As a novice dog owner, I went with the sure thing. Now that I have a little more confidence, I think I could handle a pound "Lab mix", even if he or she had some quirks. But I am really holding out for another dog from the same or similar breeding as Shelley - a little quick Lab.
The thing that struck me about the Texas rescue sites is that they were doing the hip dysplasia surgery on quite a number of the Labs. Last time I checked, that was $3,000 per hip (and it's probably more now). I guess they have vets who donate their services, because a couple of those could break a small rescue organization . . .
I donate as much as I can the DFW lab rescue every year, but I could do it for ten years and still not repay how much they spent on Bubba.
On the surface, he looked like a perfect dog. He was purchased from a good breeder in Oklahoma and hadn't been a stray. His owner had died.
HOWEVER, the owner's son had taken Bubba and seriously neglected him. When we got him he had: heartworms, several other varieties of intestinal worms, canine acne, had not been neutered, serious ear infections...
and hardest of all to deal with was separation anxiety. We couldn't even leave him for a couple of months without one of us being with him.
All is fine now, though, and he is a great joy. DFW paid for most of the treatment. He is still on clomicalm, but I get the generic off the net...it's not too expensive.
they charge $200, but they easily spent over a thousand on Bubba.