For a long time, I searched for a chow. Chows had been in my life before and I missed them very badly. A friend of mine told me that she thought that once you had owned a chow, they became part of your DNA. I think that about covers it.

The big decision for me, as I wanted primarily a companion chow, one who might be able to do some obedience work, was to decide if I wanted a chow from a breeder, or from Rescue.

There are breeders out there that show a great deal of pride in their dogs. They can size up the overall body type, note faults that you can't even see, and are very open about any problems in their line. They care about eyes, and hips, and if you find one, and a purebred chow is your dream, you are truly blessed. You see, quite a few people have found the other kind of breeder, who tidies it all up and makes it look pretty, but really doesn't follow through, or take the care in planning breedings as should be done. I just decided that,

Often dogs from pet shops wind up in rescue, or facing death in a shelter, because their adopters didn't realize that the adult dog would have needs a little different from the small cuddly puppy. Many have not been neutered or spayed, and before they are rescued have also added significantly to the number of strays that shelters take in every day.

Sometimes puppies are born less than perfect. Brokers do not buy them, and they are killed, and not much compassion is shown in the methods used.

So many dogs, from cross breeds like labradoodles, cockapoos, and the so called designer dogs, to beautiful pure breds, are euthanized on this continent because there was no home for them.

If you do not want to breed, or to show in the conformation ring, consider a dog (or cat) from a rescue situation. If you don't know how to find one, look on Petfinder.com, or join a list on yahoogroups.com. There is no shortage of dogs.

Here is the story of one special dog, a chowchow, and the way he found his way to his forever home.