Can you afford to care for an animal for its entire lifespan? Are you willing to pay for food, training and veterinarian visits? While you may get lucky, and your pet may need only yearly check-ups, at some point in time most animals experience an illness that will require a significant veterinary bill.

Do you realize that having a pet may mean subjecting yourself to increased fees if you rent an apartment or perseverence with your insurance company to get them to follow state law that prohibits denial of coverage or increased rates for certain breeds?

Do you have the time to care for a pet? Pets need interaction with their families. If you don't have the time to spend with a pet, the kindest thing to do is to wait until your situation changes rather than subject an animal to a lifetime of loneliness. The habits animals develop from loneliness, isolation and boredom are often the reasons that animals are turned in to animal shelters.

Does everyone in your family want a pet? If not, chances are that the pet will be looking for a new home soon. You can't count on that reluctant family member to experience a change of heart once the pet is in your home.

Do you have patience? It will take a while for your new pet to adjust to the rules of a new home. Even previously housetrained animals may have a few accidents in new surroundings.

Are you willing to learn all you can about your particular type of pet? You can find books at the library and bookstores, and plenty of pet care information on the Internet. Spend as much time researching your pet as you would before making a major purchase.

Ready to learn more? Please click on Adoption Procedures on the menu bar to the left. Reading this section in its entirety will save everyone a lot of time and potential frustration.