucky in that a cocker spaniel/chihuahua mix showed up right on the day that we were looking and we snatched her up right away. But mostly it seems there were not many desirable dogs available in the entire city, especially among the smaller breeds. Pibbles are perfectly desirable dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/11 "2018-10-19T13:40:42Z")
From the article: > [@](#): > > Conduct a national survey of shelters. This was complex, to say the least, but MSU succeeded and produced the following data relied upon by The Washington Post: > > ``` > 5,532,904 dogs entered shelters in 2015. > 2,628,112 dogs were adopted out by shelters in 2015. > 776,970 dogs were euthanized by shelters in 2015 and about the same number were transferred by shelters to other shelters or rescues. > > ``` > > These numbers demonstrate how much progress has been made in reducing annual euthanasia rates from over 12 million to fewer than 800,000. **But they also highlight that shelters may be expected to provide only 2.6 million of the annual 8.1 million dogs needed to meet U.S. demand.** Does it? It would seem to me that there’s an additional 777,000 dogs being euthanized and another 777,000 being shuffled out of the shelters to make room. If my public school math isn’t failing me, that’s over 1.5 million dogs extra. Granted, not all of those dogs are going to be adoptable for various reasons but the answer really doesn’t seem to be “we reached peak adoption capacity at 2.6 million” Anyway, they’re dogs. If we need more dogs, they’ll produce more dogs. That’s what dogs do. ---
**Author:** ![senoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@senoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senoy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/12 "2018-10-19T13:47:39Z")
It’s not really a problem because very few people actually NEED a dog and there are way more than enough for those that do. A dog is a luxury item. Saying that there isn’t enough water in Phoenix, that’s a problem. Saying that there aren’t enough Teslas to go around is not, it’s an inconvenience for a few people. So, saying that there aren’t enough dogs is an inconvenience, not a problem. It’s one that will resolve itself. If there’s a scarcity, then prices will rise and more people will breed dogs. You’ll end up paying more for Spot, but if the price is high enough, you’ll simply forego getting Spot and get a cat instead or go without a pet. Problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/13 "2018-10-19T13:58:42Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > It basically says the USA needs about 8 million new dogs per year. > > What do you all think? We need about 8 million new dogs? Actually need them? I rescued a dog and I really like him, but I don’t NEED him. I am tempted to say I’d love to see the price of dogs go to $50 a pound, because maybe people would think twice about adopting such a great animal. But then it would only incentivize production. Not sure whether it’s preferable for the supply to come out of a puppy mill or off the streets. Let’s keep spaying and neutering, increase regulations on puppy mills, and have more aggressive enforcement against dogfighting. That’s my best idea. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/14 "2018-10-19T14:02:11Z")
The North Little Rock shelter is begging people to take dogs so they won’t have to euthanize them. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/15 "2018-10-19T14:25:12Z")
Jesus, there are plenty of dogs available if you just look around. Try adopting a greyhound, for God’s sake. > **[Greyhound adoption](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyhound_adoption)** > > Greyhound adoption or Greyhound rescue programs focus on finding homes for Greyhounds who are no longer needed for racing. In some countries they live in kennels at the track. > Currently, most Greyhound adoption programs are based in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. In Europe groups deal with dogs from a variety of sources; for example, in Spain, ex-hunting dogs are often in need of rescuing along with Greyhounds. > The Greyhound adoption movement grew o... ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/16 "2018-10-19T15:36:46Z")
[HERE](http://www.waysidewaifs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Available_dogs_new) is a link to our local shelter and where we got our cat. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/17 "2018-10-19T15:38:56Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Jesus, there are plenty of dogs available if you just look around. Try adopting a greyhound, for God’s sake. > > [Greyhound adoption - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyhound_adoption) But what if I dont WANT a greyhound or any dog at the shelter? What if say I want a [corgi](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pembroke-welsh-corgi/)? Why cant I buy one from a breeder? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/18 "2018-10-19T15:41:53Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > But what if I dont WANT a greyhound or any dog at the shelter? What if say I want a [corgi](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pembroke-welsh-corgi/)? Why cant I buy one from a breeder? Who says you can’t? You’ll just be more at the mercy of supply and demand. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/19 "2018-10-19T15:53:22Z")
You can buy a Corgi from a breeder. Just investigate the breeder. Ask for references and call them. I bought my Yorkie from a ‘trusted’ local-ish breeder. I obviously got a Yorkie. She is small, cute with long flowing locks. I asked for a pet, not a show dog. I love this dog, she’s going on 5yo. But, a big but, she’s dumb as a doorknob. Seriously impaired. At first she was just a sweet baby. It took a solid 2 years to potty train. I still watch her like a hawk. You get what you pay for. Buyer beware. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187/20 "2018-10-19T16:14:19Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > But what if I dont WANT a greyhound or any dog at the shelter? What if say I want a [corgi](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pembroke-welsh-corgi/)? Why cant I buy one from a breeder? The reason that many of these puppy mills are being shut down is not because we have too many dogs, and we need to limit the supply, but that many of these places were engaging ins some very abusive practices. I work with a puppy mill rescue group, and we get mothers who are only 5 or 6 years old, but seem like teenagers in their health, having had nearly a dozen litters. Their new owners often talk about how the reacted when they saw the sky for the first time. Even if you don’t care about the conditions and abuse, you should still care that the dog you get from a puppy mill is likely to be inbred and have many health issues and a poor quality of life. i see many dogs with twisted limbs and wonky legs, making them being able to get around problematic. We have had a few puppies come in that have had to had their legs broken and reset by veterinarians, due to their deformities from birth. We even have one goldendoodle that has no sockets in his hips. He can barely get around, and it seems as though he is often in pain from simply standing. How much did you want that Corgi? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-looming-dog-shortage/823187.md?page=2)