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Admit it. When you were looking for a dog, you did your research. You knew what breed would fit best with your lifestyle and your family. You looked around on the internet, talked to owners, went to shows, and found a great responsible breeder of your new family member. You knew all the reasons why you wanted a pure bred dog. Was it because you were trying to be snooty? No, of course not. If you were snooty you wouldn’t be a dog person. Was it because you wanted a show dog? Maybe, but probably not. You just wanted to be sure that new family member would have a long healthy happy life and be not only a good safe member but be a good citizen too. You wanted to know where your dog came from and what you could expect as he grows up. There are also whole list of other legitimate reasons for owning a pure bred dog.

But when the puppies arrived and it was time to go pick one out, you couldn’t do it. You know that there are thousands of unwanted, abandoned and abused dogs in Marion County alone that need a good home. They didn’t have a choice. You felt the right thing to do was go down to Marion County Animal Services or the Humane society and pick out one of those. It’s the right thing to do. Right?

Before I go any further, let me nip a few comments in the bud. Yes, I realize lots of people get great dogs from shelters and not all shelter dogs are pitbull mixes and bad dogs. I realize half the pet stars on television came from shelters. I also realize that not all pure bred dogs are great dogs. I also realize there are lots of puppy mills out there and this is bad. That’s why you go visit the breeder, multiple times, unannounced before you get a dog there.  OK, that’s cleared up.

Meet Shali, she’s a four-year-old AKC registered Brittany from FarOut Fields Brittanys in Dunnellon, FL and she’s a rescue. She was abandoned by her family for a variety of reasons, none of them her fault. The thing about people that care enough about their dogs and their family to get the right one also care enough to make sure they get a good home when they can no longer keep them. While Jackie Arnold does breed Brittanys for a living, she also runs Independent Brittany Rescue from her Dunnellon kennel. Shali was born at Far Out Fields. She came to our house a couple weeks ago to live with her half sister Fancy and Aunt Jesse. Both, you guessed it, rescue Brittanys. Jesse is an international champion, Fancy is an AKC hunting and rally champion.

While I’d love everyone to have a Brittany and be lucky enough to have troup like this Ya Ya Brittany Sisterhood. Brittany’s might not be for you. That’s fine.

For every breed there is breed specific rescue organization that can help you find the dog of your dreams. Not only will you get the dog that you want but take a homeless dog off the street. You may not always be able to see the parents or get a puppy but I guarantee you will be meet with foster families that know the breed and their charges inside and out.  These people, regardless of breed, want what’s best for the dog. After meeting you, they may decide you aren’t it.

So, breed specific rescue. Give a homeless dog a nice home and get the dog of your dreams - It just doesn’t get better then that.