meet my friend

I asked Silvia Simmons, founder of A&S Rescue, to talk about the downfalls of breeding with me. A&S Rescue is dedicated to finding permanent, loving homes for American Staffordshire Terriers and American Pit Bull Terriers in northern Illinois.

FIRST, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

Hi, I am Silvia Simmons. I cofounded A&S Rescue back in early 2000, and since then we have adopted out over 3000 dogs!

DO YOU BELIEVE ANY SORT OF BREEDING IS ACCEPTABLE?

I actually do believe that breeding—done correctly, responsibly, and with the care and placement of the puppies and parents being foremost in importance—to better a breed would be acceptable. Sadly, this is rarely seen. There are few people who actually do it for the right reasons, and the animals pay the price.

HOW DOES THAT WORK INTO YOUR VEGANISM? VEGANS ARE DIFFERENT ON THIS TOPIC, SO I’M GENUINELY CURIOUS ON HOW YOU VIEW ANIMALS WHO WORK, SO TO SPEAK (A HUMAN MAKING MONEY OFF AN ANIMAL).

I don't believe responsible breeding should be done to make a profit... It should be done to keep a breed standard alive. As far as I am concerned, animals are not here for us to abuse or profit from. They share the earth with us and we should be their protectors. They are a gift, not ours to kill.

LET’S TALK ABOUT WHEN BREEDING GOES WRONG. I’M SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF HORROR STORIES TO CHOOSE FROM ON WHY THIS IS BAD.

In rescue, I see only bad breeding. People want to make a profit, and the dogs are not cared for, loved, or even kept in acceptable housing. They are put into rape stands and suffer horribly. Many die and puppies are sold for fighting, bait, or to anyone that wants one. Those puppies aren’t tracked, so when they are dumped they're left to suffer and sometimes die—left in cages on the side of the road. Luckily we save many, but for each one we save, at least three die. It is an ugly statistic and speaks volumes as to what people are capable of.

A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO BREEDING ARE RESCUES WHO DEAL IN BREED-SPECIFIC DOGS. I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I’VE BEEN ASKED IF MY DOGS CAME WITH ISSUES BECAUSE THEY CAME FROM A RESCUE (ESPECIALLY PIT BULLS). HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THIS?

Dogs are what you make them. All of my personal dogs were death row dogs who came with a host of issues. All those issues have been fixed. My dogs are therapy dogs, obedience dogs, nose work dogs; and I even have two appearing on Chicago PD. I am also the president of Northwest Dog Obedience Club in Crystal Lake and teach classes there. I see people come in with issues they have created and then have to fix. Dogs, like children, are products of their environment. It depends how much you are willing to put into your dog, be it a rescue or a puppy you buy.

YOU RUN A TIGHT SHIP AT A&S. HOW DO HANDLE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ADOPT, AND YOU CAN SENSE MAY NOT LIVE UP TO YOUR STANDARDS FOR YOUR PUPS?

I would never put a dog into a situation I feel will not make our dogs the number one priority in their lives. I never actually tell people why they are turned down. If you do, they get application smart and won’t put the same answers on the next application. I do a background check and see how their previous dogs were taken care of. There is a LOT that goes into it, and we stay in contact for the life time of the dog.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR PEOPLE TO SUPPORT A&S RIGHT NOW? DONATE? AMAZON WISH LIST? FOSTER?

The biggest expense we have is vetting. Most of our dogs come in sick and injured. We do all medical and feed the best food. So donations to help pay for that is number one. Fostering is always so needed. Without foster homes we can’t take dogs.