What was your reasoning for buying vs rescuing?
To be honest... the first dog I bought from a responsible breeder was for aesthetics. I wanted a gorgeous dog, and finding a "gorgeous, correct representative of the breed" in rescue is
not easy. I knew I wanted a dobe, so it was either breed rescue or a breeder. Thank goodness I did my research and went with a good breeder right away, instead of making a 'rookie mistake' and going with a BYB. Also, I was 16 years old... probably not a very attractive home to most rescues.
No, rescuing came later. However, my rescue dog was also specifically picked with looks and temperament in mind... which is why my rescue dog came from a different country, 1800 miles away from my home. Talla is a rescue, but in my mind she is just as 'purebred' as my Dobermans.
Did you feel any guilt for purchasing?
Absolutely not.
I also didn't feel guilty for importing a rescue dog, despite many people who tried to make me feel horrible about it. (How dare you rescue a dog from Mexico when there are
local dogs you could have adopted! Bow to her, bow to your Queen of Slime...)
It's my money, my life, my decision. No sense feeling guilty for what works best for your situation.