References

American Kennel Club. (n.d.). What is a responsible breeder? AKC Expert Advice.
https://www.akc.org/press-center/articles-resources/responsible-breeders/

ASPCA. (2023). New ASPCA survey shows 23 million U.S. households acquired a pet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.aspca.org/news/pup-pandemic-and-beyond

Belocal Publications. (n.d.). Responsible dog breeding and shelter overcrowding.
https://www.belocalpub.com/locations/belocal-charlotte-se-suburbs-nc/articles/-cf2b0e/

Best Friends Animal Society. (2025). 2025 mid-year shelter data report.
https://bestfriends.org/network/studies-publications/shelter-pet-lifesaving-data-2025-mid-year-report

Functional Dog Collaborative. (n.d.). Functional Dog Collaborative Position Statement.
https://functionalbreeding.org/position-statement-on-shelters-and-dog-breeding/

Hill’s Pet Nutrition. (2025). State of shelter pet adoption report.
https://www.hillspet.com/shelter-program/state-of-shelter-pet-adoption

McKeever, P. (2019). Why ethical breeding matters. Medium.
https://medium.com/%40pmckr/why-ethical-breeding-matters-5db415bd5d97

Shelter Animals Count. (2025). 2025 mid-year national shelter data report.
https://www.shelteranimalscount.org/explore-the-data/2025-mid-year-report

The Canine Corner. (n.d.). Responsible breeders are not the problem.
https://www.thecaninecorner.org/animal-welfare-shelter-breeder-cruelty-control-info/breeders/backyard-breeders-problem

The Vet Focus. (n.d.). How to identify a responsible dog breeder.
https://thevetfocus.com/blogs/blog/the-ethics-of-breeding-responsible-practices-and-the-impact-on-animal-welfare?