Chattanooga’s McKamey Animal Center drops breed labels for dogs in its care

Contributed Photo by Lauren Mann / Can you guess this dog's breed or breeds? Adopted from McKamey Animal Center, Ringo is a mix of Chihuahua, Siberian husky, chow chow and more, according to a DNA test.
Contributed Photo by Lauren Mann / Can you guess this dog's breed or breeds? Adopted from McKamey Animal Center, Ringo is a mix of Chihuahua, Siberian husky, chow chow and more, according to a DNA test.

When Lauren Mann adopted her dog Ringo from McKamey Animal Center, she and her husband guessed he was a golden retriever and Australian or German shepherd mix of some sort. The shelter had labeled him as a shepherd.

According to the results of an Embark dog DNA test, Ringo is 16.3% Chihuahua, 11.9% Siberian husky, 11% chow chow, 8.9% Shih Tzu, 8% Labrador retriever, 7.5% boxer, 7.3% German shepherd and 29% "super mutt" -- Embark's term for DNA so mixed that it's indistinguishable, Mann said in an email.

"Looks are deceiving, but he is the absolute sweetest, snuggliest dog I have ever owned," she said.

Mann, who serves as development director at McKamey, said the fact that a dog's breed is often difficult to pinpoint without a DNA test is one reason the shelter recently stopped assigning breed labels to dogs in its care.

It's a step many animal welfare organizations across the nation are taking to prevent animals from being assigned inaccurate breed labels that can keep them in shelters longer due to adopters' negative misconceptions about certain breeds.

(READ MORE: Looking to adopt a pet? Chattanooga-area animal shelters share stories of their long-term residents)

Rather than guessing a dog's breed based on its looks, McKamey employees are focusing on each dog's unique circumstances, personality and behavior traits, as well as its age and size, when describing it to potential adopters, she said.

  photo  Contributed Photo by Lauren Mann / Ringo, a mixed-breed dog Lauren Mann adopted from McKamey Animal Center, was labeled a shepherd at the shelter. A DNA test revealed Chihuahua as the most dominant breed that is discernible in his genetic makeup.
 
 

"There are a lot of harmful stereotypes that come with certain breeds of dogs," Mann said by phone. "Just because a dog has a label on it does not and should not indicate how they're going to act."

Mann anticipates some potential adopters will ask about breeds, especially those who live in rental properties that may prohibit certain breeds, she said.

Like other shelters that have stopped labeling dogs by breed, Mann said the shelter plans to reach out to apartment managers who prohibit certain breeds to educate them about their misconceptions.

"It's an abitrary policy, and there's no such thing as a good and a bad dog breed," she said.

(READ MORE: The best Chattanooga social media accounts local animal lovers should follow)

The Humane Educational Society has considered dropping breed labels, but when the idea was discussed previously the shelter's software lacked the option to label adoptable dogs as "mixed breed," Executive Director Rebecca Bryan said by email.

McKamey also works with transport partners and breed-specific rescues that require shelter employees to make some kind of breed designation, she said.

However, she thinks breeds assigned to dogs in shelters are "virtually meaningless," subjective guesses made by employees based on physical traits that could have come from a variety of sources, Bryan said.

"At best, breed is a shallow way to describe a dog," she said. "They are individuals just like people. No two are the same, regardless of breed."

Good dogs come in all shapes, sizes, colors and textures, she said.

(READ MORE: Beagles rescued from Virginia breeding facility join Chattanooga families)

"Good dogs suffer when they're passed over time and time again because of how they look, and it's heartbreaking to see," Bryan said. "I encourage anyone looking to adopt to consider who they want their companion to be, not just what they look like. HES staff and volunteers know our dogs and can match you with the perfect buddy."

More than 100 dogs are currently available for adoption at McKamey. Visit mckameyanimalcenter.org for more information on how to adopt and view animals available for adoption.

To learn more about adopting from Humane Educational Society and view adoptable animals visit heschatt.org.

Contact Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6508.

  photo  Contributed Photo by Lauren Mann / Ringo, a mixed-breed dog adopted from McKamey Animal Center, is a mix of Chihuahua, Siberian husky, chow chow and more, according to a DNA test. The shelter labeled him a shepherd. McKamey recently stopped labeling dogs by breed, since those labels are typically guesses based on looks.
 
 

Upcoming Events