Vice president-elect Joe Biden made news (and caused a lot of controversy) when he bought a German shepherd puppy from a breeder recently. But this weekend he said on This Week With George Stephanopoulous that he plans to get another dog -- and this one will come from a shelter.
Biden told Stephanopoulos that he was partial to German shepherds, but that he had always had two "big dogs" as companions for each other.
"I've had German shepherds since I was a kid, and I've actually trained them and shown them in the past," Biden said in the interview. "So I wanted a German shepherd, and we're going to get a pound dog, which my wife wants, that is hopefully a golden" retriever (Philly.com).
Of course, since Mrs. Biden wants a golden retriever, I happen to know of a great little Web site called Petfinder where she can search rescued pets by breed, location and more! There are currently 2,600 golden retrievers and golden mixes available for adoption on Petfinder.The Bidens can also work with one of our 63 golden retriever breed rescues, such as Golden Retriever Rescue of Southern Maryland in Valley Lee, MD (if they want to look near their home in the capital), or Golden Retriever Adoption Placement and Education in Springfield, PA (if they want to stay closer to their home state of Delaware).
My suggestion? A female dog (since their shepherd puppy is a male) who is young enough to show the puppy the ropes when it comes to housetraining and "indoor behavior," but young enough to romp and play with him to his heart's content. Whatever dog the Bidens adopt, I wish them all the best with their growing family!
I will purchase my pet from a breeder. I have been submitting application since June 2008. The petfinder website would identify the dog as available (no indication that the dog is pending adoption or has been adopted) submit an application and then get the response "we received 100s of applications because the dog is highly desirable" or I get a phone call for more information get excited call back to inquire "he is going to his forever home." I believe I have done everything right to prepare for my pet. But the adoption process is frustrating. I give up and submit to locating a breeder or pet shop.
Think he adopted from a responsible breeder? Read this:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/pets/Biden_puppy_breeder_cited_again.html
Biden puppy breeder cited again
The operator of the Chester County kennel where Vice
President Joe Biden purchased a German Shepherd
puppy last month has been cited again for failing to
keep proper records and for poor maintenance and
drainage.
A Department of Agriculture spokesman said yesterday
that Linda Brown was initially warned about the problems
in a Jan. 5 inspection, but when investigators returned to
Wolf Den kennel in Spring City last week they found
conditions had not improved and sales and health records
were incomplete.
The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement issued her three new
citations for violations to the state dog law, one each for
records, drainage and maintenance. That's in addition to
the two citations issued in December - the same week
that Biden purchased the six-week-old puppy.
"If it's a first time offense, a warning is issued," said
department spokesman Chris Ryder. "If on a follow up
inspection it's not corrected, it can lead to a citation."
In a Jan. 5 inspection report posted on the Department
of Agriculture Web site, Brown was warned about "an
accumulation of food and hair" outside the kennels
located inside her house.
The inspection report indicates that Brown had corrected
all the prior problems, but a follow-up inspection on
Jan. 22 found paperwork was incomplete, Ryder said.
Brown, who also operates as JoLindy's German Shepherds,
currently has 95 dogs on the property (up from 88 last
month) and reported 188 dogs sold in the past 12 months,
according to the inspection report. She holds the largest
state commercial kennel license that allows her to keep
or sell an unlimited number of dogs.
The two citations issued in December were filed in Chester
County district court on Jan. 20 and the case is pending,
according to court records.
Adoption advocates nationwide criticized Biden's decision
to purchase a dog at a time when millions of unwanted
dogs are euthanized in shelters each year. Biden later
announced his intention to adopt a second dog from a shelter.
Maybe he bought from a responsible breeder ...remember.... there are responsible breeders out there!
Also VPBiden is a good guy, give him a break.
How is it anybody's business whether Mr. Biden buys a dog or adopts one from a shelter?
He wanted a German shepherd, he went out and bought one. It was his CHOICE. Remember? Everybody is entitled to their own CHOICE.
Also, it's his money. Nobody has the right to tell him how to spend it. Criticize all you want, but he still has the right to exercise free CHOICE in his CHOICE of a companion, one that he actually wants to spend time with, that will live in his home and that he will interact with on a daily basis.
i think joe biden should adopt a golden retriever! they are awesome dogs and are very protective!! :)
Oh yes, let's give Joe a break, he can't help that he's an idiot. Hopefully he will love the shelter dog as much as he loves himself.
People, no matter who they are, have a personal right to make their own decision as to what they need or want. Therefore, let us not condemn anyone. The Bidens purchasing a dog is good. They contributed to the economy by purchasing from a breeder's business. Dogs need love and will give love no matter from where they originate (pedigree or mutt). Love is the most important ingredient. I speak from experience. There is a pedigree and a mutt in this household. They receive love and they give love. The loving mutt was found after her wondering down streets (matted fur, fleas, ticks,etc.) She was sleeping on our porch, I sat down on the porch bench, and she crawled over and begin loving on my feet with her little head. Immediately, we took her to the vet. We were concerned that somebody was missing her, and thought we would put an ad in the paper or inquire in the neighborhood, but the vet said that because of the condition she was in(even though she was healthy), she had been neglected for sometime, and his advice was to keep her if we wanted her. His word "neglected" immediately convinced us. Mutt or Pedigree, whichever, all need love and I assume that the Bidens and Obamas will lovingly care for whichever they choose to bring into their lives.
Loving family has a point. My local humane society shelter is run by "nazi's" who turned me down without even an interview, even though I have been a responsible pet owner for 30 years, and when I tried adopting a kitten from the city shelter I was blocked by a byzantine network of animal groups. who had laid claim to it. All of my "mutt" cats--adults and kittens-- have been private adoptions from their owners, and fortunately the rescue org where I got my dog was not as picky picky picky as these so-called "rescue" groups that are not breed-specific. I would consider a breeder next time I am looking if adopting a shelter cat continues to be so difficult, but it would be a shame.
