[crc45169]

I think that was very well said. When Hurricane Katrina hit, I signed up with our local humane soc. group to go south if needed to help the animals. My mother in law asked why I wouldn't go to help the people. My response was that if no one loved animals, no one would help them. Everyone has their passion, everyone has their way of helping. If those dedicated to go beyond the conformation standards and pay close attention to health, and their first response to breeding would be "adopt" or "rescue", then maybe over time healthy animals from breeders and shelter animals would balance out, then a little later than that, healthy animals from hobby breeders would far outnumber those who had to live their life in a shelter or rescue.
I adore rats, and speaking of, my last two rex dumbo girls were from a breeder. I could not find dumbo rexes anywhere and happened to stumble across two close to my town. I kept on and my friend kept another. Both girls died at a year from cancer. One was sudden, so we did a necropsy, but the other was slower, she eventually had to be put to sleep. It was heart breaking.
One of my dogs came from a reputable breeder. And, though no one can guarantee that a dog won't end up with some sort of problem, my dog has a written guarantee against the most common genetic disorders her breed carries. I paid more for her, but I paid for what I got, a genetically sound dog that is what the breed is. I wanted something specific, so I researched and found her. All of my other dogs, cats and misc animals have been rescues. I also help many many animals find homes and work even harder on educating every new puppy owner or person thinking of breeding anything. I've convinced a few people to spay/neuter. I hope that in my lifetime, I do convince a few more.
The whole point of this is that everyone needs to be genuinely dedicated to something good so that we can try to overcome and undo the bad. Each of us plays our own little part so that nothing is left out. Maybe I'm not very onesided on this issue, I think I can see both sides, but maybe we need people who very one sided about this to push the boat even further. It takes all kinds.

Thanks