Our much beloved pets are rescue animals although our dog was rescued as a pup by my son after she was dumped in his neighborhood and before she ever saw a shelter. We drove from Michigan to Tennessee to get her when he was sent to Iraq.
If we ever need another pet, first we will ask our vet if he knows of an animal in need of a home; then, if he knows of none, the LOCAL humane society. There is no reason to go out of state.
Come to think of it, our vet decided we needed a cat rather than our perceiving a need for one before his suggestion. Oh, well. He was right, and her previous owner (#3) was wrong.