To: Loving Family
As a shelter volunteer I can tell you one thing...our job is finding loving lifetime homes for our charges. Period. We gain nothing by denying a good home to a pet. When I read your note it makes me wonder....I certainly hope and pray that your purchased pup lives a long, happy, healthy life with you, but when EVERY single shelter and rescue group rejects your application, I can't help but think they had a good reason. Something you indicated on the application raised a red alert. Why do you think so many purebreds end up in shelters in the first place? In many cases, families who bought them just didn't appreciate the enormity of the commitment they were making. Shelter volunteers do our darndest to make sure families know what they're getting into when they adopt, but some truly do not. That may or may not be true of you, but it's something to think about. Peace.
I don't have an issue with supporting RESPONSIBLE breeders, but the "breeder" he selected was NOT responsible. Jolindy's German Shepherds is nothing more than puppy pimps.
http://vonbraunhaus.tripod.com/
They don't show any of their females (red flag), none of their males are titled (red flag), none of them have hip certs from OFA/PennHip (big red flag!), none are temperament tested or are working dogs (big red flag!). They had 85 animals there in July and were cited by the USDA in December for the conditions of their "facility."
http://www.nppmwatch.com/KIR/WolfDen08.pdf
They were also fined and blacklisted by the AKC in 2006 for submitting inaccurate records about the parents for litter registration and their kennel hasn't registered any litters with the AKC this year. See page 2, second column:
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/about/secretary_page/0506.pdf
Like I said, I don't supporting responsible breeders (I have one dog from an outstanding breeder, as well as 3 shelter/rescue dogs plus a foster dog from the shelter right now). But might as well pay $100 for a shelter/rescue dog with all the "guarantees" that place would give you on your pup.
I applaud those who understand that there are responsible breeders who love their dogs and spend thousands on veterinary care and health screening. I dont think that most people understand that much of the rescue of shelter dogs and those dogs avoiding shelters is done by pure bred dog clubs. My club pays over $15,000 for pure bred dog rescue and that is insiginficant in comparison to the whole amount of dogs rescued, fostered and placed in my breed.
Responsible breeders are just that - responsible. Lifelong support of dogs bred is the cornerstone of responsible breeders.
My girl and two kittys are shelter animals, but I've in the past bought a German Shepherd from a breeder and may again in the future. There isn't anything wrong with it, you pretty much know what you are getting, with a resuce you don't and may be taking a chance. I'm all for recues and proper breeders. Why r we picking on him? How many presidents have "purebreeds" and no one have made a stink about that!
Frankly, all the judgment that has gone on by "special groups" and individuals who don't know the Bidens and have said nasty things, has done a diservice to our furry homeless friends. It was quickly forgotten all of the exceptional animal and human advocacy Joe Biden is involved with and has supported throughout his life and career (yes, from adopting shelter animals to vigorously advocating for children, women, and victims of atrocities in Darfur...one of the few politicians who actually visited the country to make a difference) as the comments in media and blogs has turned most people from our causes. The Bidens need not apologize. Nothing like preaching to the choir (they're already hooked) and forgetting to embrace those sitting on the fence. Angering people who feel any puppy for our new vice president is wonderful, especially for someone who has unselfishly served others his life, has not helped shelter animals. Any sudden support will fizzle. Human nature says judging will get you the opposite effect you desire. Why? because we all have done something others can judge harshly, and most of us already have parents. Mr. Biden is a wonderful soul, and didn't deserve this...nor did the K9 officer given the request to find the puppy, as Joe Biden is a great supporter of police, fire, etc. PETA, ASPCA and other good animal groups are continuing to be called names like animal terrorists. Sad.
I've not a problem with people who go to a breeder and purchace a pup, they know what they want, when you get a "pruebreed" you have a better idea of what you will get in temperment, size, training, you get to see the parents and there tempertments as well, and may have a better luck with curtain problems such at better hips, eyes, (with proper sire/bitch tests) and so on. And no I'm not a breeder, I own 2 resuce mutts and I myself went to a breeder for a German Shepherd. I love them all as Biden, I grew up with them. They are all spayed and neutered. My current 5 kittys are all shelter kittys, my rabbit is, and my 3 chickens are rescues:)
Of course, Biden will adopt a shelter dog.NOW........ He's a day late and a dollar short in my eyes. He probably was so swamped with comments from shelters, and pet lovers about his decision to 'buy' a puppy, that he chose to attempt to redeem himself and win forgiveness in the public eye. Again, he's a little behind and I think he is a 'butt'. Americans, and especially animal lovers are not stupid...wake up Joe and admit you were wrong. More importantly, if you really want to redeem yourself...encourage everyone you encounter to visit their local animal shelters and adopt...adopt..adopt. With the economy, shelters are being overwhelmed with surrenders, and the poor animals did nothing wrong. It's always the animal who suffers due to the stupidity of a human...think about it.
Ironically, I too recently purchased a dog from a breeder. Not because I wanted to, but mainly because none of the shelters in our area were kind enough to respond to our repeated attemts to adopt a dog. We would fill out application after application and quite frankly got tried after several months and gave up. When did these private shelters become so selective? We certainly have a great home enviroment for any dog with loving children and a fenced in yard. On top of which my wife is a stay at home parent. I guess there is a place for breeders after all. Where else should people get their dogs from if the shelters refuse to awknowledge applicants?
Good for you Emily. But like any person in office he will talk his way out of it. I don't care if he adopts 10 pound dogs he still bought 1. Give it 100% or give it nothing.
That's great! So glad to hear that after he bought one. Adopting Rocks!