I read the ABC article on maremma, it is a prime example on how not to report social issue.
Dogs (or any pet really) being abandoned is a real issue. Each year, a large number of dogs are being abandoned for all sort of reasons, it is a problem that requires public's awareness, however, a recent article published on ABC, shows how media got the angle wrong, and how a poorly researched and written article, could potentially do more harm than good.
Maremma sheepdog is known for their cute, fluffy look, and their lovely loyal and lovely temper. Their distinct appearances have won over the heart of many, and some even claim that the 2015 movie Oddball, has lead to the "Oddball effect", which may have driven up the adoption and buying rate of this breed.
Unfortunately, its popularity has also lead to a rather sad outcome - being the victims of being surrendered to rescues or pounds. People usually adopt maremma puppies at a young age when they small like a toy poodle, but are then intimidated by their fully grown size and their protective behaviour against others. This significant change in behaviour and appearance is one of the reasons that lead to people abandoning them at young age. ABC reported that some animal rescues have observed an increasing number of maremma being surrendered and call for concern.
While this report is published with a good intent, its quality is rather questionable. Not only it got some minor facts wrong, the author doesn't seem to show he has performed his due diligence to compile a balanced-reporting, or at least fact check some of the statement made by interviewee. Even worse, he seems to presented the issue in a over-simplified manner.
Rule 1: Always get the simple fact right
First of all, let's get this straight, unlike what the article suggested, maremma is usually categorised as a "Livestock Guarding Dog (LGD)", but not a herding dog.
A herding dog sees the livestock as prey. Guarding, on the other hand, means that the dog views the livestock as members of its own pack
Cornell Small Farm Program
Rule 2: Dive deep into the actual cause of issue
Paras reported that the interviewed rescuer is "seeing more surrenders of Maremma, and receiving calls daily from owners...", he did not further investigate on how many "more" compare to a given period, nor he did investigate the reason of the increase of inquiries. Is it because there are more people surrendering Maremma, or is it because the rescuers are being more well-known and become people's "go-to" place for rehoming? These questions are not to discredit the effort of rescuers, but rather to understand how resources have been shifted over time, and whether there is an actual increase of surrendering. Altogether, this helps the readers understanding how big the problem is.
Rule 3: Don't take interviewees words for it
One of the interviewee suggested that "many families" turn to social media for bad advice, and that create problem. While that is apparently true, what worries me is what she said next:
They will say they had a Maremma growing up and it was great and they are fine to adopt in suburbia or in an apartment.
She bluntly suggested that people who think maremma could be a suburb dog is giving a "terrible advice". Maybe, but Paras did not elaborate, provide evidence, nor did he verify if what she said is correct. He simply allowed his interviewee to dismiss the possibility of keeping them in suburb. At minimal, he should check with suburbia maremma owners, and see if it is "impossible" to keep a Maremma in suburb, or what are the potential challenges of keeping one.
Despite it was originally bred as a "farm dog", Maremma, just like all dogs required training and socialisation. With sufficient development, love and training, they are also capable to be a house dog. By taking an individual anecdote to dismiss the possibilities of keeping maremma in suburb, and suggesting all of them could have difficult life in suburb is not helping the issue. This generalisation of the breed or dismissing the adaptability of Maremma owners in suburban areas can discourage potential responsible owners and unfairly stigmatize current ones. And not to mention farmers have been reported to let go "work dog" before. They don't necessarily have a better life in rural or farm.
Here's what I think about the surrendering issue
Regardless of their size, all dogs have their own issues and personalities, there is no one-size-matches-all solution. Singling out a breed, calling out a group of suburb owners, will not solve the problem. The problem is the attitude of owners.
People tolerate small dogs because they are less destructive, and they can be easily controlled. Similarly, some people who think maremma should only be in a farm / rural are usually based on the sole reason that they can be left outdoor and have a job to take care of farm animals, and therefore won't be destructive to a home. While a maremma with a job at farm could have a good life, it is also possible for their suburban counterpart. Paras seems to miss the opportunity to once again highlight the importance of educating new owner to understand what they are signing up for, and how to provide a fruitful life to your dog. Dogs crave for mental stimulation and enrichment to reduce stress built up from surroundings, keep them mentally healthy, and bonded to the owner.
Keeping a dog is challenging enough sometime, don't make it harder for people who care about their pets at home.
