Overpopulation is most certainly regional, and the South is one of the worst places to have a consistent overpopulation issue. It isn't just this town, or that city, or whatever county. It's the entire region. Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia...they are all full of dogs. And yes, there was a transport truck that would come around every WEEK, and ship at least a dozen dogs north. Most of my fosters, and the other fosters I knew...they went north. Never made a dent in the population. The shelters there aren't below feigning a distemper or rabies "outbreak" or even causing one, in order to get rid of dogs. Pitbulls or any bully-looking dog is immediately put down. The likelihood of them being fighter/bait dogs, or being "adopted" to become fighter/bait dogs is through the roof. Not only that, but the shelter is to the brim with them anyway. There are more Pits in Memphis than possibly any other breed. Labs and Shepherds come in close, with Labs being country hunting dogs and Shepherds being guard dogs for junk yards and backyards. But Pits have a strong lead.
Memphis is the worst I've seen, and the surrounding area. You can't go anywhere without seeing a dog or 10, and don't bother calling animal control or a shelter, they are already full. And when I say full, I absolutely mean it. 3-4, sometimes more, dogs in ONE kennel...as long as they weren't killing each other. Row after row, room after room. They had to build ANOTHER building just because they no longer had the room. Rarely do they get medical attention, and they might have a good day if they get fed. Many shelters are "no kill" only because they don't have the money to put that many dogs down. They'd probably be better off on the streets, if you didn't have thugs picking them up as dog bait or for fighting. You can pick any dog in a shelter up for $25 if you have a pulse. That's all you need. Money and a pulse. They'll even go to the "Buy one, get one free!" level.
Honestly, after seeing all that, I'm very much pro-euth. There's simply no where for them to go, except out. But with at least 80+ dogs(on a good day, the average is 100, with majority being pup litters and seniors) being taken into the Memphis Animal Shelter alone....per day....there's just no way. You can ship as many as you want out of that area, and there will still be more. The majority of people don't have money for vet care, and the ones that do, they don't care. They think they can sell the pups and make some money. Or that it is no big deal. The attitude is very, very different when it comes to pet overpopulation in the South, and the results show for themselves.
But the area I'm in now? Nowhere Montana? Uhm, culture shock! Since I've been here last August, I've not seen a single stay dog in the city. There haven't been more than 10 dogs at any time in our local shelter. There are some BYB'ers trying to sell "papered" pups, for $800 a pop. Everyone who wants a cheaper alternative and doesn't know better goes to the local Petcetera and buys a dog. There's actually two pet stores that sell dogs here. And cats. But even so...the dogs are NO WHERE to be found. Even the farm dogs are few and far between. Why? Because believe it or not, the farmers are pretty darn picky about their working dogs. Every good pet or working dog owner I've asked...they ship the dogs in from breeders and rescues.
It's a night and day difference. Like I said before, breeder or rescue, I'm going to have to ship in a dog. And I know it's not just here. There are MANY places that actually don't have an overpopulation issue at all. And if you're already pushing $600 or more between adoption fees and ship fees, why NOT get picky and find exactly what you want? If Mexidogs fit your bill, I don't see the problem in getting one. A life is a life, and you're saving it either way.
Sorry for the novel.
But I had to add my input. A few years ago, I would have been on the NO BREEDING EVER soapbox, being a crazy rescue lady. Then I realized it's just the area, and not the entire country. A little travel gives you a lot of insight.