Many future pet owners like the idea of raising a purebred dog. Since they are less common in shelters, people often turn to breeders or pet stores to find their new furry companion. What they don’t realize is that pups that come from these places are often forced to endure poor living conditions. Whether you want a Golden Retriever or Border Collie, breed-specific pet rescues are the better option for you and the pup.

If you’re interested in adopting a particular dog breed, here’s why you should look into breed-specific pet rescue agencies.

Get connected with the right dog

One huge difference between pet stores and rescue agencies is that one focuses on turning a profit while the other focuses on what’s best for the dog. You don’t have to visit a pet store in order to find exactly what you’re looking for. In fact, up to 30 percent of all shelter dogs are purebred! Breed-specific pet rescues are worth your while because you’ll find the breed you’re looking for, and the staff will pair you up with a dog that perfectly matches your experience, activity and commitment levels.

The staff who volunteer at breed-specific pet rescues are experts about one type of dog. They work with one specific breed and get to know its personality traits and health risks. Pet parents who want a purebred pup should adopt from a breed-specific pet rescue because the staff can tell you everything you need to know before finalizing the adoption.

Adoption is a rigorous process, but it comes with a huge payoff. The staff at rescue agencies have seen what happens when people buy a purebred dog based on their level of cuteness. Owners might realize they can’t handle that breed’s requirements. They turn over the dog to a shelter, or worse, let them loose to the streets. Breed-specific pet rescues do everything in their power to pair each dog with a forever home.

It’s the humane thing to do

Prospective owners commonly believe the only way to find a specific breed is to go shopping. That’s simply not true—there’s a rescue agency dedicated to almost every dog breed you could possibly imagine! When it comes down to it, pet parents can either find purebreds at pet stores filled by puppy mills or find that same bundle of cuteness at a breed-specific pet rescue. When you look at it that way, the choice seems pretty obvious.

There’s no telling the full extent of what rescue pups have been through. Many come with a backstory of the conditions endured prior to joining a rescue agency, but one look into that furry face will make it clear the trauma runs deep. That doesn’t mean it’s too late to save a troubled pup! For all the trauma they’ve experienced, purebred rescues are just as capable as any other dog of lavishing humans with unconditional love.

Rescue pups are lovable creatures

Another common misconception about purebred rescues is that they’re damaged in some way. Future pet parents might avoid adoption because they’re convinced buying from a breeder guarantees better quality. But in reality, the pups at breed-specific rescues make wonderful companions. Purebred dogs end up in shelters by no fault of their own—they’ve merely fallen victim to abusive owners or bad circumstances.

What many pet parents don’t realize is a lot of purebred rescue dogs started their lives in puppy mills. When puppy mills get shut down, the dogs have nowhere to go other than shelters and breed-specific pet rescues. This goes to show that the place where dogs are adopted or sold doesn’t determine how much love they deserve. Purebreds are taken to rescue agencies not because there’s something wrong with them; rather, it’s where these dogs have the best chance possible of finding a safe, happy home.

You’ll know exactly what to expect

A typical pet shelter will house a variety of mixed breeds. Shelter staff won’t always be able to tell prospective owners the exact breed of a dog, which makes it harder to predict their temperament. Every shelter is bound to have a couple purebreds, but the volunteers will have limited knowledge about trainability, energy requirements and health risks.

By contrast, breed-specific pet rescues specialize in a certain breed and can give you a full rundown of what to expect from your new pup. The staff will be completely transparent, educating owners about a breed’s increased risk for certain chronic illnesses and how they behave in different social situations. All this information is crucial in determining whether a specific breed is the right fit for you.

If you’ve got your heart set on a purebred companion, there are breed-specific pet rescues all over to explore. You’ll need to do a bit of searching, as there’s no guarantee your town will have the specific rescue agency you’re looking for. However, the search for the perfect companion is well worth your time and effort when you finally get to bring home a purebred rescue pup!