Loveable mutts

"Yes, he's got all them different kinds of thoroughbred blood in him, and he's got other kinds you ain't mentioned and that you ain't slick enough to see."
Don Marquis

I want to begin this conversation by saying I have nothing against purebred dogs. I have owned several rottis who were purebred and support many purebred rescues who need to find homes for abandoned and neglected animals. The thing is, these animals, despite being purebred, are also abandoned and neglected in record numbers. Left to die on the street or in an animal control shelter because there aren't enough homes. This happens even when people want a purebred over a mutt.

But, oh those mutts! As the proud owner of two very special mutts, I can tell you they are the best. I believe the above quote by Don Marquis. The best of the breed comes out so you have fabulous traits all mixed up. Mutts can have a wide mixture of many different breeds and come out looking like one kind of dog, when in truth, they are something altogether different.

It also amazes me how uneducated people are when telling you the breed of a dog. Especially a mixed breed dog. There are over a hundred AKC registered breed dogs and I don't know how many UKC. If any of those dogs escaped and bred with another dog, you have a mutt. Not a designer breed, but a plain and simple mutt.

Some are small, some are medium, but many are large. They can have block heads, skinny heads, long hair or short. They can be thin or chunky, short ears or long ones. I met a dog a couple of days ago who was black with long hair. They said he was a labrador mix, but his head says rottweiler all the way. Labrador may be the dominant breed, but a rotti was loose somewhere down the line.

That can bring us to the discussion of pit bulls, the most disparaged breed of the time. Pit bulls are mutts, but now, at least in this day and time, any dog who is blocky and with a large mouth is deemed a pit. This is really sad because many wonderful mutts are euthanized in this country every single day simply because of their breed, when in truth, these mutts are one of the most popular dogs in the country, and not by nefarious people who are cruel, but by families and couples, young men and young women, who simple know and love the breed.

If you are looking for a special pet, consider a mutt. Please don't make the decision quickly but talk it over with the family and decide you are willing to give this animal a home for life. Check with your local rescue group or shelter and see what is available. Decide on size and activity level. Don't rule out one of the largest groups of dogs who need so much help. The mutts are here to stay. Let's make sure they have homes to go to.