Well my first reaction to the post was that it's my $2,000, and if I earned it, I ought to be able to spend it on anything I darned well please. However, there is way more to it and I will not feel guilty about my choices.
For one thing, when you get a dog you are committing for a long long time if you are a responsible person, and throwing too many unknowns into the mix, particularly if you are not an experienced dog person is just not the way to do this. It could result in returns to shelters and a lot of heartache and expense that could have been avoided. I also wanted to know pretty much how big my dog was going to get and find a dog that would reach the maximum size that I could handle well.
I also chose my dog because of her trainability and intelligence. I have very little tolerance for stupidity. Sorry, but that's just the way I am. If a person is not up to perpetual mental stimulation, hanging around with me can really be a chore and I admit that.
I chose a dog that is generally known to have the temperament that is most compatible with me and my lifestyle, including my work with rescuing litters of kittens and adult cats under stress. I wanted to know the historical potential of my pet and the chances of that happening through selected breeding are far greater than they are at the local shelter. A cat aggressive dog would be a nightmare for me and DEFINITELY not acceptable in my home, not even for five minutes.
For another thing, I wanted a dog who was bred by a responsible breeder who took the time to understand genetics and the particular health issues that can cause a dog owner moutains of heartbreak and money. I also did not want the risk of bringing home a dog that might have a contagious disease such as distemper or kennel cough.
Furthermore, I wanted a dog that I knew on average could live a fairly long life for a dog if he was loved and well cared for. I have watched my entire family die, lost countless loving pets, including two last year before I got Tosca. I have spent my share of tearful nights, witnessed one too many painful conditions and euthanizations of pets that I cared about to the point of breaking, and I have spent far too many thousands of dollars to save animals with genetic illnesses and illnesses that come with poor attention to breeding, lack of love and care. In short, I feel I have had more than my share of that kind of pain and I don't think it is in any way wrong of me to want to try to increase the odds of minimizing that kind of pain for myself by not taking on another pet who is not healthy, or has temperament issues/isn't going to be compatible here.
No less important: After much research of dogs, and I DO MEAN MUCH,* I chose my dog because I wanted a Collie. Period. I waited longer than a year to find one. I researched and researched and researched and did not take my decision lightly. The important thing is I made the right choice and I do not regret it, nor can anyone make me feel badly about it. I also do not feel it is very important to me for other people to 'understand' my choice not to go to a shelter for a dog and to instead pay a lot of money for a dog I wanted. I have always felt that a person who cannot combine the heart with common sense can become a train wreck very quickly. It's just not my nature to do things without putting a good deal of thought into it and calculating the odds and possibilities of the unknown. One thing I have learned along the way is, whenever I have made a decision solely with my heart while ignoring the obvious that required logic, a disaster has occurred.
Ever practical, I also paid a good deal attention to liability issues. This is because I don't want to end up living in a box under the tracks because my unpredictable dog had a trigger from the past that caused him to bite a person.
I feel that too many people try to force/interject their opinions on other people's lives as it is, and it's getting worse by the day. I chose what I chose and I am one who has always preferred to live with my own choices instead of a choice someone else talked me into. I wouldn't buy a house without eliminating as many unknowns as possible first, I certainly wouldn't blindly adopt a dog without knowing my chances of compatibility-- and I see no reason why someone shouldn't interject some logic into their life choices now and then. I think if more people used it in combo with their hearts, their lives would be vastly different than they are. In the end, when it comes to life choices, it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or whether or not they understand your choices. For example, if I can't insure with the dog against liability, I will never own that breed of dog. That's just the way I am. If I had nothing to lose, I might not care, but I do and I have reached a stage in my life where I am not willing to start over. I just figure, life tosses enough things at us and there are plenty of things we have no control over, but paying attention sensibly to the things we can control can often make the difference between happiness without unnecessary stress and misery--in some cases, it can even make a difference between success and failure.
And so, I am very happy with my choice, contented with my dog, loving and enjoying her, and it really doesn't matter to me whether or not someone else approves.