You wouldn't adopt a new person into your family without careful consideration. Adopting a pet is no different. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates nearly 13,000 homeless dogs and cats entering animal shelters across this country every day. Some of these animals were bought to be welcome additions to a family or household, only to be brought to shelters when the relationship between pet and owner just didn't work out. Responsible adoption is one of the reasons the ASPCA sponsors Adopt a Shelter Dog Month every October. The campaign provides awareness to help kids and families better understand shelter animals, pet responsibility, and the rewards of adopting a dog or cat from a local shelter. In a year-long survey of 12 shelters in the U.S. conducted by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, there emerged five reasons as to why pet owners gave up their dogs and cats:

Moving
Landlord not allowing pet
Too many animals in household
Cost of pet maintenance
Owner having personal problems
Inadequate facilities

ASPCA officials say planning and careful consideration is key in a strong bond between a pet and owner. And the first step in planning is asking yourself and your household these questions:

Are we ready for a new family member?
Are we ready to make a long-term commitment?
Is everyone in my household in favor of adopting a pet?
Can we afford it?
Are we ready to take on the daily responsibilities of owning a pet?
Are we willing to understand basic pet behavior and commit to training?
Do we realize this animal will bond with us and depend on us for everything?
Do we realize we must never ever take our anger out on any animal?

Thinking before adopting will save the animal from being returned to the shelter and will offer the pet and family a long and satisfying life together. Remember, dogs and cats offer true unconditional love. No matter what. In my personal experience, purebreds are beautiful and expensive. Mixed breeds are beautiful and cheap. My sympathies lie with the litters of dogs and kittens born unwanted and neglected every year. They are put to sleep every day because someone will not neuter or spay their animals for whatever reason. Many run loose and unsupervised, mating with more of the same. Some manage to find their way to the kind hearted souls in an animal shelter, and those are the ones you and I can save.

I ~Mel, had a 2 1/2 year old female Black Lab/Shar Pei mix named Shelby. She was a rescue, she was filthy and thin when I got her, so afraid of everyone and everything. Now she's glossy black and so sweet tempered and goofy. She loved me no matter what. Dogs rock in that respect. The don't care if you wake up with a pimple blossoming on the edge of your nose or if you gain 20 lbs and belch a lot. Nope. Animals have unconditional love. We should all be humbled by such loyalty. Unfortunately, I had to find her a home when I got my new apt in September of 2003 because dogs were not allowed here, non negotiable. I miss her terribly.

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