I'm sorry that you had a bad experience with that rescue. It all sounds really odd. I have heard of dogs in rescue with AKC papers, but I don't know if they are ever given to the new owners. My yorkie and mini poodle are both from breeders who gave them up to a rescue. They didn't come with any AKC papers probably for privacy reasons. I know that my mini poodle's breeder didn't even want my poodle's original name used at the rescue. My yorkie was also given a new name at the rescue. If a dog has AKC papers from a bad breeder, then they wouldn't take the dog back from an owner who couldn't or didn't want to keep their dog. I'm assuming that most dogs with AKC papers at rescues are probably owner surrenders that couldn't or didn't want to return their dogs to the breeders.
My Sparrow is not from a reputable breeder because her breeder gave her to a rescue. Her breeder didn't want to breed her because she's too small at a little under 4.5 lbs, and she has LP. So far her knees are no problem, but she might have an issue when she's older. I did go through a very good rescue. Sparrow has been the sweetest and cutest little dog. Her hair almost never has a tangle, and she has such a cute little face.
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