Adopting a "Shelter" Pet
The cute little faces of the puppies and kitties at your local pet store may be awfully inviting, but if you're thinking of adding a pet to your family, consider a visit to your local Humane Society before you make your final choice. Not only might you find just the right pet for your family--you'll also be saving an animal from being euthanized if a home isn't found for it. Here are a few thoughts if you're considering a "Shelter" adoption.
Most shelters spay or neuter all pets, as well as giving them basic shots, before releasing them to homes. This means your "adoption fee" at the shelter may be higher than, say, buying from the kid on the corner with a "for sale" sign on a cardboard box of kittens, but it's an expense you'd likely be paying later at the vet anyway, so you might as well get it out of the way. The shelter has a vested interest in restraining pet-populations (since they deal in the trade of unwanted animals) and their spay/neuter policy saves you the hassle of the vet-visits later.
Puppies and kittens are cute, of course--but consider taking home an older pet. These are less likely to be "rescued" (because they're in competition with the cute babies)--and you'll have the added advantage of bringing home a pet that doesn't need the toilet-training and other hassles that come with babies.
Most shelters will let you spend some time with an animal before you adopt it. Although it's not the same as your home environment, you can often get a feel for a pet's personality. You can also ask (if the shelter doesn't automatically provide this) for any information they have about the specific animal you're interested in. If it's a pet that was brought in by its previous owners, find out why. Often people have had to give up pets for reasons that were no fault of the animal (such as a move or a change in financial situation), but if the dog bit their new baby, that's something you'll want to know if you have kids. (Realize also that the previous owner may not have been entirely forthcoming about the animal's characteristics--but at least the information they provided gives you something to start with. Sometimes the shelter will even have contact information for that person so you can ask your own questions.)
Whatever you decide, congratulations on your expanded family! Pets are people too.
Most shelters spay or neuter all pets, as well as giving them basic shots, before releasing them to homes. This means your "adoption fee" at the shelter may be higher than, say, buying from the kid on the corner with a "for sale" sign on a cardboard box of kittens, but it's an expense you'd likely be paying later at the vet anyway, so you might as well get it out of the way. The shelter has a vested interest in restraining pet-populations (since they deal in the trade of unwanted animals) and their spay/neuter policy saves you the hassle of the vet-visits later.
Puppies and kittens are cute, of course--but consider taking home an older pet. These are less likely to be "rescued" (because they're in competition with the cute babies)--and you'll have the added advantage of bringing home a pet that doesn't need the toilet-training and other hassles that come with babies.
Most shelters will let you spend some time with an animal before you adopt it. Although it's not the same as your home environment, you can often get a feel for a pet's personality. You can also ask (if the shelter doesn't automatically provide this) for any information they have about the specific animal you're interested in. If it's a pet that was brought in by its previous owners, find out why. Often people have had to give up pets for reasons that were no fault of the animal (such as a move or a change in financial situation), but if the dog bit their new baby, that's something you'll want to know if you have kids. (Realize also that the previous owner may not have been entirely forthcoming about the animal's characteristics--but at least the information they provided gives you something to start with. Sometimes the shelter will even have contact information for that person so you can ask your own questions.)
Whatever you decide, congratulations on your expanded family! Pets are people too.
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