Why "Ethical Breeder" Is an Oxymoron

humaneanimalrescue
Dec 14, 2025
5 min read

I started volunteering in rescues and fostering animals over a decade ago. When I witnessed inhumane training techniques being used on animals in rescue, I left, educated myself on animal training, and started Humane Animal Rescue with a focus on science-based, humane methods. Now three years in, surrounded by force-free, science-backed training, I'm scratching my head with a new challenge: Why is everyone still supporting breeders?

What Does "Ethical" Actually Mean?

Let's break it down:

Relating to beliefs about what is morally right and wrong
Morally good or correct
Avoiding activities or organisations that do harm to people or the environment

In Australia, we are facing a companion animal overpopulation crisis. So how can we call any breeders ethical when there are more cats and dogs in supply than there is demand for them? How can it be morally good to breed more animals when so many are dying in pounds and shelters because of their age, color, or breed?

The Reality of Australia's Crisis

It's estimated that over 100,000 healthy, adoptable animals are euthanized every year in Australia in pounds and shelters.

Let that sink in: 100,000 animals who could have been someone's companion, lost because we continue to create more supply than demand.

What Is an "Ethical Breeder"?

The standard definition describes a registered breeder who prioritizes the welfare of animals—raising them in a clean and transparent environment.

But I have questions that I can't find satisfying answers to:

Why are breeders really breeding? Is it for temperament? For show and love of the breed?
Does your breeder have any qualifications or training in animal welfare, genetics, or behavior?
Are there any genuine pros to breeding, such as advancing the breed or preserving genetic diversity?

While researching this piece, I tried my best to remain unbiased and examine the pros and cons. But at its core, I can't see any justification for continuing to supply cats and dogs when we're facing an overpopulation crisis and so many others are dying.

"But Ethical Breeders Aren't the Problem—It's Backyard Breeders!"

Let's talk about that.

What Is a Backyard Breeder?

Most commonly, breeders are categorized as either "backyard breeders" or "ethical breeders." The term "backyard breeder" carries significant stigma and is usually applied to people who aren't registered breeders or don't conduct health checks.

I want to take a step back here and think critically about this distinction. We either have:

Someone intentionally breeding animals (registered/ethical or otherwise), often selling them
Someone dealing with an accidental litter

If someone's animal is having accidental litters, this isn't cruelty—it's often a symptom of the financial insecurity many people face when struggling to support their pets.

The Class Issue We're Not Discussing

If someone has an intentional litter and is breeding for money—what many would call a backyard breeder—we need to examine these cases more closely. Through our rescue work, I've seen time and time again that people labeled as "bad breeders" are often marginalized and economically disadvantaged individuals. These people frequently face barriers to adoption, with many rescues placing classist and racist obstacles in their path.

Direct your anger about "bad breeding" towards capitalism and systemic inequality, not towards marginalized and economically disadvantaged people.

The Core Question Remains

Regardless of whether you'd call them an ethical breeder or not, if someone's pets are having an intentional litter, they are profiting. So my question to you is: If someone is profiting off breeding pets while there is a companion animal crisis, how can that be called ethical?

The Language We Use Matters.

In the rescue world, I see so much hatred directed at animals being born. It's important to examine the language we use around people and animals.

Things that continue causing harm:

Saying that only people with money deserve dogs
Calling for cruel punishments for breeders
Demanding increased policing and criminalization
Shaming people who simply need more information and education

These approaches don't solve the problem—they deepen divisions and create barriers for the very communities that need support.

Why Are People Still Going to Breeders?

According to the 2023 Victoria Pet Census, 51% of people got their dog from a breeder. This is the question I genuinely ask myself: why?

The common answer is predictability—people believe purchasing from a breeder gives them certainty about behavior, temperament, and health.

Debunking Breeder Myths

Myth: Purebred dogs have predictable, superior behavior A comprehensive study found that genetics only account for approximately 9% of behavioral variation in dogs. Behavior is shaped by multiple factors including socialization, environment, and individual experiences—not primarily by breed.

Myth: Rescue dogs have more behavioral problems Research has found that rescue dogs show few differences in behavior, cognitive abilities, and personality compared with non-rescue dogs. The narrative that rescue dogs are "damaged" is not supported by evidence.

Myth: Your dog's breed determines its personality Multiple studies now suggest that breed is a poor predictor of individual dog personality and behavior.

The Reality of Socialisation: The critical socialization period for dogs is up to 16 weeks of age, and they go through developmental fear periods up to 14 months old, which significantly affects their adjustment when rehomed—regardless of whether they came from a breeder or rescue.

The Inhumane Breeding Practices: There is clear evidence that many breeding practices are inhumane. Certain dog breeds suffer from a range of conformational malformations causing pain, discomfort, and life-limiting conditions. Some breed clubs have followed societal fashion for "cute" dogs, prioritizing appearance over welfare.

The Myth of Scarcity: Many dogs are surrendered every day due to the cost of living crisis. They come from loving, happy homes. It is not difficult to find specific breeds and purebred animals throughout all rescues. If you're looking for a particular type of dog, rescue organizations can help you find one.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Supporting purchased animals of any kind contributes to the companion animal crisis. I'm not looking to shame anyone—but I am asking us to think critically about how we can address this crisis and stop animals from dying.

What We Can Do:

Support People Keeping Their Pets If someone needs support for their animal, resources are available at Humane Animal Rescue
Advocate for Better Legislation Support initiatives like Getting 2 Zero: g2z.org.au/victoria-legislation.html
Fund Desexing Programs Support people who need help keeping their pets through programs like our Last Litter Program or Paws & Provisions.
Change the Conversation Stop using harmful language when discussing someone's decisions about their pets. Look at the facts, extend compassion, and offer education rather than judgment.
Organizations like PETA advise never to support a breeder, and the evidence increasingly supports this position.

A Final Thought

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better." — Maya Angelou.

Now you know better. When faced with the choice between contributing to an industry that results in 100,000 deaths per year or saving a life that already exists, the ethical choice becomes clear.

Adopt, Don't Shop.

Written by: Grace Gibson Cain Humane Animal Rescue

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