How to Find a Pet

It's a proven fact that pet owners have fewer heart attacks, suffer less stress-related illness and live longer than their non-pet-owning counterparts. Plus, your pet is the only one that loves you unconditionally whether you're happy, sad, fat, skinny, rich or poor. It doesn't matter; they love you anyway, any day.

So, how do you find a great pet?

Let's start at the beginning. BEFORE YOU bring home a new pet:

Do some research about pets so you are well informed and can make a choice that fits your lifestyle. Plan ahead for the lifetime of your pet. Do you work long hours or gone a lot on the weekend? Maybe a pet that requires less hands-on care is best for you. Many reptiles, fish, birds and pocket pets can give enjoyment without having to be home to let them out every few hours. Some species can be housed in self-contained environments specially designed with their specific needs in mind. Remember, however, that these pets need love and attention, too, and have special exercise or dietary requirements or may outgrow their environment. Some pets can develop medical problems that can be quite costly to treat. Make sure you can afford to maintain your pet's health.

Are you sure that you will be able to care for the pet you choose for life? Marriage, divorce, arrival of children, going off to college and relocation are some of the main reasons people give for surrendering pets! If you've had to surrender a pet in the past, please be sure to evaluate your situation thoroughly before making a new commitment. Shelters and rescues are overflowing with purebreds and mixes from well-intentioned former pet owners who found themselves unable or unwilling to keep them.

The Internet is a great source of information on all species of pets and their habits and needs. You can also join chat groups to find out more about your pet-to-be before you make a commitment to a breed or species. Experienced owners will usually give you the realities of raising the type of pet you're considering. Get the facts before you look at prospective pets. Select a candidate or two before you take the family to visit. Many families go to shelters or pet stores "just to look" and come home with a new pet that doesn't fit the family. After the attachment is made, it's very difficult to send back a pet that's not working out.

Most rescue groups and many shelters have very knowledgeable staff and volunteers who really know about the pets and breeds they have available. Go armed with a list of questions to ask about the pet you're considering. If the person doesn't know, ask someone with experience with this type of pet. Use your Internet resources for guidance, or if you're considering a dog, ask an experienced dog trainer or behaviorist to help you evaluate the pet prior to adoption. They are used to dealing with problem situations and can help evaluate the dog's suitability to your household. Many great pets have been surrendered due to divorce, death of the owner, or relocation. Some, however, may have been surrendered due to lack of training or behavior related issues. Others may have been abused or even found as strays. Pets with these issues may prove too much to handle for an inexperienced owner.

While other pets are becoming more popular, cats and dogs are by far the most favored house pets in the US. Our love affair with Fluffy and Fido is becoming stronger every year. So how do you care for them when you work and have a busy family life, too?

Our furry feline friends can be easily maintained, even if you have a busy schedule. Most cats and kittens can be litter box trained easily and can be housed in a kitty condo until they have earned free run of the house while you're gone. Remember to give them lots of love and attention when you are at home, and oh yes, Grooming! Daily brushing and combing your long or shorthaired cat can be your special time together, plus help keep you aware of any physical problems they may have.

If you are looking for a puppy, don't be fooled by people out to make a fast buck. Thousands of people in the 60's and 70's paid big bucks for Cockapoos, only to realize they were mutts, the same dog you can find in the shelter for a $50 adoption fee and registerable only with mixed breed registries. A mixed breed is still a mix, even if it is the latest fad of "apoo", "oodle" or "uggle" that is sweeping the nation. A year or so after the popularity wanes, the shelters will be brimming with them, too. If someone's selling point is that such and such mixed breed won't shed, or smell or bother your allergies but one of the parent breeds does, chances are still 50/50 that it will, too.

Responsible breeders can be found at local dog or cat shows, dog clubs or through national clubs dedicated to the health and preservation of a breed, usually with a name like the "American _______ dog club" or the "_________ Club of America (or the US). Purebred club websites also have links to rescue organizations where, unbelievably, almost as many purebred dogs and cats are surrendered each year as mixes. A reputable breeder will have their breeding stock checked for inherited diseases or defects and guarantee sound temperament. Breed club websites have guidelines with questions that you should ask breeders to determine if they are breeding responsibly, or just trying to sell as many pets as they can.

If a dog or puppy is your choice, remember that all dogs can benefit from training. It helps a new dog learn the rules of the house and helps define the pack order. New pups and newly adopted adult dogs bond more quickly with new owners that attend training than those who "wait a few months to get used to their new home." Trainers can give you good advice on training, housebreaking, socialization, feeding and other care to give your new pup the best chance for success. Remember there are as many different methods of training as there are trainers. Be comfortable with your trainer's methods and experience.

So remember to do your homework, ask lots of questions of owners, breeders and people with lots of experience with your chosen pet, and take time to think through and plan the arrival of your new pet. It's for a LIFETIME, You Know!