However, is their life LESS deserving because they are adoptable?
I don't think it transfers to breedism however. I believe there is a difference between saying, "Sorry, we do not prioritize the resources to work with and rehabilitate (when often it is impossible) severely temperamentally disturbed dogs and medically damaged dogs." Do those dogs deserve another chance? Sure, most do, but at the cost of many good dogs that get over looked because their story isn't sad enough? That is only up to the rescue to decide I suppose.
Personally I do support some of the sob story dogs but I feel more emotion, maybe I'm jaded, for those who have been looked over because they have all 4 legs, their health, and a smile no matter their age. They seem to get passed over when being pulled all too frequently because they don't break hearts as easily as the beaten, broken, and needing dogs.
Maybe it's the dramatics, maybe we just want something to protect, whatever it is I am glad for it for those who benefit, I'm just not convinced most rescues out there have any patience for dogs without a "story" behind them.
I do believe in the end it's all about balance and frankly the reality that most rescues do not survive past 2 years shows that the balance is lacking, most see these heart breaking stories, jump in and forget to put their own oxygen masks on first. You can't possibly continue helping dogs if you go bankrupt and permanently fill all of your foster homes with un-adoptable/extremely long term rescue dogs.
Ah, and I should add, the lab rescue I respect and donate to happily took that 10-13 year old lab I had for a day. They walked in, looked, fished out a slip lead and said she's ours. <shrug>