Westminster Dog Show 2012 Sparks Stray Pets Debate (PHOTOS)

As thousands of show dogs swarmed New York for the yearly Westminster Dog Show this February 13 and 14, millions more in the U.S. will be euthanized this year.

The 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is taking place at Madison Square Garden, and an estimated 2,000 purebred dogs are competing for the title Best in Show.

Animal rights activists have debated the competition's influence on helping dogs. While some argue that dog shows encourage people to adopt animals, others disagree. In 2010, two women walked into the center ring with signs reading "Mutts Rule" and "Breeders Kill Shelter Dogs' Chances."

The disputed indirect link suggesting that purchasing a bred dog means more shelter animals will in turn die, has been supported by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. This year, their website claims, "Westminster Won't Even 'Like' Mutts on Facebook." One of their past ads asked, "If you buy a dog, what will you do with the shelter dog you kill?"

According to ASPCA, nearly half of the dogs that are sent to shelters are killed because nobody will adopt them. The Humane Society estimates that 3-4 million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters each year.

Meanwhile, the Westminster dog show has axed Pedigree's sad ads which were reportedly "too focused on adoptions."

The Westminster Kennel Club does stand against puppy mills, writing on their website:

As we have for many years during our televised broadcast, The Westminster Kennel Club will continue to make the following announcement: "If you are planning to add a dog to your life and have come to look over the best of the best, please note, no dog you have seen here (yesterday or today) came from a pet shop, or was the 'product', if you will, of a puppy mill. If you want a dog, go to the people who care - the dedicated specialty breeders who have made dogs like those you see here - a lifetime effort. Talk dogs with dog people who care and understand."

Check out some photos from the Westminster Dog Show 2012 below:

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Westminster Dog Show 2012

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Comments

[Num1Christy]

08:28 AM on 02/15/2012

I have a rescued purebreed. I get dirty looks from the mut owners at the dog park. Still a rescue :)

[Namasteh]

07:40 AM on 02/15/2012

Love the Westminster show every year and find it sad that we can't even have this wonderful event without protesters and politicizers bringing their cloud to the silver lining.

[Jessi Stayedo]

07:29 AM on 02/15/2012

I have eight dogs on my ranch. Seven I rescued. One English Bull Mastiff, two Bull Mastiff mixes, Four Pit Bulls. All seven were abandon by the owners after they lost their jobs and moved and just left the dogs behind to starve. They are trained and now I am asked to take in four more and train them for new families. The dog show crowd or pure bred crowd should be ashamed that do not do more for the dogs that are not pure breeds. They actually push the ASPCA to destroy the non pure breeds. The pure breeds are interbred alot causing the dogs to be unhealthy. But you do not hear about that do you. They kill the puppys that are not perfect. And they sell puppys for alot of money that are not what you call breeding stock for shows. It is a disgusting tribute to mans most loyal companion for Thousands of years.

[Darci Scott]

04:42 PM on 03/03/2012

thank you so much for posting this information, i hope those who need to be informed have learned from what you have written....

over the years people who know i love animals have with enthusiasm asked me are you going to watch the dog show today........answer, NO........

i would never consider watching anything that would promote and encourage people to breed, buy and glut the market with animals who will take away homes for shelter animals....

buy one of these purebred animals and all you wind up doing is suffering heartache and help send the children of veterinarians to college, not to mention the beach house.

[Tully Hoover]

11:53 PM on 02/14/2012

My wife and I adopted 2 dogs. Candy is a red Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix, and Teddy, a black and silver Min. Schnauzer/Yorkie mix. My daughter adopted Bo, white/brown/black Jack Russell/ Zhai Tzu mix that she refers to his breed as a Jack Zhit

[Parkite]

07:44 PM on 02/14/2012

We aware that classified ads that purport to be local are often puppy mills in disguise. If a dog has to be shipped be wary. Contact locals in the areas to verify that these dogs are really from a local person. Whose their vet, etc.?

[Parkite]

07:42 PM on 02/14/2012

If we really are serious about overbreeding/over population ALL puppy mills need to be shut down. ALL states MUST tighten laws to get rid of puppy mills. Regulations need to tightened regarding importing puppies, en masse. Check out your states laws regulating puppy mills, petition them to be tightened.

[olitenup]

06:42 PM on 02/14/2012

I bought a purebred dog of my dreams, only after I made a deal with myself I would also adopt a pit bull, too.

Can't imagine not having both of them in my life.

[Gladys1963]

12:00 AM on 02/15/2012

The times I went to the Westminster show, they always made an announcement about adopting shelter pets. It got the biggest cheer! They encourage the same deal you made with yourself: adopting from a responsible breeder and adopting a shelter dog.

What is the dog of your dreams? I miss having a poochie so much, but my cat would not be
to a canine roommate!

[Gladys1963]

12:00 AM on 02/15/2012

"...but my cat would not be amenable to a canine roommate!"

[Anne Mccormick]

06:19 PM on 02/14/2012

my parents followed the advice of the AKA club when they decided to get a dog. after talking to lots of people who breed dogs my parents have narrowed it down to three all pure bred; a Bernese Mountain dog, Bouvier des Flandres and Old English Sheep dog. my father won't have a small dog.

[Parkite]

07:26 PM on 02/14/2012

All excellent choices. Look up RESCUE Breed Groups. Most major breeds have rescue groups that help place pure bred dogs that for some reason don't have a home. These are not animal shelters, though there is nothing wrong with most dogs found at shelters.

[peacekitten]

12:58 AM on 02/15/2012

agreed!

