adopting a pet

   1. Healthy, loving pets of all shapes and sizes are available. A common assumption is that all the pets that are brought into a shelter must have something wrong with it. Not true! Pets are surrendered for many reasons, including: owners moving to no-pet housing; allergies; an illness, death, or other hardship results in the family being financially or otherwise unable to properly care for the pet; or simply that an impulsive owner did not consider the time, effort, and money required to care for a pet.

   2.

Thousands of homeless and abandoned pets reside in shelters and rescue organizations.

Each pet has its own personality and will react to new situations differently - including the introduction to a new home or a new pet. Some pets will merely tolerate each other. Others will become the very best of friends. Here are a few tips for introducing a new pet into your home.

If you are adopting a dog from a humane society or pet rescue organization, ask if they will permit you to bring your own dog in for an introduction.

Everyone loves kittens and puppies because they're cute and playful. And yet it seems like everyone who's ever raised a kitten or puppy has at least one "horror story" to go along with it! Baby animals are adorable, but there are many loving older pets who need "retirement homes" to call their own. Reasons to adopt an older pet include:

- They're more mellow and tend to have better house manners. While many are still active, they're just as content to relax at home with you.

Animal shelters are filled to overflowing with adoptable pets that would make excellent companions. It's a myth that only "problem pets" end up at shelters; pets are turned in for many reasons including lack of pet-friendly housing, owners with health issues that prevent them from properly caring for their pets, and people who adopted an animal without fully realizing what was involved in its care.

If you are thinking of adding a pet to your household, visit your local shelter or humane society to visit with the pets currently available for adoption.

It can be tempting to get another pet; there are so many in need of homes, and the companionship they provide to all the members of the household (both human and animal) is very rewarding. However, before you add another animal to your pack, consider:

- Do you have the time (and patience) to devote to a new companion? Responsibilities at work and home may limit the amount of free time you have. With a new pet, there's always an adjustment period that can vary widely from pet to pet.

Animal shelters and rescue organizations are filled with pets who have been turned in by their owners because of lifestyle issues: the dog requires too much attention or too much exercise, the cat needs regular grooming that they don't want to deal with, and so on.

Adopting a new pet is both exciting and rewarding ... and it should be a life-long commitment. Before you choose a new pet, consider how it will fit into your lifestyle. Ask yourself:

How active are you?

     If your family enjoys regular long-distance hiking or walking, look for an active breed dog that you'll be able to take with you.