There is a big difference between the AKC and the Canine Kennel Club. The AKC is "the" national registration in the United States. Canine Kennel Club, Continential Kennel Club, World Wide Kennel Club and a multitude of other legitimate sounding names are nothing more than paper registries. They do nothing but provide papers to dogs based on the word of the owner. Many of these "clubs" don't require previous registration or even known purebred status to register a dog as anything you'd like. They don't hold shows, OB or agility trials, don't sponsor health studies and certainly don't record DNA. Just send a check. The OP should add that to the list......beware of advertisements of "registered mix breds". A lot of "breeders" turn to these registries after they have been suspended by AKC. There is also UKC (United Kennel Club) but I have misgivings about them sometimes as well. JMHO, but they are the minor league of the dog world. They do however recognize many breeds that the AKC doesn't yet.
The AKC isn't perfect, but yes they do have some degree of power to keep breeders in check. They certainly don't (can't) police everyone but they do have certain restrictions in order to register dogs with them. They do require DNA for frequently used studs. They do have requirements for record keeping. They will investigate breeders who have several complaints lodged against them. They do suspend for convictions of animal cruelty. You can access the Gazette on their website (
www.akc.org) and look at just how many breeders they suspend each month. However, yes it is still up to you to research and not just believe AKC can solve any problems.
Sorry to hear you had a sick dog and thank you for opening up your home to a dog in need. But at the risk of flaming....... you didn't do the pup a favor of the "pity adoption". "Rescue" or not, what you did was line that persons pockets and give them a reason to keep breeding. As long as they have customers, who love them or hate them, they have a reason to keep breeding. The only way to put them out of business is to stop buying their product. Adopt from rescues or shelters....which is where these dogs end up anyway, but at least not at a profit to the breeder.
As to rescues, just like breeders there are good ones and bad ones. You need to check them out just like you would a breeder. Of course they can't offer you a guarantee of the dog's health as they generally pull from shelters where history is unknown. The dogs will get a basic health exam for obvious problems and have it's vaccinations and heartworm testing. Some rescues provide even more such as spay/neuter prior to placement or a certificate to have it done at a lower cost. Most smaller private rescues have available dogs in foster homes. Pretty low risk of spreading illnesses considering these dogs usually live with the foster family's pets too. Cat's are more difficult. Kittens born with upper respiratory are usually of a herpes virus. And just like the virus in humans, it cannot be cured, only managed. Cats with herpes URI's will flare up from time to time all their lives and can pass it to other cats. Dogs do not have this issue.
Any new puppy, breeder or rescue, should have limited access to public areas and other dogs until it's had it's full series of immunizations. Puppies, like babies, have weaker immune systems. But a healthy adult dog, vaccinated all it's life, has little to no chance to catch anything from a sick pup. So unless your dog has some medical issues I wouldn't worry much about anything happening to her with exposure to a new puppy.
I currently have the best of both worlds. Two I bred myself and two I rescued. You can get great dogs either way. Just take your time and find the right match. Another resource I forgot to mention before was inquire at your vet. He/she may have clients that breed and/or rescue and could point you in a direction to start looking.
Good luck.
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