Cowgirl said:
Krazd, as much as I agree with you on rescuing dogs, sometimes it is necessary to buy from a breeder, even an Amish one. My friends have sheep, and they needed a border collie, so they went to an amish farm and bought a pup. The dog is not registered, but it is purebred. In this case, they needed a dog to handle a specific duty on the farm. If they had rescued the dog, they wouldn't have known its background, what the parents were like, etc. They chose to buy a dog from an amish farm because it was a pup with working parents. A border collie breeder (even a COE one) probably would not have been able to provide a pup that could actually work on a farm. Sometimes breeders get so involved in the "show" animal, that they breed away from the working lines for which the dog was actually bred. Take a look at greyhounds...retired racers and AKC or WKC dogs look hardly anything alike.
So anyways, while I agree that most times it is better to rescue a dog, sometimes it is better to buy from a breeder.
Well, the majority of "Amish" are pure and simple Back Yard Breeders and anyone buying from them runs a risk purchasing one of their dogs. They do not pay any attention to what they are breeding. Yes, they probably have "working" dogs, but you can as easily get a working dog from a good breeder, you will pay more, no doubt, but you will be better assured of getting an animal w/less genetic health/temperment problems.
I agree that many times when you are looking for a dog for a "specific" purpose, you need to go to a breeder and not a rescue. The rescues are "full" of the BYB purebred dogs, dogs that are not suitable for what their breed is for. Most times, the traits they have the most of are the "undesirable" traits that are common in their breed, but they have it 10x worse (i.e. prey drive, attack any small animal).
The BYB's will also sell their dogs to ANYONE, without regard to what type of home it's going to. How many ads do we see daily, someone trying to rehome their dog, it's too hyper, needs more exercise, (to name only a few) these are traits that are common in the dog they bought, but not only did they not research their purchase, the "breeder" didn't care what type of home they would provide, all they wanted was the $$ in the bank.
Trust me, I have NOTHING against COE breeders. They have a definite place in society and in the pet population. It's the BYB's and the puppy mills that have no place in society and until everyone takes an interest and decides to take a stand, there will always be a need for rescue. Another thing you can trust me on, I look forward to the day rescue isn't needed and I don't have to try to educate hard headed people, or people looking for the cheapest dog - the day that I don't have to go take pictures of dogs on their last day, the night I can go to sleep not worrying about if the 10 yr old dog got adopted, or the 6 month old pitbull got rescued. (edited to add, the day I can go to the shelter and not cry because someone "dumped" their dog instead of paying the vet to fix the problems (genetic), or because they didn't have the "balls" to let that pet go gracefully and painfree) The day I can have only my "own" dogs.
(And before someone jumps on the above statement, yes, I could do that today, except my conscience won't let me.)
And I do happen to know that you practice what you preach. 
NO. Ask your "breeder". Why should we be ultimately resposible for the actions of others, when we can only control our own? 
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