If you are looking for a pet to complete your family, your local animal shelter is the best source for a wide Variety of adults, as well as many puppies and kittens. You may be skeptical about the idea of adopting a pet that was once someone else’s, but once you go to the shelter and see all of the animals there just waiting for a home, you will change your mind for sure. If you don’t find the perfect one on the first day, then come again the next week. The truth is that many shelters receive new animals each day. Shelters also keep waiting lists at hand, where you may list just what you are looking for, and they will call you up when they receive an animal that fits the description.

You’ll be surprised what you can find at your animal shelter. Many people wrongly believe that the only kinds of animals in the shelters are problematic animals. They believe that only large, old, vicious and ill-behaved mutts are left in shelters. How wrong they are! The truth is that most of the times dogs and cats are left because their owners had vastly unrealistic expectations of the ease of the commitment required in owning the pet. The dogs tend not to be old though, they are typically very young and healthy, capable of becoming a great companion. Yes, most dogs in shelters tend to be on the larger size. Why? Well because owners easily fall in love with the cute and cuddly puppy that they buy, not realizing that in just a few months their puppy will grow into a large dog that needs lots of time, exercise, trips to the vet, and all around commitment. Generally, the larger the dog, the more time and effort is needed. So there is a general trend in dogs that are given up for adoption. Many common excuses among owners are things like, “we are moving to the city or to a smaller place”, or “We just had a baby, there is no time” etc.

The shelter is in fact lucky if the owner decides to go to the shelter. This way, the shelter is able to attempt to find a home as soon as possible, and collect as much information from the owner as possible. Sometimes, irresponsible owners just drop their dog off on the road. These are the times when other persons find the dog roaming around, and end up calling the shelter, or animal control. Essentially, the animal shelter picks up on the responsibility that the previous owner abandoned. The shelters try very hard to ensure that all of the animals are adoptable. This means that they do temperament tests, and they check for illnesses. The dogs are also spayed or neutered, in order to prevent unnecessary breeding. Many shelters even provide adoption counseling, in order to make sure that the right choice will be made. Shelter animals are also very inexpensive in comparison to dogs from breeders or other sellers. What’s more, they will most likely be vaccinated and spayed/neutered.

If you are looking for a specific breed, you can find it at a shelter too! About 25% of the dogs at shelters are purebreds. Another way to get the breed you are looking for is to go to breed-specific rescue centers.

Thus, the real question is, why wouldn’t you go to a shelter?

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Just one trip down to your local animal shelter will inform you of the various mistakes owners make. Before you go out and get a dog, you want to make sure that its right for you! A dog will rely on you for everything, from food to proper exercise to training and vet trips. Are you ready for those monetary expenses, for those time expenses? For those accidents that will indefinably occur before your dog is properly trained?

As of now, do you have children that are younger than 8 years old? It’s recommended that you wait until your children are at least 8 before you go out and get a dog. There are many reasons why. For one, a child that young will need gratuitous amounts of time and attention. Young children are bound to get into trouble, and they aren’t always keen on listening to the rules. Furthermore, children of that age aren’t really adept at taking care of other living beings (certainly not a dog) and they often don’t know how to properly handle dogs, and be gentle. On the other hand, you as a parent know more than anyone else what your children are like and what they can or cannot handle.

On that note, who is going to be the primary caretaker of the dog? Are you single, or do you have a family? If you believe that your children are going to fill that role, then you best reconsider your decision. Moreover, if you’re in a family, are you sure that everyone in the family wants a dog? Your dog will bark, shed and make messes, and if your family members aren’t fond of him or her, then resentment and tension might grow. Besides, you al want to agree on the same things, like if the dog can jump up on the couch or not, or if he is allowed in certain areas … etc. It’s best not to confuse your dog of the rules, or else he will come to learn that certain things are unacceptable only with some.

Certainly, you will want to make sure that no one in your family is allergic. This might come as a surprise, but allergies may start up in seemingly random fashion. On another note, if you don’t own the house you are living in, you might want to check with your landlord if a dog is ok, more specifically what size dogs are ok or not. Still on the topic of your home, do you have a fenced in yard or something similar? If you don’t then that’s alright, but be aware that this means you are going to have to walk your dog out everyday. This can be a good thing though, as it will give both you and your dog a chance to exercise and socialize. Keep in mind though that its not always sunny or warm out, and your required to clean up after your dog most everywhere.

Now, you may think that you are the perfect owner, but we can’t always be home. So are you certain that your dog will be attended to while you are not there? Your dog is going to need at least 4 bathroom breaks a day (more if he is small) as well as exercise and some company in order to keep him out of trouble. Lonely dogs can prove to be very destructive, and leaving your dog in the yard may not be the best solution either. Crates are good for a few hours, but you can’t expect to leave the dog in there all day.

How is your schedule? Are you busy beyond belief? Be careful taking care of your dog doesn’t become another “burden” to your schedule. What about money? Be prepared to spend around $800 for you dog in his first year. Yes, its quite expensive once you add up everything.

Have you had a dog before? You may see neighbors doing great with their pets, and you may have had one when you were a child, but unless you have actually taken.

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