Owning a pet is a big responsibility and the decision to get one should not be taken lightly. Here are some questions that you should ask yourself before inviting a new pet into your home:

• Can I afford it?
  Maybe you can afford the $75 or $125 now to adopt the pet, but what about food, veterinarian bills and accessories? A good owner keeps up with the annual physicals, vaccinations and shots. Can you afford this? What if Rex or Fluffy gets into an accident or suddenly gets sick? Do you have the money to take him to the vet for an examination, x-rays and/or medications? Can you afford to get Rex or Fluffy food that is full of nutrients? Can you afford to buy Rex's doghouse or Fluffy's cat litter? Can you afford to pay for Rex's training & behavior classes? What about collars, leashes, bowls and toys? What happens when you go away for a vacation? Do you know someone that will take care of Rex & Fluffy? If not, then you need to board them at a kennel. Are you willing to pay for this? These are all things that you need to consider.
  
  
• Does my landlord allow pets?
  If your landlord does not allow pets, then you cannot and should not adopt a pet. You will probably be caught and then what happens to Rex? Back to the shelter or left out on the street?
  
  
• Would I give up my pet if it were difficult to find a place to live with a pet?
  Many landlords do not allow pets - especially dogs. You need to seriously consider whether you would take the extra effort to find a place that does allow pets. You may have had Fluffy for two years and need to move but it has been difficult to find a place that will accept pets. Will you give in and give her up, or will you be persistent and keep looking?
  
  
• Can I see myself owning this pet for the next 15-20 years?
  Some dogs and cats live to the ages of up to 15-20 years (and that's not in dog years). Are you ready to live and care for Fluffy for this long? Are you sure you'll be willing to walk Rex everyday for the rest of his life?
  
  
• Do I have time in my busy schedule for a new pet?
  Do you time have time in your schedule to walk Rex 2-3 times a day? Do you have time to housebreak your new puppy? This takes a lot of work. Even adopting an adult dog is a lot of work. This adult needs to get used to a new schedule. He may have had a different schedule in his previous home and he may have been in the shelter for a while. If not done properly, the housebreaking period could be prolonged and this can be frustrating. Do you have someone that can help you out with this? Fluffy may not need extensive training, but like Rex, she needs companionship and quality time with you.
  
  

Common Misconceptions:

• We're getting Rex & Fluffy for the kids - they will do all the work.
  Maybe for the first week or so, but most kids will slack off soon enough and the responsibility will fall in your laps. You are considered to be the owner because you are over the age of 18. If your kids do not walk Rex or clean Fluffys' litterbox, then it is up to you that it gets done. As much as we talk to our kids about responsibility and as much as they agree to care for your new pet, we all know that sooner or later most kids will lose interest or get tired.
  
  
• I have a back yard so I don't have to walk Rex everyday.
  Wrong! Go to the "Pet Owner FAQ" section of this website and you will see why. Being let out in the backyard does not supply Rex with enough exercise. He needs to go on a nice long walk with you (on the leash) where he'll get plenty of exercise and be able to socialize with other dogs and people.
  
  
• Rex and Fluffy never go outside - they don't need annual vaccinations or physicals. Wrong!
  Whether or not they go out, it is required that both Fluffy and Rex get their rabies shots. Rex is also required to have a license with the city. There are other annual shots and seasonal medications that they should get. Ask your veterinarian for more information.
  
  

If you can positively answer these questions and concerns, then you are ready to adopt Rex, Fluffy and/or Bugs the rabbit. Now the question is - Should I buy a pet from a pet store, dog breeder or adopt one from a shelter?

The Truth Abouth Puppy Mills:

Breeders who sell over 25 animals annually to the wholesale pet market fall under this category. The animals raised in puppy mills are raised solely for profit. The operators usually use it as a second source of income and spend less money than possible for the care of these animals. Pet stores want to obtain their "merchandise" for as cheap as possible and in order for the puppy mills to gain as much profit as possible, they don't take proper care of the animals.

These animals may spend their entire lives crammed into crowded cages where they are denied human contact. Sometimes the cages are stacked on top of each other and the feces and urine from one cage can drain into the one below. Some dogs have even been found in rabbit cages, rusty cages and junk cars. The animals are usually unprotected from weather extremes and they are sometimes subject to live among carcasses that have not been discarded. Fresh water, food, healthcare, exercise and grooming are not provided. Medical conditions often go untreated (to save money) and the puppies are often infested with parasites and viruses.

A responsible breeder will not breed a female through every heat cycle, but a puppy mill will. Bred constantly, the dogs' litter sizes are decreased. These animals are then deemed useless. They are shot, given to animal shelters ( the dog's already in rough shape), or sold to research labaratories.

Puppies are taken away from their mothers as early as 6 weeks and shipped to pet stores sometimes hundreds or thousands of miles away. Only about half survive the trip and many of the survivors suffer from a variety of illnesses.

About 90% of all puppies sold by pet stores are from puppy mills.

Wholesale dog breeding and the shipment of animals is poorly regulated because of lack of resources and there are more than 4,800 puppy mills nationwide. Sometimes facilities are only inspected once a year and even then offenders may be given endless opportunities to correct the offense. Legal action is rare. Even then it may take years to prosecute.

It is hard to resist the adorable puppies sitting in the pet store window because you may feel like you are saving that puppy. However, your purchase just guarantees that another puppy will be there to replace his spot. As long as consumers continue to purchase these dogs from pet stores, puppy mills will continue to produce animals.

So, where do you get a purebred dog? There are other options if you have your heart set on a purebred animal. We get lots of purebred animals that are never claimed or sometimes surrendered to us by their owner. Small dogs & big dogs, you name it - we've had it. It may take a bit longer this way, but you are not contributing to the breeding/puppy mill problem. There are many other shelter and breed rescue groups that may also have what you're looking to adopt. Or, reconsider and get a mixed breed dog - they are wonderful too!