Do you see a difference between "for sale" and " for adoption"?

[kionini]

I'm having a real problem with these terms. I have a FB friend who has a friend who breeds dogs. I've been reading the posts on this breeder's page and today I just couldn't take it anymore. The breeder says, "I have a dog For Sale, he is..." The responders say things like, "So cute I want to buy IT..."

So I added, "Do you mean "for adoption"? For Sale sounds so cold and uncaring

Of course my posts were deleted after a couple of people jumped up and said things like, "some people are so anal, why would she post something like that" and "when people adopt kids or pets they pay a FEE."

I replied that it is all in how you put things. As a picture speaks a thousand words, so does a word paint a thousand pictures. I asked if they would advertise an adoption of a human child as "Child For Sale"? the poster's comment of "fee" proved my point. She didn't say "price." There's a difference and though she didn't realize it, she used the proper term for an adoption

There are fees, yes, and I get it. So why not say "dog for Adoption...the FEE is..."? And what about that "I want to buy IT." IT!!!!

My reasoning is this; what do you see in your mind when you hear the words "for sale"? And when you hear the words "for adoption"?

Two different things, don't you? You would buy a Coach bag, you wouldn't adopt it.

"For Sale" implies a THING---a purse, shoes, a car, etc. things that do not feel, breathe, hurt. A thing you can put in the garbage or in a closet and forget it. kick it, burn it, do with your t-h-i-n-g as you see fit.

Don't get me started on "it."

"For Adoption" says to me; responsibility, add a member to our family, dependent on me for protection, nourishment, shelter, warmth, care, love, attention and all the best my heart and my finances could handle.

The words we use shape our perception of life and everything in it. I can't help but think that maybe the words we use with respect to 'pets' is the link to animal abuse and cruelty. The more people see them as objects, as THINGS, the less people care about these furbabies suffering.

Have you noticed that in order to win customers, pet stores are using the word 'Adoption' and not 'Sale' and puppy-mills/backyard breeders are begining to use this term too...coincidence?

Hardly.

If you were shopping for a house and I told you that there's a beautiful house that exactly fits your criteria, it's large, has a huge backyard and it's in an up and coming neighborhood, which has an increased budget for revamping the area which in turn will attract new commerce.

What if I said, that there's a beautiful house that exactly fits your criteria, it's large with a huge backyard But it has a higher than average crime rate, you have to get in your car and drive a few miles to find a store because merchants are not interested in investing in this area until they see real improvement in the sector. The police department is trying their best and we're all hopeful that the increased budget will allow the hiring of more police.

Based on the description of these two houses, which house would you give a chance to? They're both the same house but you got different messages because I painted two different pictures. Words do say so much

I don't know...but when I hear words like "Dog For sale" and "IT is cute", the message/picture I get is, "they're JUST dogs, who cares about their torture...it's just like the abuse my shoes get"

[KazzyK810]

I understand what you're saying about "adopting" living beings and "buying" physical things, but I don't personally have a problem with either description.

The reality is people are selling dogs for money and it's legal to do so... and legally dogs are considered "property" here in America. It's not legal to sell children.

[Nicky08]

... of done the same thing!!

I HATE... "they are just dogs" UGH to me BOTH of my boys are more then 'JUST DOGS" they ARE and ALWAYS will be my babies!! GETS my blood boiling when people get that way!! UGH...

In my opinion I ADOPTED my boys NOT bought them!! VERY FRUSTRATING to say the very least!!

[DJDB]

I agree whole-heartedly with your post. This is one of my peeves about ALL breeders. As long as, as a society, we view animals as things to be purchased, rather than living things requiring love and nurturing, there will ALWAYS be a "home" for breeders who look at the animals as profit machines. If you took cash right out of the equation, well then, what would be the incentive to breed OTHER THAN for the betterment of the breed?

We have a broken society. I am often reminded of the A.I. movie by Steven Spielberg, which I think can be aptly viewed as a reflection of our society in general. Kids and animals can be cast aside so easily by so many.

I hope that one day all living creatures will be treated with respect, but I'm sure I won't see that in my lifetime.

[RustysMom]

IMHO, there is nothing as confusing or dangerous as the English language....ugh.

[Nancy1999]

Lots of different perspectives, but I hate it when a bad breeder uses the words like adoption, but you know good and well they will "adopt" to anyone. Traditionally, we think of adopting from a rescue and buying from a breeder, but these are only words, and we have to know the motives behind the rescue we are supporting and the breeder we are supporting. Joey's more than a possession, he's an important family member!

[kionini]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

I understand what you're saying about "adopting" living beings and "buying" physical things, but I don't personally have a problem with either description.

The reality is people are selling dogs for money and it's legal to do so... and legally dogs are considered "property" here in America. It's not legal to sell children.

