Not necessarily. As long as the dog is loved and well cared for...not neglected - THAT is what is most important. That said by someone who currently is owned by 2 shelter dogs and one rescue. We've only ever purchased a couple pure-bred dogs. The rest were strays or rescues.
Actually, President Obama looked happier than the First Lady with the dog in the photo I saw.
I not only voted for President Obama but campaigned for him as well. The excuse that his daughter is allergic just doesn't hold water. My kids and I were allergic to dogs yet every dog we have ever owned has been a rescue. There are many non allergenic dogs in shelters all over the world. The only excuse I can find is the fact that neither the president nor the first lady have ever had a dog. If they had they would have known the unconditional love a rescued dog gives.
I was very touched when President Obama made public that his family would adopt from a shelter. That is a huge statement. Being an advocate for anyone who has no voice, I remember thinking, "This is the break we need. President Obama will get huge kharma points for this one."
President Obama please let us know what happened. Shelters all over the world would have benefitted from you adopting. Tens of thousands of shelter animals would now have homes. Are you aware of how many people now want the breed you have? Puppy Mills will now flourish and people's hard earned American dollars will support one of the ugliest, disgusting trades in the world.
He should walk his talk---during the campaign he related to the "common man" and tried to show everyone that he had roots like that. He should also have sent his daughters to public school instead of one that most of us can't afford. He is saying he is for us but doesn't want to be like us. He disappointed me by not adopting a shelter dog. If you ask me the bred dog is no better, no more loving, no more anything better than a plain old mutt. My dog was saved by me from the shelter and I did not pad the pocketbook of someone who adds to the overpopulation problem. Shame on the President in my opinion.People all over the country would have gone to shelters to adopt a dog like their president and now they won't. When all homeless dogs have a home then it would have been ok to get a pure bred one.
Bo was originally named "Amigo's New Hope" by his Obama-loving breeders and initially placed with another family, who named him Charlie. Stern said the dog was "not working out" with his original owners. He declined to discuss the specifics, except to say, "It wasn't a problem with the puppy."
The dog that was given to the Obama's is 6 months old and was originally with a family that could not care for it. ANY dog can end up in a shelter, even that one. I am for adopting from shelters, but I understand the desire to preserve the breeds. I see nothing wrong with giving people the choice to adopt from a *reputable* breeder. There are benefits to choosing a pure bred, especially for those who've never owned a dog before. The most important issue is choosing the right dog for you so that it doesn't end up in a shelter.
