Shelters are Overflowing With Purebreds & Designer Dogs—Why You Don’t Need a Breeder for Your Dream Dog!
It’s true that many Pitbulls—American Pitbull Terriers, American Bullies, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and other bully breeds.—find themselves stuck in the US shelter system. Pitbulls are often forced into shelters by unregulated breeding practices, unfair breed-specific legislation that prevents people from owning pitbull-type dogs, and baseless stereotypes that have painted these breeds as dangerous. We love Pitbulls and think more people should adopt them, but if a Pitbull isn’t the right dog for you, you can find many other dog breeds in shelters.

Shelter dog walker Julie Saraceno recently shared a video of the many purebred and purebred mix dogs available for adoption at the Benton-Franklin Humane Society in Kennewick, Washington—if you thought shelters only had Pitbulls, Julie’s short video will prove you wrong. In less than 30 seconds, Julie introduces us to seven purebred and purebred-mix dogs like Pete, a French Bulldog, Ariel, a Havanese mix, and Auna, a Mastiff mix, and Mocha, a Papillon x Pomeranian mix (all of whom have since been adopted!)
@juliesaraceno2 Adoptable at the Benton Franklin Humane Society in Kennewick, Washington. #shelterdogsrock #adoptashelterdog #adoptme #rescueme #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #tricitieswa ♬ Once Upon a Time – Austin Farwell
Do you love herding breeds? Meet Theodore, a 10-month-old Australian Shepherd mix with the cutest, silliest face. He’s looking for a home, and he’s a very sought-after and popular breed in the shelter.

Looking for a working breed with lots of energy and stamina? What about Hanson the Doberman Pinscher mix or Goose the Siberian Husky mix? Both of these gorgeous dogs are looking for homes, and they’re also popular breeds!

Benton-Franklin Humane Society and other shelters and animal rescues are constantly receiving purebred dogs, but they still hear concerning misconceptions about the types of dogs available for adoption.
What Are The Most Common Dog Breeds in Shelters?
25% of shelter dogs are purebred, despite the common misconception that shelters only have mutts and Pitbull-type dogs. Of course, mutts and Pitties are great, but the belief that these are the only dogs at shelters is damaging and prevents people who might want to adopt but think they can’t from even taking a look.
Pitbull-type dogs are common in shelters, but they aren’t the only common breed. Other breeds commonly found in shelters include:
- Beagles
- Boxers
- Chihuahuas
- Coonhounds
- Dachshunds
- English Bulldogs
- French Bulldogs
- German Shepherds
- Greyhounds
- Labrador Retrievers
- Poodles
- Siberian Huskies
Many of the purebred dogs found in the US shelter system were once purchased for hundreds or even thousands of dollars from breeders. With millions of dogs entering the shelter system each year, it’s hard to justify the financial and moral expense of avoiding adoption purely for the sake of owning a purebred. You do not need to buy a dog from a breeder to have a purebred dog, and once you visit the shelter, you might discover you don’t need a purebred dog at all—you just need a dog that fits your lifestyle.