[glencorgi]

Yes Jane, I've had similar things happen to me trying to get a response on to the list.

Coming from both "supply sides" of corgis, I'll throw in my two cents. What rubbed me the wrong way from the list Michael copied was the insinuation/implication to "bargain shop" for your purebred. I do get inquiries and applications from people like that and in fact have had one not long ago. They wanted a Cardigan, wanted it yesterday and wanted a rescue. In the home they have two small children and a Siberian mix puppy. They contacted me about Max, the double merle deaf Cardi I was fostering and somehow managed to ignore the part that said he wasn't good around larger dogs. Did not heed my concerns as to why Max wasn't a good fit for them, kept wanting to try and needless to say Max didn't go there. We also had a pair of Cardi girls become available and on the basis of their evaluation, personality and temperaments, not dogs for a first time Cardi owner, let alone one with two small children and another puppy. Again, this individual saw no problems and thought they'd work out just fine. They didn't go to this home either, but did go to a wonderful Cardi experienced home who showed beaucoup patience with the incredibly shy one and has the willingness and ability to deal with what these girls need. I know this individual had also been in contact with a few Breeders in the area who did have puppies, older puppies and even some young adults available and who would be willing to work with them on payments. Instead of following up and working with them, the individual instead chose to whine on several corgi lists about not being able to find a Cardigan rescue. Reality is there just aren't that many Cardigan rescues and then finding one that will fit into a particular family dynamics makes things tougher. Impatience and bargain shopping are detrimental to this family finding a Cardigan for their home.

As Peggy said, promoting rescue as the sole source of a purebred dog is an animal rights agenda and anti-breeder. There is no one size fits all. Puppies are not right for every home, Pems are not necessarily right for every corgi wanting home, a Cardigan might be a better fit and vice versa. Rescues are not right for every corgi wanting home. There are homes wanting corgis that the place they need to go is to a responsible, reputable Breeder for all the reasons LaRogue and Peggy mentioned.

IF one is going to a reputable, responsible breed specific rescue group, then one will get many of the same things that one gets when purchasing from a reputable, responsible Breeder. You get a support group with breed knowledge to be there for you for the life of your rescue willing to answer any questions that might come along. You get a corgi matched to the needs/wants/dynamics of your home. Veterinary needs have been addressed and taken care of (shots, spay/neuter, etc.) You also get a first right of refusal, if something should happen and you can't keep your corgi, it comes back to the rescue group. Cost for this is approximately 1/2 the price of a puppy from a breeder. Even at that though, if someone is coming in with a preconceived notion of their "perfect" corgi, well rescue doesn't have them stocked on shelves where we can just add water and fit the order. We have seniors and special needs and young ones that don't do well with children and ones that are dog aggressive; all wonderful and delightful in their own way, but not necessarily right for just any home situation.

If one has made the decision to get a certain breed, then absolutely rescue should be a source for them to research and explore. There are wonderful corgis in rescue (and even a few that would fit right in in any home situation) Paraphrasing LaRogue, there are many good reasons to adopt, but cost shouldn't be the motivating factor. I even hear rescues "cost too much" when the $300 we're asking just breaks us even on the vet bills we've invested in the dog.

I'm lucky to have the majority of my applicants and inquiries wanting rescues for the right motivation and reasons and cost isn't a part of their whys. The "bargain" aspect is what had me unsettled.

Debbie

Debbie