She was a stray(?)
so how do they know what mix she is.

   Chows have purple on their tongue, so many people see purple and think
"Chow." Just like they see a black and white dog and think "Border Collie."
Well-meaning people overwhelmed with lots of dogs have to guess. <shrug>
You can't blame them; they're doing the best they can.

   maybe she is not quite "the one" Maybe I shouldn't put so much expense &
other people's time & effort into a far off dog when the money might be
better spent here at home in S. Texas.

   You have to decide if you are willing to sell the house to support a
dog...now work backwards and see what your budget and sanity can spare. It
could be that a closer dog is just as worthy as a far away one, and
hopefully someone closer to the far away dog will take it home while you
search for the one close to you.
  We'd like to save them all but have to live in our limitations and rely on
others to do their part as well.

Rini