This is such a great topic. Here are the stats, just for our
COUNTY:
**98,000 pets enter shelters every year in Maricopa County
**
53,000 are euthanised every year in Macricopa County
FIFTY THREE THOUSAND animals are killed here, annually. Just in our county. Staggering.
When I bought Wylie, I think I supported a very bad breeder. When I bought Marcel, I
tried to make a better decision by purchasing from a show breeder.
I think it's *so* important that we support those who are {truly} preserving the breed, otherwise, we will lose our beloved yorkie. But I also think, if we love the breed, it is now also our responsibility (as animal lovers) to speak up and help clean up the horrid mess that continues to be made by puppy mills, uneducated buyers, etcetera. And we can do this by supporting Rescues, shelters, advocacy groups who expose Mills, buyers, and yes,
through adoption too 
!
And...we must protect those who are protecting the breed
.
{and just an aside...to clarify my perspective, I am a 20-yr PETA member,
AND I support good breeders
and having pets and I support all kinds of animal charities, most of which are direct care; before anyone thinks poorly of me for being in PETA, one might consider that it could also be beneficial to *have* members like me in PETA who do NOT agree w/ their entire agenda and will work to effect change
....}