[EveryCliche]

04:39 PM on 02/16/2012

I agree with Parkite, your parents should look into a breed rescue group. We had a basset hound that we rescued when I was little and when I moved out of the house for good after college my parents wanted another basset. They went to a great local breeder, did their research and brought the puppy home. What they didn't realize was that they didn't have the paitence anymore to take care of a puppy or to train him. My cousin, his wife and their four kids did though. They were lucky to find him a great home but now they know if they want another dog to not get a puppy. Good luck to your parents, no matter if it's a puppy or an older dog, I'm sure it will be a joy to be around.

[Parkite]

07:20 PM on 02/16/2012

Many of the rescue groups do get young dogs, not just older dogs.

[Michele Bennington]

04:46 PM on 02/14/2012

The origins of breeding were to create dogs that would be best suited for work and hunting in different enviroments. The need is past...it's all about the money now.

If the AKA wants to support adoption, then lets have rescue dog shows with the same intensity and money invested to bring about awareness.

My dog, an AKA certified Carolina Ditch Dog would win hands down..

[tlewis5285]

05:06 PM on 02/14/2012

Good idea, but I beg to differ-my beagle mix rescue can't be beat!

[Michele Bennington]

05:11 PM on 02/14/2012

Not, my terrier/polar bear, fawn colored, big black eyes, and 50 lb head mix is a natural winner...so how do we organize the contest to prove it?

[sueb03]

11:57 AM on 03/03/2012

What is AKA?

AKC does support adoption and does accept mix breed dogs in it's compainion events. These are events in which the dogs are judged on performance, not looks. Try Obedience, Agility, Rally and more where all dogs are equal.

AKC also generously funds Canine Health Research that benefits ALL DOGS,

Each breed was developed to perform a specific job. So a Border Collie herds sheep better than and a Beagle, but the Beagle will trail small game better than a Border Collie.

[pcs5141]

03:45 PM on 02/14/2012

These heavy duty dog show people have a obssesive compulsive disorder.

[Michele Bennington]

04:34 PM on 02/14/2012

...and bad wardrobes

[tlewis5285]

05:06 PM on 02/14/2012

Seriously bad, lol!

[Inkosi]

05:01 PM on 02/14/2012

Watcfh the movie Best in Show.

[Kalzakath]

03:41 PM on 02/14/2012

Having had both purebred and mutt dogs, anybody, taking any dog is a good thing in my opinion. Dogs are wonderful and people that provide good responsible homes are to be lauded. I appreciate both sides of this issue, they both have merits, no one shoulod be punished for having a favorite breed or for wanting all strays to have a home. I just wish that people would neuter and spay all non- breed specific dogs, so that there are less chance of unwanted puppies

[jbeachboy32]

03:39 PM on 02/14/2012

mophead dog? is this animal abuse?

[bibimimi]

03:35 PM on 02/14/2012

Mutts rule. Even my cat Mimi loved Westminster. We'd put it on the TV and she'd belly-crawl up2the set.

[Linda M Wilson]

02:36 PM on 02/14/2012

The Man-Made Dogs of the Westminster Dog Show
Look again at that German Shepherd that won the Herding Group at Westminster on Monday night. He is terribly damaged with unsound hind quarters. It shows clearly in the slow motion clips that spotlight each winner in the re-caps of the group results. His hind legs wobble and flop. He nearly slips trying to make the u-turn with his handler as they run up and down the show ring. Is this what dog breeding has come to? How long will this poor animal last with hind quarters this compromised. In the interview with the judge and the handler, the judge compliments this dog's temperament and "confirmation": he may be gentle but his future is not good with back legs so deformed by selective breeding for a built-in crouch. This has become the standard for this breed. What a tragedy. Please consider speaking out on this issue. And notice the many other examples of hideous exaggerations in the man-made dogs of the Westminster Dog Show.

[innerpuppie]

03:15 PM on 02/14/2012

It's horrid what the 'show folks' have done to the GSD. That dog was built for herding and to work. Those that are 'show stock' couldn't work a full day on a farm. So very, very sad.

[coombehill]

03:51 PM on 02/14/2012

I agree! we have always had German Shepherd dogs (rescues and not pedigreed but looked like "real" GSDs) and none of them had that ridiculous, exaggerated and painful looking "slope." who decides what these animals are "supposed" to look like? GSDs naturally had a slight slope to their hindquarters but not this deformed-looking crouch. Poor things. And ask the AKC how many of the dogs who end up in shelters are "purebred" or pedigreed?

[Parkite]

07:33 PM on 02/14/2012

Most breeds have RESCUE groups. Many shelters contact these rescue groups when a pure bred is turned in.
Responsible breeders of pure bred dogs are not the problem. PUPPY MILLS are responsible for most of the over breeding & overpopulation. As well as people that don't s/n their own dogs, but primarily puppy mills.

[lpnx2]

02:11 PM on 02/14/2012

Every year I look forward to the dog show,and every year I am not disappointed.I own a pure bred dog,I saved long and hard for her,she is the love of my life.I have also owned many a mutt and loved them as much.
If dog owners were "more"ressponsible in spaying and newtering their pets,pure or mutt we wouldn't have the strays we have today.
No one is going to tell me what kind of dog I can own,it is free choice.

[innerpuppie]

03:18 PM on 02/14/2012

No one wants to tell you what kind of down to own. Frankly, I don't OWN my two dogs. I ADOPTED them from my local animal shelter. I have a purebred German Shepherd Dog and a purebred Golden Retriever. My dogs are my companions, not something I own. I own my car and my home and my clothes. Those are inanimate objects. My dogs are living beings.

[bibimimi]

03:39 PM on 02/14/2012

Sounds like a nice lil' pack u got goin' there.

[lpnx2]

04:10 PM on 02/14/2012

Get real.