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Friends dog escaped his yard... finally find him at a shelter. They say "it's been past ten days (or 7 or whatever the cut off is, but it was two days off that cut off), he's our property now but you can apply to adopt him"
Cops say they're within their rights. So he applies to adopt his dog back - that was SO EXCITED to see him again cuz the poor dude had been lost - they deny his application because he was a mostly outdoor dog. Friend didn't know to lie and say he'd always be indoors. 
So they stole his fucking dog. Fuck them and fuck the endless amount of people involved in these kind of stories that aren't uncommon.
Rescues and shelters are different, shelters are usually subjected to keeping up with laws and inspections, some "rescues" are just businesses started by ordinary people. I would trust shelters over rescues. 
Sad part is that "ethical breeders" are few and far between. Most don't even get licensed and go under the radar. It is very, very difficult to find a good breeder. I'm a vet tech and I've seen even AKC registered breeders continue to inbreed and sell puppies that need to be euthanized before 1 year old due to congenital problems. >

Ya and even if you find that magical ethical breeder that health tests, dna testing, spay and neuter contract, pedigree papers, vaccines and only breeds a litter or 2 a year. They're also likely to not just sell any pup to you because you got money they'll likely not let you have a puppy unless they know you've done your research on the breed and everything. They also would charge a hell of a lot more then the $600 Op is whining about. >

1300 cad for my shetland..totally worth it btw >

1600 USD for my English lab >

I don’t know about better, but some rescues are so overzealous with their requirements it’s ridiculous. We rescued one of our dogs and the rescue threw a fit that they couldn’t get a vet reference from my husband’s previous vet for a dog he had years ago because the vet had passed away. We already had one dog at the time and they could contact our current vet, but that wasn’t good enough. We ended up getting approved in the end, but they treated us like we’re were criminals and everything we said was met with suspicion. >

When I've looked to adopt dogs in the past, it was really challenging. A lot had really stringent requirements about backyards, work hours, etc. I saw plenty that essentially wouldn't adopt out if someone wasn't at home all day with the dog. Plenty more that won't adopt out if you don't have a backyard. Having a backyard doesn't guarantee a quality of life for the dog... >

Exactly. They got on us about not having a fenced yard too. We lived in a little townhome complex with a fenced area, but it wasn’t around our backyard specifically. It’s like they forget people can walk dogs on a leash. >

How much are rescues going for these days? >

I was talking about this with a friend and apperently near us almost 600$ and they require 2 home visits. >

What area are you in if you don’t mind me asking? >

Southern Texas is as comfortable as I feel sharing. >

Everything I’m seeing in your area averages around $100 for shelter dog adoptions and usually includes first shots, a vet visit, and a spay and neuter or certificate towards spay and neuter if the dog is too young to have it done prior to adoption. These shelters are filled with dogs from backyard breeders as well as professional breeders, who are often no better than backyard breeders. It seems your opinion is missing this inclusion of a lot of valid information. >

I’ve noticed shelter adoptions are a lot cheaper and affordable than adoptions from independent rescues. I’m in California and there are some rescues that absolutely gouge prices for their rescue pets. >

Independent rescues usually have foster homes which make their cost higher. Shelter dogs don’t always have that option besides the cage in shelters. 
A good rescue don’t let their dogs leave the foster homes until they are sure the dogs are ready. They also have a lot more requirements because the foster families want to see the dog goes to a good family plus they aren’t pressed by limited space. 
The problem with shelters is the dogs are in cages all day long until volunteers bring them out or play with them. So their temperament is kind of up in the air. A good foster family can say a lot more about a dog. >

Ya we got all of our dogs from rescues knowing temperament was important to my mom and step dad as me and my brother were kids. Some dogs are flagged not good with kids but a rescue will often try to match you with the right dog even if it's not the "cutest" dog to you. >

As a dog trainer who helps folks with rescues all the time it all comes down to one thing imo; what purpose do you want your dog to have in your lifestyle. 
If you need a dog for a certain task whatever it may be (working, guarding, dog shows etc)a reputable breeder is likely the way to go
If you just want a family pet with no particular job in mind a rescue will probably be suitable for you and your wallet. 
It really just boils down to- what will your dogs purpose be (even if it’s just companionship), can you afford them as well as vet care, food, grooming etc, and will the dog match your lifestyle (are you a couch potato and want a lazy dog or are you super fit and want a dog to join on the 5k), and how much time are you willing/able to spend with the dog on training 
Ask yourself those 4 things and from there you can determine if a breeder or a rescue suits you the best. >

I completely agree. I always had a similar opinion that specific dog breeds are for a specific job or simply working dogs. So it really pisses me off when people buy high energy working dogs from breeders just because they look nicer than muts in the shelters. I've seen people keeping shepherd breeds or huskies in one room flats and like what's the point of that? When I'm gonna have a huge farm with livestock I will buy a dog from a good breeder. Until then, shelter muts are just as smart, sweet and loving as any other breed. 
But I really think your comment is on point! >

Oh absolutely agree with that sentiment. My favorite is always “I got a Belgian Malinois  because I thought it’d be like my old German Shepherd”
No sir you adopted a furry crack head >

I think it depends on what you want. If your going for a specific breed you should probably go to a breeder, if you don’t really care what the breed is a mix from a shelter is probably better. >

Breed specific rescues also exist! :) >

I’m referring to specialty breeds or rare breeds.  Like my dream dog you would never find in a shelter. You would have to get from a breeder.