Choosing an Animal

Having a dog or cat means making a lifetime commitment to the animal. It also means realizing that proper care will require money, knowledge, time, and responsible choices. Once you have decided that you are able to provide everything a companion animal needs, you must consider what kind of animal you would like, and where to obtain it.

Choosing the source: There are a variety of sources available when choosing a pet, but they are not created equal. Because there are still many misconceptions about these sources, it's important to learn the facts about each one before you make your selection.

• Animal Shelters. Millions of healthy, friendly, mix-bred and pure-bred animals are available for adoption in well run shelters nationwide. These animals are examined and evaluated before they are approved for adoption. If an animal exhibits severe health or behavior problems, they cannot be put up for adoption. Therefore, you're not getting "someone else's problem"--you are giving that animal the second chance it deserves. Furthermore, the low adoption fees usually include a health exam, initial vaccinations, spay or neuter procedure, training information, and much more. Shelters are there to help anyone take better care of dogs and cats. In the long run, adoption is quite affordable. Furthermore, by adopting, you also help to support the other vital work that shelters do for the community.
• Pet Shops. Contrary to popular belief, a pet store is not the best source for a healthy animal. Most pet stores that sell animals buy their animals from irresponsible breeders or puppy/kitten mills which mass produce poorly bred animals in neglectful and sub-standard conditions. Each time an animal is purchased, the profits made further fuel the neglect and abuse in the mills. "Papers" are merely a birth certificate--they do not necessarily ensure quality. It's wiser to deal directly with a reputable breeder who meets a long list of standards. The truth is, a good, reputable breeder would never sell a puppy to the "middle man": the pet store. Furthermore, animals at pet stores tend to be rather expensive, and do not include many of the extras you would get from an animal shelter.
• Breeders. Finding a good breeder requires a lot of knowledge and investigation on your part--it's not as simple as just "looking in the newspaper." An animal is only as good as the reputation of the breeder or facility. Because there are next to no restrictions on the breeding of pets, far too many people litter our communities with poorly bred animals. Poorly bred animals develop serious behavior and health problems due to poor genetics. In turn, far too many misinformed people wind up making a major purchase that often turns out to be a big mistake. A knowledgeable, responsible breeder's first and foremost reason for breeding is to enhance and perpetuate quality bloodlines. To succeed in this requires various titles and certifications of the parent animals. Good breeders also are careful about where and with whom they place their puppies. They ask potential buyers many questions, require formal contracts, and make themselves available for help for the rest of the animal's life. Anything less than this is not worthy of your financial support.
• "Free to a Good Home" Ads. A free animal may seem enticing, but beware. There are many hidden costs that accompany these "free" animals. If the price or adoption fee for an animal is unaffordable, then you must ask yourself if you are able to afford the maintenance and proper care of the animal for its entire life. The animal will require preventative health care immediately, which can be costly. In addition, as with other irresponsible sources, you run the risk of winding up with an animal that is sick or has behavior problems. Very often, dealing with an irresponsible source like this winds up as a tremendous expense to the new pet owner.

Choosing the Animal: When selecting a companion animal, it's important to consider the animal's individual needs as well as your own wants. It would be a mistake to assume that any animal will fit perfectly into your daily routine. Different animals have very specific needs that will vary depending on many factors including species, breed or mix, personality, and the age of an animal--the younger the animal, the greater the needs. It is always best to make sure you can fulfill those needs before taking on the responsibility. The best way to avoid potential problems is to prevent them. Many problems will be avoided if you've chosen an animal that is appropriate for your situation.

The relationship between you and your pet should last a lifetime. When choosing, be realistic and consider all factors. For help in choosing the right animal for your situation, you can call The Anti-Cruelty Society for help. The following charts can be used as a basic guideline for pet selection: