It’s time.  You’re ready for a new, four-legged family member.  But choosing the right pet to adopt among the numerous sizes, breeds, ages, and species available can be as tricky as teaching a hound how to tango.  And keeping your composure isn’t going to be easy either.  You have to hold your feelings for furry friends in check while you figure out what pet best fits your needs, and your lifestyle.  Your first step?  Make a list.  In fact, make three.

List#1

The first list is your absolute musts for your pet, the basic requirements you need to be happy with a new friend:

• Are you looking for a running partner or a couch potato?
• Would you enjoy a long, silky coated feline requiring daily grooming or a short coat for your hiking pal?
• A lap cat, or an aloof presence in the window?

Think about your hopes for your relation with your pet, so that you do not get distracted when you walk into the shelter or while falling in love with available pet photos online.

List #2

The second list is your pet must nots, based on your personal preferences and life situation:

• My new pet must not shed
• My new pet must not be aggressive, especially with small children
• My new pet must not bark a lot
• My pet must not be over a certain weight, or size
• My new pet must not be afraid to be left alone for long periods of time while I’m at work

List #3

Now it’s time to think about what you have to offer to an adoptable pet:

• If you are thinking about adopting a dog, how many hours of activity a day can you offer your dog? Will there be daily walks and games of fetch, or more in home fun and activities?
• Do you prefer to do agility training, obedience training or do you want a pet someone else has already trained?
• Think about how much time, energy and financial resources you have to dedicate to caring for a pet. When will you go on walks, or will you rely on the yard for a potty or puppy pee pads?
• When you go away, who will feed kitty and ensure his water is fresh?

Got your three lists?  Good!  Now spend a little time to do some research into the species and type of breeds to get an idea of which pet is more likely to be a match. Check out breed books and training books, and talk to friends about their experiences. You may end up with a mixed breed with a little bit of this trait and a little bit of that habit, but it is still handy to have some idea what tendencies to expect.

Finally…Fall in Love!

Take your lists and visit your local animal shelter or rescue, and look for the dog, cat, rabbit or reptile of your dreams. Many animal shelters and rescues provide pet adoption counseling, so they can help you figure out which animal in their care best matches your “lists”.  At most shelters and rescues you can also bring in the entire family to ensure a good match and discuss tactics for introducing your new pet into the household successfully.

Now the only list you’ll have to worry about is the grocery list!  So go and enjoy the company of your new furry, forever friend.  

The day has come, and you are now looking for a new pet. You have some idea of what you would like, maybe a big dog who can wear a backpack on hikes, or a little dog you can wear in a purse. Perhaps you want to do agility training, or dream of a dog who loves to play Frisbee as much as you do. You have a cat friendly apartment now, a home of your own and a warm sunny window spot you know would suite a feline friend. You have so many options of where to find your new friend, from the classified advertisements in the newspapers to your local shelter or rescue organization. Why adopt a homeless pet?

Adoptable Animals Aren't "Second Hand" Pets

One of the main reasons people choose to adopt a pet is because it is the right thing to do. You can always feel good about saving one more pet from homelessness, and know that you personally made a difference. What about the old myth that shelter pets are all old, unsocial and otherwise second-hand pets? Luckily for you and shelter pets that is not true. Shelter pets span the age ranges, from 8 week old puppies and kittens, to senior pets and adults. There are purebreds and All American mixed breeds, some with issues that need a special person to help them, and others who have better manners than most beloved house pets. You get to choose, and the selection is never ending. Don’t see what you are looking for? Come back tomorrow when the newest arrivals come onto the adoption floor. Your best friend will arrive, give the process some time and your new shelter buddy will be going home with you in no time.

Shelters can help you find "the Perfect Pet Match"

It feels good to do the right thing, but adopting from a good shelter or rescue can also provide you with more tangible benefits. For example, all households are different, from the quiet to the boisterous, from single pet homes to a house full of kids and pets and visiting relatives. Modern shelters are ready to help you find that match. Maybe you just love Jack Russell terriers, but know that most are too active for your home, as your favorite spot on a rainy day is in front of the television, not heading out for a hike. Visit your local shelter to find the already potty-trained terrier mix who will never argue over who should win American Idol, and never beg for a long walk on that rainy day.

Adoption can be cheaper than a "Free" Pet

What about expense? There are free cats and kittens everywhere, from newspaper advertisements to homemade signs on the road. Why pay an adoption fee when you can get a free cat? A cat adopted from a shelter usually comes spayed or neutered (Over $120 at most veterinary clinics) with the first set of vaccinations, a microchip, and possibly even pet health insurance. That is quite a package, considering that you could easily spend more than the adoption fee at your first visit with a veterinarian. In addition, you are saving a life, not condoning breeding more homeless cats, and you get your choice of color, age, personality, and so much more.

Give Shelter Pets a Chance

You may love a special breed of dog, a special perk of the ears and length of tail. Coming to a shelter you may fall in love with another type of dog or cat, a different breed or breed mix who has just the right personality and temperament to be the new love of your life. You may also find your specialty breed there at the shelter, the perfect match for your dream of a dog just like you remember from childhood. Adopting from a shelter means that you might find exactly what you were looking for, but it also gives you the opportunity to discover the unexpected, the new and exciting friend you never imagined. Give shelter pets a chance, and chances are that you will fall in love with just the right pet with the added benefit of making a sound financial and personal choice, and be doing the right thing. A perfect win-win situation for you and your new friend.

Are you looking to adopt?  Find your forever friend by searching here.