| Animal shelters are your best source when looking | | | | you want. Shelters receive new animals every day. |
| for a pet. Not only do they have a great selection of | | | | Your shelter may also have a waiting list and can call |
| adult animals for adoption, but they also have kittens | | | | you when an animal matching your preference |
| and puppies, even purebred animals. On average, | | | | becomes available. Before choosing your pet, you can |
| purebreds account for about 25 to 30 percent of a | | | | even speak with an adoption counselor about |
| shelter's dog population. | | | | whether your choice of a particular type or breed will |
| Many pets at your local shelter are waiting for new | | | | be best for you. |
| homes because they were obtained by someone | | | | In an effort to make good matches between people |
| with unrealistic expectations of the time, effort, and | | | | and animals and to place pets in lifelong homes, many |
| money required to sustain a lifelong relationship with | | | | shelters provide adoption counseling and follow-up |
| their pet. National figures indicate that about half of | | | | assistance, such as pet parenting and dog-training |
| the animals in shelters must be euthanized for lack of | | | | classes, medical services, and behavior counseling. Or |
| homes. Animals at your local shelter are eager to find | | | | they may be able to refer you to providers of these |
| a new home and are just waiting for someone like | | | | services. |
| you. | | | | Another advantage is that shelter adoption fees are |
| You can depend on responsible shelters to assess | | | | usually much less than an animal's purchase price at a |
| the animals' health and temperament in order to | | | | pet store or breeder. And your new pet is more |
| make the best adoption matches possible. When | | | | likely to be vaccinated, dewormed, and spayed or |
| animals are relinquished by owners, the shelter staff | | | | neutered. To locate your local animal shelter, check |
| makes every attempt to collect a thorough history | | | | the Yellow Pages under "animal shelter," "animal |
| of that pet. Then, while caring for animals, staff and | | | | control," or "humane society." |
| volunteers try to learn as much as they can about | | | | Many shelters have websites on which they display |
| these animals as well as those who come to the | | | | the animals they have available for adoption. Some |
| shelter as strays. | | | | sites allow you to download adoption forms and read |
| Don't be discouraged if, when you first visit the | | | | about responsible pet care. |
| shelter, there are no animals of the breed or type | | | | |