What We Owe to Pets

HonestDog is on a mission to build a future without preventable animal suffering, where every pet has a forever home - right from the start.

After talking to thousands of pet parents, vets, ethical breeders, and animal shelters, it’s clear that to achieve our mission, we have to think from first principles. We need to answer the question, "Where should future pets come from?" Read on to understand why we believe responsible breeding and breeders are the only long-term solution, and why more people need to get involved in the long run. It's a little long due to some nuances - hang in there :)

Table of Contents

• Why the History of the Dog Matters
• Adopt, Don't Shop
• Why Responsible Breeding Is the Only Long-Term Solution to Relieve Shelters
• Why Breeding Needs to Become More Decentralized

As things stand - even if all the shelters became empty, they would soon fill up - unless we fix the root of the issue. HonestDog wants to solve the root issue - so we can reach shelter zero.

Why the Dog's History Matters

Humans modify everything around them to fit their needs. Dogs are no exception. We have been breeding dogs for certain characteristics for thousands of years - from fierce dogs for protecting livestock, herding, retrieving, hunting, and sledging, to aesthetic reasons. Today, however, the vast majority of people do not get pets for practical reasons but as companions and family members. Often in unnatural environments like tiny apartments.

We, as humans, have modified and inbred dogs so much that there are millions of dogs in the world with preventable genetic disorders. These dogs have short skulls that struggle to breathe, and many more issues. This is not okay. "Wild dogs" or mongrels are no longer an option either, as all countries strive to control the wild dog population (with Germany having almost no untagged dogs). One often ignored aspect is temperament. It is essential for a harmonious life with the new human family. A Labrador is a friendly and happy dog that is gentle with kids - it is responsibly bred this way and this predictability helps find a suitable forever home. Mixed breeds are highly controversial due to their lack of temperament predictability but may increase gene pool diversity - however, research has not yet concluded whether they are significantly healthier than purebreds.

Adopt, Don't Shop

There are two main reasons why a dog ends up in a shelter:

1. The pet parent gives up or abandons the dog because they can no longer take care of them - this may be due to force majeure reasons like death or illness of the primary caretaker, but oftentimes, it's because the pet parent did not fully comprehend what having a pet means and was not committed enough when things got challenging (medical costs). It is also often when the pet parent does not adequately socialize and train the dog early on, leading to issues in the future.
2. Uncontrolled breeding - often due to accidents and lack of spaying/neutering.

Responsible breeding, education, and careful matching can help these reasons. As things stand, even if all the shelters became empty, they would soon fill up, unless we fix the root of the issue. HonestDog wants to solve the root issue, so we can reach shelter zero.

Why Responsible Breeding Is the Only Long-Term Solution to Relieving Shelters

Right now, people who bear the responsibility of future pets are called "breeders". Responsible breeders not only ensure that their puppies are healthy (genetically, vaccinated, dewormed, and receiving proper nutrition, etc.) but also prepared for smooth integration into their new forever home. They have one more crucial role - they decide whom to give the puppies to, ensuring they have the highest chance of a forever happy home. Responsible breeders are extremely selective - and that is a positive thing. However, due to the lack of transparency in the market, many exploit it for profit. Unethical breeders cause many problems - from lifelong health issues that cause suffering and are expensive to manage, to behavioural issues, and generally, the puppies end up with uneducated and ill-prepared owners. This has led to a negative reputation for breeders. But breeders or responsible breeding is a critical part of the solution. Well-bred puppies going to good homes = way fewer dogs in shelters.

Why Breeding Needs to Become More Decentralized

Breeding is not something you can scale with a huge yard. It should not be professionalized where it's the source of income - aka puppy farms. Our vision for the future is that breeding is done by everyday individuals who are passionate about dogs. They prepare and educate themselves to take on this responsibility. Those who may do it a few times in their lifetime - there is no financial gain for them, but they ensure the future can experience the joy and companionship of having pets living in harmony with the modern world.

We hope that with HonestDog, we can achieve our mission to build a future without preventable animal suffering, where every pet has a forever home - right from the start. It will not be easy; it will require structural changes, laws, and immense amounts of public education - but we believe it will be worth it. We owe it to the future and to the lovable furry ones that so many of us adore.

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