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While there are great rewards to adopting a new pet, there are some circumstances that leads new owners to search out purebred breeders.

First, I want to say that I am indeed a great advocate for adoption. I've worked as a veterinary technician at a special shelter that took in dogs from the local euthanasia lists, as well as strays from the local Indian reservation. We worked countless hours with these animals, and in the end, every single person I worked with had fostered and/or adopted a pet- including myself. But, when it came to my search, I chose a breeder. And for good reason.

I was a college student who had just moved into my own apartment. I'd specifically chosen a pet-friendly rental property and had researched dog breeds that would fit my needs. My first image of love came in the form of a fawn great dane, but alas, my quaint abode was simply too small for such a great, furry beast. As I thought it over, I had to consider my lifestyle. Although I didn't have a yard, I was surrounded by forest and trails. I was very active, and a dedicated runner. Every day, I headed to a nearby boarding facility to visit my horse and envisioned a companion who could follow us on trails. I was also spending hours each day at the computer working on my studies. Basically, I wanted a smart dog who could join my activities, then settle down and sleep at my feet when I was working. That's when I fell in love with the australian shepherd.

After I had chosen the perfect breed for my needs, I searched everywhere for one online at petfinder.com, a website that showcased pets for adoption all over the state. I looked at countless pictures of purebreds and mixed breeds, from puppies to adults. But none had that "special something" that made me say "THIS is my dog."

Next, I turned to the newspaper. I do have to say, thank goodness I did my research! When it comes to dogs, each breed has it genetic tendency to certain medical issues. Interviewing breeders takes knowledge and discretion. I avoided breeders who raised multiple types of dogs. I avoided breeders who bred dogs who were unregistered, had both the mother and father 'on site,' and those who had not tested their dogs for hip and eye problems. On one ocassion, I called about a litter of blue merle (a mottled color of blue/white/black) puppies to find out that both parents had been merle, a HUGE red flag since this can cause what is known as the 'lethal white.' Lethal white dogs can be deaf, blind, and carry a myriad of other

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