Molly! GMTA We agree with you totally about adopting pets from the rescues and shelter animals. I just wish our local shelter would lower their fees so that more animals are adopted. Here the cost is $200 for a dog, $75 for a cat. Other animals have different fees that don't encourage adoption. They euthanise a lot of animals. Plus the fees don't include microchipping (required), tags, licenses, shots or a health guarantee of any kind other than if the animal drops dead in 24 hours you can pick out another one but you still have to pay all the extra fees for services that you have to have for the new animal.That adds up to more than a $100 in addition to the adoption fee and you have to pay it twice if the animal dies.

All the animals are spayed or neutered even if they are microchipped, licensed and later claimed by their owners. No exceptions. The AKC (or it's feline equivalent) clubs and owners who breed and/or show dogs were aghast at that policy as it immediately ends the dog's/cat's show career.

In addition, anyone who allows a dog or cat to have a litter of puppies or kittens has to pay $100 for a license to sell (each litter.) I like some of the provisions of this law becauses it encourages spaying and neutering but some of the provisions just plain stink because they hurt animal lovers while the puppymills continue to churn out poorly-bred animals that end up in the shelters unwanted because of health or disposition.

I believe that all dogs who are going to be bred should have their CERF eye certification plus an OFA certification for their hips and elbows ranked good or excellent because hip and elbow dysplacia is so devasting for the animal and the owner. But maybe most of all, the sire and dam should have a disposition that makes them suitable to have offspring.

Breed rescue will often do temperment testing of the rescued animal and make recommendations based on their findings. We know we are very lucky to have Tarka since a number of shelters euthanise large dogs as a matter of routine rather than get to know them as individuals.