So, while playing around with the idea of getting another dog, I decided that a Boston terrier would be the perfect fit for me, my husband and Freda. They are small, are moderately active and don't bark as much as other small dogs (My husband hates yappy dogs and I tend to feel similarly.) I began looking around and started to realize that it would be unlikely that I would find a young Boston through an adoption agency. The closest Boston terrier resuce organization is several hours away and generally only has older dogs. (I'd like to point out that normally I am all for adopting an older dog, but in an effort to make Freda more comfortable, I decided that a puppy would be easier for her to adjust to.) Breaking down to the cuteness, I started to look at reputable, family breeders. The cute puppies drew me in. I was unable to stop myself from imagining the adorable scene that would unfold once a tiny, funny-faced puppy was romping around the living room.

I thought I had made the decision. That was it. I'm getting a puppy from a breeder. It felt wrong...but it had to be done. These were my thoughts up until the other night, when I happened to catch an Animal Planet special on puppy mills. Hundreds of skinny, matted, filthy dogs in tiny cages were being rescued by Humane Society agents and animal control officers. It was heartbreaking and devestating. I am amazed at the cruelty inflicted on animals by people in this supposedly civilized society. I'm not going to go too deeply into things because it just makes me so mad, but I just have to say that it changed things in me. Now I know that reputable breeders do not treat their animals like that. I know, but the realization came down to the fact that the animals in those puppy mills needed to be adopted. Thousands of animals need to be adopted. They need homes more than the purebred puppies I was looking at. The purebred puppies will find loving homes. I have no doubt about it, but the puppies in shelters and rescue organizations are not always so lucky.

It is going to take longer and will require more searching, but I've decided that keeping an eye on the local shelters and rescues for that perfect puppy is going to be the best choice for me. I have nothing against people who buy their puppies from breeders and I am well aware of the appeal, but I think it's just not for me. I will say though, that you should never, ever buy a pet from a pet store that cannot provide concrete proof of where they purchase their animals. You simply do not know what you are going to get or what your money is going to support. So now, the search continues...