Odessa’s Animal Control says irresponsible dog breeding is on the rise with dog owners using websites like Facebook and Craigslist to breed and sell their dogs.
If you’re a member of popular Facebook groups such as “The Ector County Trading Post”, or “Furry Friends Have Feeling To,” you might have seen members posting trying to make money by selling puppies.
“There is no reason why these innocent animals should have to pay with their life just because someone needs to make an extra buck.” said Yolanda Aguilar Chavez, she’s the Administrator of the Facebook group with more than fifteen thousand members titled “Furry Friends Have Feelings Too.”
She recently posted a message to all members in the online group that read, “Anyone posting, giving breeding advice, or asking questions about breeding will be banned immediately !!!! No exceptions !!!!”
“We’re having a lot of people come on the page and trying to look for other animals to breed, there is no reason anyone should be breeding, people are low on funds and so they are using their animals as a source of income.” Chavez said.
Shelter Director of Odessa’s Animal Control Jacque Adimare said excessive breeding is a leading cause for over crowding at local shelters.
“We see these so called breeders that say they know where their animals are going, however, once they go to their homes and the people realize that they are getting too big, or they’re not potty trained, or they are chewing on something, you know they eventually get rid of those animals and when they cant find somebody to take them of course they dump them at the shelters.” Adimare said.
Chairman of the Odessa Animal Control Advisory Board, Susie Clark said it’s an inhumane problem that needs to stop.
“People don’t understand there are 10 or 12 puppies often times that are not even old enough to be separated from their mother, but they are.”
She said local animal rescuers who aim to stop euthanasia can’t keep up with the growing number of unwanted dogs.
“We haven’t euthanized any healthy adoptable dogs in over two years, and that’s a very difficult task daily, there is just not enough room for what irresponsible owners are leaving behind.” Clark said.
Staff at Animal Control urge locals wanting a purebred dog to refrain from spending hundreds of dollars buying a dog online.
Adimare said Animal Control has a large number of purebred dogs in the group of more than 60 dogs currently in need of a good home.
You can adopt a fully vaccinated and vet-checked dog for only $19.
For more information about adopting a dog or cat from Odessa’s Animal Control you can visit them at, 910 W. 42nd Street, or call 432-368-3527
(Information from YourBasin.com)
