Breed Specific vs All-Breed Rescue

Kit, a mixed breed taken in by CCR

I have had people question me about “breed specific” rescues. Some have indicated that they feel breed specific rescues are wrong, that they are snobby, elitist people and that they don’t care about  all dogs or they would rescue ALL breeds.

The thing is, I honestly feel that BOTH types of recues are vital to saving dogs lives.

Here’s why:

All-Breed Rescues-As it says, they rescue ALL breeds. They do not discriminate. The people that run these rescues are usually very knowledgeable about a variety of breeds and their needs and temperaments. They are better able to identify breeds in a mixed breed dog and in that, help a potential adopter know if that dog will fit in their home. Without all breed rescues, millions of “mutts” would die every year in shelters.

Breed Specific Rescues-They specialize in one breed, or maybe a few breeds of a similar nature (ie, spaniel rescues or terrier rescues). Depending on the rescue, some will take mixes or “designer” dogs of that breed, some deal only with purebreds. The people that run these rescues are especially knowledgeable about their breed of choice. They know the temperaments, the health issues and the common good and bad traits of that dog. They can assess a dogs compatibility with a potential adopter because they know the breed, and can educate people unfamiliar with that breed of the good AND bad of that particular breed. Because they are knowledgable about the health issues of that breed they are better prepared for dogs with medical conditions common to the breed. Without breed specific rescues even more purebred dogs would end up in shelters (and plenty of them already do! Shelters are NOT just “mutt” dogs!) and millions of “purebreds” would die every year in shelters.

You see, ALL rescues have (or should have) a common goal. To save dogs. Rescues should (and most do) work together for the common goal of saving dogs and finding them great homes. By cross posting, transferring dogs and working together, even more lives are saved. Rescue shouldn’t be a competition, though for some it is. Rescue should be “All About the Dogs”, and hopefully as social media brings rescues together with each other and with potential adopters, the number of dogs that die in shelters every year will go down. 


The one thing that ALL rescues have in common is that they are always in need of good, loving foster homes. So if you want to help save lives, contact a local rescue and ask to be a foster! You may not change the world, but you will change the world for that dog!