Your statements are SUPER hypocritical. You say you are getting a "Cockapoo puppy", not just a Cockapoo. There are rarely Cockapoo puppies in shelters... why? Because the irresponsible, impulsive buyers that do dump their dogs in shelters almost ALWAYS postpone that until the puppy gets bigger, starts going through adolescent phases, the newness wears off, or they dump their senior Cockapoo that is starting to get health problems.

AND, you just said your Mom is saving up money to "spay" the puppy. If you intended to rescue a Cockapoo from a shelter, you wouldn't need money for spaying ~ you'd just need $80-150 to adopt the spayed, utd on shots, healthy dog.

Please consider rescuing any small, poodle mix. There are a lot of sweet "designer" dogs that are bought from pet stores and BYB's and many dumped in shelters. With Cockapoo's, you basically have no clear prediction on what the puppy's personality/size/coat type the dog will be because it is a MIXED breed. Puppies will also cost a LOT of money besides the initial spaying and grooming ~ what if the puppy contracts an illness? Think about all of the rounds of shots in the first year, all of the heartworm and flea meds, good food, many toys and chewies. Not to mention, 99% of dogs from pet stores ARE sick with kennel cough or a number of other illnesses, as are pups from BYB's and mills ~ NO responsible breeder will breed mixed breeds! Therefore, rescuing is the only way to go, unless you just want to pour more money into the pockets of greedy puppy mills and BYB's at the expense of the dogs. You say you want to "rescue" a Cockapoo puppy... but what about that puppies parents, still trapped in cages pumping out several litters a year? What about that puppies siblings? And their cousins, uncles, aunts, etc? Supporting the mills and BYB's IS contributing to the overpopulation, because if there is no demand there will be no supply.

You said you'd like to volunteer at a shelter? Why don't you try volunteering, and find a dog that truly fits you and you'd like to give a loving home to?