Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit Discusses New 'Mixed Breed' Policy

From Robar Public Relations: The Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit (FAMD) announces a new policy, effective April 1: all dogs are to be identified as “mixed breed.”

Following significant research and a national trend at animal shelters, FAMD will no longer attempt to identify incoming dog breeds by sight. According to Elaine Greene, executive director of FAMD, “Without doing genetic testing, it’s been proven over and over that it’s impossible to tell what breeds make up a mixed breed dog. Less than 50 ( .25%) of the 20,000 genes dogs have determine the physical features and features are not a predictor of temperament or behavior.”

Understanding this, Greene and her staff believe that attempting to label breeds is misleading and sets adopters up for false expectations. “Mixed breed dogs are just that—a mixture of breeds,” Greene said. “What’s more important for us is that we match the dog’s temperament and activity level with the right home.”

In the end, though, said Greene, “Each dog is unique, no matter what they’re made up of. By calling all our dogs ‘mixed breed,’ we’re actually being more accurate. And we’re hoping to get people away from a particular breed stigma.” When it comes to adoption, she said, “It’s really more about the dog’s personality than the labels.”

A special category, “lovables” is being implemented at the shelter for a $100 adoption fee that includes a six-week training class. These “diamonds in the rough” have typically never felt the love a human and probably lived at the end of a chain and never went in a house. These strong, active dogs deserve extra patience, compassion and understanding.

“With a little extra TLC, these deserving dogs will give more love than what is humanly possible,” Greene said.

Image via Robar Public Relations: Chance is one of the lovable mixed breeds available for adoption at Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit.