There’s nothing wrong with wanting to adopt a purebred dog. It doesn’t make you a snob, and it doesn’t mean that you love dogs any less than the proud mutt-parents at your local dog park. But unless you want to support the crueler side of the breeding industry, you should be very selective about where you get your new pup. According to a report from MSNBC, many breeders who are “certified” by the USDA or the American Kennel Club engage in questionable practices; and many pet stores acquire their purebreds from these same operations. The abuse may or may not be less extreme than what goes on in unlicensed “puppy mills,” but can still cause emotional and physical suffering to innocent canines. Below are some great ways to find a purebred pal without supporting breeders of any kind.

  1. Contact dog breed rescues. Rescues are networks of animal lovers dedicated to finding homes for animals in need. There are numerous rescues nationwide that specialize in particular breeds of dogs and cats. Browse lists of breed rescue groups on Love of the Breeds and American Kennel Club.
  2. Use an online pet-search site. Both Petfinder.com and Animalshelter.org have thousands of searchable pet profiles, listed by shelters and rescues all over the nation. Best of all, both sites allow you to search by breed and region.
  3. Call the Humane Society of the United States: (202)452-1100. The phone operators in the Companion Animals department can help you to locate a breed-specific rescue in your area.
  4. Lastly, try calling your local animal shelter and asking if they have the breed you desire. You can always consult the Yellow Pages, but SaveOurStrays.com provides a comprehensive list of no-kill shelters in the US.

For more information, see Mahalo’s guide to adopting a canine companion.

Image: Creative Commons photo by Joel Burslem.