Originally, Charlie Brown found Snoopy at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, which was far enough away that he had to take the bus to get there. I can't remember why he wanted a dog, although I know that is relevant to the answer. Snoopy was the last one left of all the puppies--he had been sold and returned. The little girl who adopted him, Lila, had to bring him back after her parents decided to move. This will resurface throughout the comic strip and in "Snoopy Come Home" the movie. Their owner was selling them for quite a bit of money, but he kept knocking the price down until he got to $50. Charlie Brown showed up and found Snoopy. He had something like $5. The kindly farmer sold the puppy to him for that price; Charlie Brown and Snoopy then took the bus back to his house to begin their future together. As Linus puts it, "Charlie Brown, you got a used dog!!" For the whole story, try renting, buying or reading "Snoopy Come Home".
Charlie Brown also recounts how his parents took him to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm to get a puppy - Snoopy - after being bullied in the playground. He recalls that he was crying after being knocked down, and that "it was kind of embarrassing" to think about now.