22/11/2025
Dog guardianship is selfish. That's it.
No caveats, no vagueness, no ifs, no buts.
No dog chooses to be born.
No dog chooses their people.
No dog chooses their life.
Humans are selfish creatures: in the way we talk, behave, and treat everything in our surroundings.
Even in acts of selflessness, there is no such thing as real altruism.
We will always get a feeling of pride, or joy, or fulfilment; this ultimately means selflessness doesn't exist.
Adopting a dog, saving them from potential euthanasia, a life in kennels or on the street - that's admirable, of course.
Does it mean this person is less selfish than one who chooses to buy a dog from a breeder?
What are the odds either person is able to fulfil each and every need this dog has, without ever adding stress?
Our world and way of living is not catered to dogs.
Dogs in shelters rarely act as they would in a home environment, they're stressed, unsure of what the day holds, most likely either depressed & shutdown, or overstimulated & displaying "undesirable" behaviours - so the gamble you take when bringing one home is high.
On the other end of this double edged sword, puppies are not clean slates, I'll never say they are.
Nature and nurture are not mutually exclusive, they work together to create the adult dog that puppy becomes.
Puppies from breeders who choose to be as close to "ethical" (and I hesitate to use that word now) as possible will have a greater chance of a fulfilling and successful life than those who come from "accidental" pregnancies, or money-grubbing back yard breeders - most of whom will end up as shelter dogs.
A guardian can take into account the status of their mental health, their economical background, their ability to care for another sentient being, and every other factor that comes into dog guardianship...and still fall short of what's needed for the dog they chose.
(Continued in comments)
