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Deciding to get a pet is a large step in a family’s life. They have to decide what kind of pet that they want, what breed, and the general size. They might have already narrowed down their name choices for their new pet, picked out where its bed will be and bought some toys. Now all that is left to do is to get the actual pet. For far too many people, that next step will involve a trip to the local pet store for a purebred cat or dog, but our shelters are filled beyond capacity with pets that just need a little love and their chance to finally find a forever home.

Before you spend a large amount of money on a purebred puppy or kitten consider a few things. Are you planning on showing your new addition at shows? Is this a business decision that you are making? If the answer to both is no, then by all means reconsider spending that much money on buying your new friend. Go down to the shelter and walk through. Talk to the shelter staff, and let them know exactly what you would like to find. If the exact right animal is not there, and you truly do not connect with any of the available pets, leave your name with staff and have them call you if the right pet does become available.

Once you have made your selection, you will fill out an application and pay a small fee. In some shelters, there is an interview to make sure that the pet and the adoptive family is a good match. There might be an in house interview as well, to see the environment that the new pet will be coming too, and to make sure that there is adequate space for him. Some shelters now require an offsite interview with an area veterinarian who will fill out a letter of recommendation for the prospective adoptive family in order to assure the shelter staff that post adoption care will be maintained on a regular schedule.

After you have filled out the paperwork, answered all of the questions and been interviewed by those in charge, you will get to the most fulfilling part of adopting- the moment they put that leash or carrying cage in your arms and you bring your brand new family member home for good.

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There are many reasons for people to get pets. Some get a companion so that they do not feel lonely. Some get a jogging partner or walking mate to help them lose weight. Some find themselves getting a pet for a sense of security. No matter why they choose to get a pet, people should be encouraged to begin their search at the local shelter. Adopting a pet is not only less expensive than buying from the pet stores, it can be a socially and emotionally rewarding way to find your next best friend.

Shelters all over the country are filled beyond capacity with a frightening number of pets being euthanized each day. While it is true that each purebred breed has its own fan club, there is an awful lot to be said for the pound puppies as well. Do not let a less than pedigreed pooch put you off, there is no certification for true love.

The best adoption shelters in the country will put each pet and potential pet owner through rigorous examinations before allowing you to bring your choice home, a fact that may put a shelter dog ahead of others in safety. Do you really know what the aggression factor is with that purebred? I bet they can tell you the answer to that question at the shelter. They not only check for health risks, but social skills as well. Pets that show any sign of fear, aggression or other potential problems will be labeled as un-adoptable and kept in the shelter. Others will find themselves looking for and hopefully finding their new forever home.

In the end, it if it does not matter where you find your best friend, why not start at the shelter? Find the nearest shelter and start your search there. Not finding the right breed or the right size dog? Leave your name and number with staff, along with a brief description of what you would like to find and they will probably come through fairly quickly. Don’t get hung up on designer dogs and expensive pet stores. Do not buy a puppy from a breeder that you are not familiar with, because who will you complain to if there is a problem? And never buy a pet from a suspected puppy mill or any company that might deal with the mills and unscrupulous breeders. Adopting a pet from a shelter will save its life, and hopefully, the shelter pet will steal your heart in the process!

There are three main ways to adopt a pet for your family. The location of the pet really depends on what type of breed you are looking for. In this article we will discuss mostly dogs and cats, how to adopt them, and where to adopt them.

The three main ways to adopt a pet include a breeder, private owner, or retail location. The retail location can be a pet store or humane society. First let’s discuss a breeder. If you are going to adopt a dog or cat of a specific mix, you are going to want to find a breeder that offers that particular combination. Most often you can find a breeder through an online internet source that gives you a description of the breed. You will want to check out a few breeders to compare the cost of that pet, as well as the facilities. You should never exchange money until you have seen the dog or can be guaranteed the breeder has the animal’s best interests at heart. Most often, adopting through a breeder is going to be expensive, and they do not pay for vet costs once you have adopted the pet. In other words, if you have exchanged the money but haven’t picked up the dog, any vet visits will be for you to take care of, even neutering or spaying will be out of your pocket.

With a humane society, you will find any pet is going to be neutered or spayed before the animal will be released. This type of location offers rescued animals, pre-owned, and occasionally new pets. The retail stores will be the same depending on what city you are located in. Although some retail stores will just have specific breeds directly from the breeders. In these places you cannot adopt a dog or cat until it has all of the proper shots and has been neutered or spayed. They will also be looking into your background.

In fact, both the breeders and retail shops are going to want your history. They will ask why you are adopting a pet, perhaps even stop by your home or ask where it is located, as well as call some references. Most places will not allow a pet to be adopted until they are satisfied that it is going to a good, “forever home”.

With private owners you will experience something a little different. Private owners are not breeders, but someone who can no longer take care of their pet or has had a litter of kittens or dogs. It is very easy to adopt from most private owners as they have the pets up for free or a small fee. You will be responsible for the neutering or spaying. Also, the fee is usually less than the humane societies and breeders. The conditions may be less than stellar for some homes. It will depend on where you have found your pet. You always want to make sure the cat or dog is healthy and has had at least one visit to the vet before private adoption.