[CFrance]

I know I will get slammed up one side and down the other for saying this, but here goes... We have had two rescue dogs. We continually donate time and money to rescue organizations, both here and elsewhere.

However, I believe it is a good thing to maintain the breeds. If no one bought thoroughbreds, breeders would only breed for themselves in order to show dogs. All other dogs would eventually become Heinz 57, as we used to call them in Pittsburgh.

I may try to rescue a senior golden or golden doodle after our current golden passes on. But I do feel safe and comfortable knowing the breed, the temperament, and being fairly sure of what I'm getting in a dog. We are not Caesar Milan in this family; don't have the skills to untrain a rescue and retrain out of certain issues . Both of us have been bitten by dogs. We've had our dogs roughed up by other dogs. We've both been around difficult dogs we couldn't trust or had the ability to retrain. If I can't find a rescue of a golden or a doodle, we will get another golden puppy. (Unless, of course, someone leaves a beagle on my doorstep--tri color, please.)

Let the slamming commence...