The recent discussion about Bo, the Portugese Water Dog, and the Obamas is important.
Vice President Biden, who I adore, actually, made a serious mistake in buying a German Shepherd pup from a breeder. Gads. Of all the dog breeds, a rescued GSD pup would have been possibly the easiest rescue breed available. One of my dear friends is, in fact, the director of a local GSD Rescue.
Be that as it may, Portugese water dogs are found rarely in rescue. In my 35 years, I have had one, and this was the best guess of groomers.
But this brings to the fore the question of who and what is or is not a rescue.
Sniff over the line.
Rescue, the term, has different meanings to different people and having done it in many forms since about 19 years old (I am now 55, the term didn't even exist for most of MY life let alone did any reasonable condition congeal until rather recently and still the definitions are airy-fairy) I suggest that the raise and sink given this is, actually, all a matter of definition and, more important, perception.
As with all things, "rescue" has many definitions/meanings depending on whether one is a group or person that spays and neuters (or not) and finds homes (qualified or not) for shelter or owner reliquished cats/dogs/farm animals/horses etc. But there is a different standard for many: a rescue includes breeders that microchip and takes back their bred dogs AS ALL RESPONSIBLE, GOOD BREEDERS DO unlike backyard breeders and pet-store (puppy mill) breeders do.
If one goes to any breed on the AKC list (and believe me, I am hardly a fan of the AKC for reasons too many to enumerate here), you will find a link to a/several rescue(s). It might be a national or state or local breed group. These are the folks that know and love this breed, and have extensive experience with the breed. Yes, they are breeders. They DO rescue. BUT, often they work with and support breed rescues as well. Backyard breeders (BYBs) don't do this cuz, well, they are just shit breeders making in some cases tens and tens of thousands of dollars under the tax radar and really don't give a shit for breeding protocols or health testing, etc. let alone the health or wellbeing of the mother. NO different than puppymills, and worse, because they are unregulated and these are the puppies you find on craigslist.com and in your local newspaper, column after pathetic column.
NO good breeder does this. NONE. None.
The best of the best breeders NEVER advertise their dogs. They don't need to. The pups of their rarely bred dogs are spoken for YEARS before they are even born.
So... back to Obama's dog.
The Obama's dog was returned to the breeder for whatever reason. That breeder obviously, has a 'return policy' no different that breeders on rescue lists and, in fact, my own rescue (I don't breed and never have): In short, if you cannot or are not willing to keep the dog/cat, the dog/cat (by legal contract) must return to us, the breeder/rescue.
Many, many on line rescue lists, in fact the major CA shelter rescue list, require microchipping and breeder take backs among we that don't breed, never have and never will. I can tell you, as someone that has transported almost a thousand shelter dogs/cats, that breed rescues (including responsbile breeders) often take more than their share, even cats/dogs not of their breed (all spayed and neutered) and sometimes not even of the same species.
This kerfluffle over Obama's dog, including comments by USHS and others (and importantly understand they took in MILLIONS of dollars on Katrina and unlike Best Friends in Utah, cut and ran. They left long before it was over.
So before you make any assumption on the Obama's dog, it is important to understand the distinction(s).
As for me, I am happier than shit that the girls got their dog and hope that this beauty will not bother the allergies of their daughter with sensitivities.
Sheesh.
Right wing, get a grip.