For a dog or cat, I think rescuing is the best option.................but for a bird, if you want a larger parrot, like a cockatoo, african grey, macaw, etc. you would have to pay $1000, $2000, or even more when buying from a pet store, OR a breeder. I would definitely pay that much for such a bird if I could afford it, because getting a bird from a shelter could mean feather plucking, or other serious problems that are hard to deal with. I would love to rescue, but I would prefer getting a bird from a breeder, as a baby, so it gets attached to me right from the start. I would pay that much for such a bird, because that's how much they cost..........everywhere (and because I WANT ONE!!). I think it really depends on the type of animal.