Unfortunately, sometimes bulldogs end up in bad situations and need to be rescued. One of the things we vowed when we first started breeding bulldogs was, "none of our dogs would ever end up in this situation". Thankfully to date none have. As breeders, we hold the most responsibility when it comes to preventing this from happening. Here are some steps that we take to insure the well being of any bulldog we produce.
1. Potential puppy owners are thoroughly interviewed and screened. We require in person meetings. We make sure new potential owners fully understand the responsibility and dedication it takes to raise and maintain a healthy bulldog for the rest of it's life. They get hands-on experience and knowledge before making the important decision of bulldog ownership.
2. We place all pet puppies on a strict spay/neuter clause. That means checking the "limited registration box" on the A.K.C paperwork and explaining the terms in our contract.
3. We clearly state in our contract that if for any reason, a situation arises with the care of that bulldog, we are to be contacted for help. If for some reason the dog were needing to be re-homed, the dog would come back to us. No exceptions!
4. We consider the fact that sometimes it may be difficult to find suitable homes for all of the pups. This may mean holding onto and caring for puppies for a substantial period of time. If one doesn't have the means to do this, they should rethink breeding the litter.
So, we covered some of the ways we can prevent a dog from needing to be rescued. What about the bulldogs already in rescue? These dogs need help. Often times I get asked by a potential bulldog owner, "Should I adopt a bulldog from rescue?" The answer would depend on many things.
Adopting a rescued dog and raising a quality pup from a reputable breeder are two very different things. A lot of the dogs in rescue were neglected, sometimes to very severe levels. They may have been made to develop serious behavioral problems or health issues. Ask yourself this, "why would a dog as popular and valuable as a bulldog have any trouble being given away for free?" Why would it end up needing to be rescued? The answer is usually, the dog has for some reason become very difficult and/or expensive to care for. Maybe it has health issues that need constant attention. Maybe it is very aggressive towards other dogs or people or any combination of the above. I assure you, there are very few well bred bulldogs of excellent health and temperament being rescued. Of course there are exceptions but they are few and far between.
Adopting a bulldog from a rescue group is an awesome and charitable thing to do, if you are doing it for the right reasons and fully understand what is involved. You should do it because you want to help an animal in need. Not because you want an inexpensive bulldog. It should be someone who is dedicated and has the time and willingness to learn how to help this animal. Someone who is financially able, has patience, and knows it may be very hard at first but very rewarding in the end.
It takes a special person to do this. I've heard people say, "Jeeze I tried to adopt a bulldog and they acted like I was trying to adopt a kid or something." Of course they did!! It is like adopting a kid, more accurately a special needs or handicapped kid! The rescue group is trying to prevent this dog from getting into yet another bad situation. It is just not fair to the dog.
If you think you have what it takes to dedicate yourself to an animals needs and can provide a home for the rest of this dogs life, you should check out some rescue groups.
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