I am going to throw my two cents in if I may. First off I think rescuers are great, it's wonderful for people to do that. However it was not an option that I even considered and here is why- I got my Jingle on a whim when I went with a friend to pick up her Yorkie puppy, I was ignorant to the breed and to backyard breeders at that point. Jingle climbed on my lap that day and that was all it took he came home with me. He was a beauty all through his life, true Yorkie beauty BUT he had collapsed trachea, pancreatitis, and was beginning on other health issues when I lost him. Devastating doesn't describe it at all! It hurt so bad and still does. So when I went on my search for Presley it was extremely important for me to find a breeder that I felt comfortable with and one that went to extremes to assure their health, genetic testing etc. There are many breeders out there and finding one proved difficult, as I live in SC, I was willing to drive from Maryland to Florida to get the right one. After speaking with many breeders I went with a lady that shows her dogs and runs agility, she breeds for herself when she is retiring older shows. She is diligent with health standards and breed standards. Her puppies better the breed and does not hurt them, which I am a firm believer in. You see I couldn't take another heartache and I wanted the healthiest puppy I could find. I too have had people make comments because he wasn't a "rescue"...I really do not care, it's easy to preach to the choir when you don't know circumstances. If anyone in the Southeast region is looking a new baby I would suggest Silktreeyorkies.com, with her you know what you are getting.

Yes, but it's how people account for things on those 990s. New vehicle to "transport rescues", new barn "to shelter rescues". There is alot of abuse out there. In my County it is known. We have had so many rescues spring up in the past decade...it's in the papers, it's on the news, the city attorney has even commented on it, stating there aren't adequate State regulations in place to combat the problem and that Non-profits don't need to be run well or utilize all their donations to serve a noble purpose. It makes sense... Just look at large non-profits like March of dimes, Saint Judes, UNICEF, and let's never forget United Way. Ah, to be CEO of a non-profit. There is rampant abuse out there. Non-profit status means little to me.

There is good and bad in almost everything, and money is power. If you don't like something, don't support it with your money, be that a non-profit, a store, a breeder...whatever.

Pretty generalized statement. Our rescue has none of those things...no vehicle, no barn, and no CEO or other such paid employees.

You seem to lump all non profits into one evil group. I suggested 990s because, no matter how much you dislike things, it IS a way to measure.

Wrong person..Rachel1983 I am so sorry. Old age is a witch. LOL Don't know why you assume you would not be approved by a rescue???

That's good to know that it's not just my area that happens in. Thanks!

Don't feel bad at all about not finding a rescue. Breeder or rescue, as long as the dogs have a good home is all that matters to me.

Nah, I read her post twice to make sure, she's specifying the illegitimate rescues and other non profits that abuse the status of non profit, specifically in her area.

She added the generalized statement of the corporate non profits, which is true, most of those donations go to admin and advertising and very few put a large % towards what they "support".

It's ok LJ, no one is bashing legitimate dog rescues, take a deep breath, relax. ;)

Thanks so much Mark!! Great response!!!

Hmmmmm....... I came to the same conclussion as Linda.

The only issue with this is that supporting bad breeders and keeping bad breeders in business is killing this loved breed and created more and more dogs with genetic illnesses.

:thumbup: It's a pleasant surprise when someone actually reads and comprehends what is written.

No surprise there.

You'd be surprised how many "reputable" breeders continue to breed dogs with known generic problems.

Oh, trust me, my comprehension skills are not all that far off. :) ;)

But there is the magic word "reputable". While some people tag certain breeders as reputable, it does not make it so.

Truly reputable breeders are far and few between imho.

I have been berated by my sister for buying my babies instead of rescues. She believes that I should have saved the money and used it for something "reasonable." However, I have my reasons for wanting to buy from a breeder rather than a rescue. I want the health guarantee. I want the knowledge of the breeder. I want to have healthy, happy babies that have a great chance at a long life. I have had rescues over the years as well as Miniature Pinschers that I purchased from a breeder. My rescues were loving and had good lives while with me. Unfortunately, their life span was not nearly that of my Min Pins, who lived to be 14 and 15 years old. I think rescuing is awesome but at this point in my life, I am loving having puppies. I look at the bigger picture. If I spread the cost of purchase over the number of years my babies live, the cost becomes rather minimal.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thum bup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:: thumbup: I believe in rescuing. But quite supporting these breeders then the rescue will drop