I know, that's reality And as long as we keep seeing it like that, the cruelty will continue. We (women) were considered property too, long ago according to the law. We are told that that has changed, but my volunteer work at the advocacy for abused women and children has shockingly, thought me that it has not changed much.

It's against the law to rape, beat children and women, for example, but it still happens. Most abusers, supposedly, don't see the women and children they sexually/physically/mentally abuse as people. They see their victims as objects, their objects/their possessions. My point.

I cringe at the words used, as I said in my post, not because people are making money selling the pups or because it should be legal or not. It's the message 'for sale' carries. If breeders care about their pups and where they're going, maybe making sure that the people 'buying' understands that they are not buying a purse. That way, chances of the pup being beaten because he wee-wee on the carpet, or being chained to a post in the backyard, or dumped in a shelter would be minimized.

Maybe.

I believe that every little bit helps

[dawn27]

I beleive the difference is how you came to own your Yorkie/pet.

For example if you search on line the deference is in the type of words you use has a lot to do with what type of web site you will get. When you search for 'Yorkies for Adoption' rather than 'Yorkies for Sale' you get a variety of difference web sites.

Yorkies for Adoption to me would typically mean to rehome a previously owned Yorkies from a rescue.

Yorkies for Sale to me would mean to purchase a Yorkies from wherever as a puppy.

Either of which is still taking responsibility to care for and to provide a loving, healthy home for them as if they were part of the family and not as your proberty. Although the law says otherwise.

[kionini]

Originally Posted by Nicky08

... of done the same thing!!

I HATE... "they are just dogs" UGH to me BOTH of my boys are more then 'JUST DOGS" they ARE and ALWAYS will be my babies!! GETS my blood boiling when people get that way!! UGH...

In my opinion I ADOPTED my boys NOT bought them!! VERY FRUSTRATING to say the very least!!

Me too. And it's so frustrating some times I can't hold my tongue

[kionini]

Originally Posted by DJDB

I agree whole-heartedly with your post. This is one of my peeves about ALL breeders. As long as, as a society, we view animals as things to be purchased, rather than living things requiring love and nurturing, there will ALWAYS be a "home" for breeders who look at the animals as profit machines. If you took cash right out of the equation, well then, what would be the incentive to breed OTHER THAN for the betterment of the breed?

We have a broken society. I am often reminded of the A.I. movie by Steven Spielberg, which I think can be aptly viewed as a reflection of our society in general. Kids and animals can be cast aside so easily by so many.

I hope that one day all living creatures will be treated with respect, but I'm sure I won't see that in my lifetime.

I think you said it better than I could . It's the way we view things that need to change. Until we do that we won't see better treatment of the defenseless. I don't think I'll see it in my lifetime either

[omichka]

I hate when breeders write puppy for ADOPTION.
I personally think this is a fishy way to attract customers.

BREEDER and ADOPTION CANNOT be matched. it is SALE.

If you see a shelter add, or private rescue - it IS adoption.

[kionini]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Lots of different perspectives, but I hate it when a bad breeder uses the words like adoption, but you know good and well they will "adopt" to anyone. Traditionally, we think of adopting from a rescue and buying from a breeder, but these are only words, and we have to know the motives behind the rescue we are supporting and the breeder we are supporting. Joey's more than a possession, he's an important family member!

I agree, some backyard breeders are catching up and learning about 'marketing.' Now, that's a scary thought---a well informed, scamer

[pandaleigh]

I hate it when people call Tashi "it" .. it probably grinds my gears more than anything. I'd rather someone assume and call her "him" than "it"

[kionini]

Originally Posted by dawn27

I beleive the difference is how you came to own your Yorkie/pet.

For example if you search on line the deference is in the type of words you use has a lot to do with what type of web site you will get. When you search for 'Yorkies for Adoption' rather than 'Yorkies for Sale' you get a variety of difference web sites.

Yorkies for Adoption to me would typically mean to rehome a previously owned Yorkies from a rescue.

Yorkies for Sale to me would mean to purchase a Yorkies from wherever as a puppy.

Either of which is still taking responsibility to care for and to provide a loving, healthy home for them as if they were part of the family and not as your proberty. Although the law says otherwise.

See, there it is...to "own."

My point was that words like that send out a message. Words like, own, purchase, buy, it, for sale, 10% off (I actually saw this discount on Yorkies at a pet store). The message is so loud, my ears hurt, it screams "this is a non-living THING, a THING that doesn't feel pain, fear, hunger, etc., mistreat it, kill it, burn it, throw it out the window---no body cares----enjoy."

Words like, adoption, bring into your home, add a member to your family, sends a message of respect, love and understanding.

Believe me I'm guilty too, I used to use words like that. Until I realize the harm they were contributing But as Maya Angelou said "when I knew better, I did better."

[DJDB]

I think many of you are missing the point of the OP. Using the word adoption is simply more fitting for all dog and puppy "homing" because you are adopting a new member of your family, rather than buying an accessory to it.