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.

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.

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.

Animal shelters are filled to overflowing with adoptable pets that would make excellent companions.

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.

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.