Guilt

Don't be so hard on yourself. You have obviously seen the light and that is what is important. You have given Abby a great life and love her very, very, much. Many people get pets from breeders. Sounds like you feel confident that the one Abby came from was reputable. There are many pets on here that have come from the same place. Personally I would have nothing other than a rescue. That's just my thing and an opinion I think that is shared by many on here. On the other hand, there may be just as many that would only have a full bred dog. I have no problem with that if you make sure you are getting them from a reputable breeder so that you are in no way supporting puppy mills or back yard breeders and get your pets S/N. Opt to adopt is my motto. Sounds like from now on it might be yours also and I am very happy to here that. Adopt your next dog. If you want a specific breed find a rescue for that breed. Often you can find full bred dogs in shelters/rescues. I think it is really great that just being part of this site has opened your eyes and given you a new prespective.

Nancy here, I understand your feelings. My Oakster came from a professional breeder and we looked hi and low for reputable lab breeder. We chose a full lab for hunting purposes and because that is what my whole family agreed upon. We waited for years to make sure the kids were ready for a pet and it was the right time to add to our family. Oakley is such a wonderful dog and I still keep in touch with his breeder. However, after we got Oakley and I realized how much he means to us, my youngest son and I started volunteering at our local shelter when we could and now are getting involved with another shelter and I have loved every animal there. You are right, it is all about education and I certainly learned alot and continue learning. I have had so many people wanting to breed their dog with my Oakley and then I give them each a little education about the shelter and rescue dogs. I don't want anyone to think of me as a bad person for not adopting from the shelter,I just didn't really think about what was out there and I hope that my time at the shelters now will make up for my lack of knowledge before. I don't regret getting Oakley, he is a wonderful, amazing and healthy dog and I can thank his wonderful breeder for that.

Lola and I both came from a wonderful breeders. mom doesn't feel guilty at all, nor should you! Hoover and all 3 kitties are rescues, but there is nothing wrong with adopting from a reputable breeder. Rescuing is a wonderful option, though.

Deuce's mom here. I don't think there's anything wrong with getting a dog from a reputable breeder either. I happened to adopt my dog from a family member, but I'm sure they got him in a pet store (puppy mill, but that's another story). All I know is that I love Deuce so much and I know I rescued him from a living a life of neglect in a crate, in a laundry room. When I am ready for another pet, I will go through rescue sites, because I now know about them. I didn't before I had Deuce, but I know now! :-)

Don't feel guilty- I think rescue groups and websites like petfinder have just begun to gain public awareness. Was petfinder even around 10 years ago? Probably not. And I don't know about everyone else, but I think the internet has helped publicize the availability of different options such as rescue groups and shelters. Look at all the pet-related communities online now! They weren't around 10 or probably even 5 years ago. I'm sure you give Abby a good home, which is more than some pet owners can say. And you didn't go to a puppy mill to get her- that's another plus!! So don't feel guilty- you're a caring responsible owner, that's what counts!!!

Mom here: Don't feel guilty for getting the dog you wanted. The AKC is all about breeding only to make that breed better in all ways. A lot of people get specific breeds because they like those personality traits. Like everyone says though check out your breeder and don't support pet store that sell puppies & puppy millers. They are some of the worst low lifers that exist on this planet.

No need to feel guilty. Abby still needed a home, regardless of where she came from. Like Deuce's mom, I still feel like I rescued PJ in a way. He came from a home where he was basically stuck in a crate for 18 hours or more a day with not much human interaction. Now he is a sweet little prince who is spoiled and has not one, but two beds of his own. I hope he doesn't even remember life in a crate, but I am sure he does, sadly. You give Abby love and a safe home and that is what matters. :) :)

You really, really, love Abby and have given her, what I am sure, is a very happy and great life. That is what counts. You are the best pet parent you can be to your baby and that is most important. It makes me very happy to hear that this site, others such as Petfinder, and the shelters and rescues have made an impact and educated people about the great, highly adoptable, homeless animals that are out there, just like I was. I think Charlie and some of the others have also hit on a great point. My mom says when she was growing up her and her parents didn't understand that the dogs (and cats) that were in pounds and shelters were so great. They didn't understand, had never been exposed to the fact that most of these animals are there because of the owner. People have let down the dog, not the other way around. They had just kinda assumed that there had to be a reason, that was the dog's fault, that they were there. There had to be something "wrong" with the dog for someone to not want it. Now they know better and I think that is what is happening all around. It is just sad that there are so many that need homes. If people would just S/N their pets!!!!!!!

Thank you all for making my mom feel better. I always tell her she shouldn't feel bad, but she just has a guilty conscience. She really didn't care if I was a purebred when she got me, she just wanted a puppy that wouldn't get too big - as she was living in a small apartment at the time. She loves all animals but has always wanted a small dog. Now that she knows there are all sizes of dogs needing to be rescued, she will do that with her next dog. But that will be a while because I'm gonna be around for a long time!

In my earlier years I often got dogs from breeders, but only one of them was extremely healthy and lived to be 17. Most of my rescue dogs have been the healthiest among the 20 dogs I have had. There are no rules that say that you must get an animal from a shelter or as a rescue. It is simply a very good option. Reputable breeders are necessary to continue excellent breeding lines to produce conformation dogs, hunting dogs, working dogs, etc. Unfortunately most people who breed dogs don't fall in this category. They are in it for the money or status in the case of "designer dogs." I appreciate the fact that you have treated your Abby so well, and that she is such a fine companion for you. And I am glad that you have become more educated about rescues. I personally will rescue and adopt from now on, and I try to encourage others to do so. I think many people, like you, don't automatically think about shelters and rescue groups. It is heartening to see that gradually changing.

Don't be guilty. Every animal deserves a good home. My mom is really big into spay/neuter but she's glad my biological mom wasn't spayed when I was born. Otherwise, she wouldn't have me! However, I was a former little homeless kitten on the street, so I understand the importance of spay/neuter.

Don't be so hard on yourself. I have had similar feelings as I got Petey from a "middle man" and Abby out of the paper. Before getting Abby, I tried to get a dog off of pet finder but the people kept giving me the run around ... don't know why. In the meantime, I went and saw Abby and fell in love with her. While I would never trade my dogs for anything, if I ever get another dog, it will be a shelter dog. I adopted my cat from the Humane Society so I do have a level of comfort knowing that I saved her life.