BE SURE ABOUT THIS GIFT!

At the risk of sounding like Scrooge before this Christmas Holiday, just a few thoughts if a dog or cat might be on someones "Wish List" for Santa.

As you can see on this site, I have a pound full of beautiful dogs...all of whom I would love to see in new home. But unlike that toy your child got two of, or that sweater that doesn't fit...there is a no return policy on the lives of these animals.

Each one of these wonderful animals has a very distinctive personality. Yes...personality. Because unlike that fuzzy sweater, these fuzzy critters have feelings, emotions, fears and needs...just like us. Most of them have been already been abandoned once. Once, all of these animals had a real home. Now, they just have each other...and of course me. But before you decide to take one of them, or some other little puppy or kitten home for Christmas, please take a moment and be sure of the following:

1. It is a good fit for the home? We all have different life-styles. Some of us are couch potatoes. Some of us are very active and always on the go. How will your new family member fit in to your schedule? Will it have a play-mate to keep it company when you are gone? Will it be to big , too small, shed too much or bark too much? Only you can tell, but you need to have it figured out before you take it home...not after it doesn't work out. Many people spend more time researching the next pair of shoes they will buy, than the animal that will live in their home for the next ten to fifteen years. For it's sake...and yours...be sure it's a good match.

2. Can you afford it? Shots, tags, food, dog houses, collars and toys. It adds up, just like with real children. Many people do not realize how expensive it can be to own a pet. A good quality dog or cat food is not cheap. And if the pet gets sick, just like with our two-legged children, those doctor bills can add up... fast! There are pet insurance policys for your pet, and they can be a very good investment. But many people these days cannot afford insurance for themselves, let alone their cat or dog. Most dogs will live an average of 10 to 15 years, with good care. That means regular vet care - spaying/neutering, booster shots, and yes, even dental care. So please, crunch the numbers. Be sure a pet is within the family budget. Remember, this is a living, breathing creature that has needs just like you do, in order to live a long & healthy life. Be sure you can meet those needs before you take it home.

3. Pound or Pet Store? Most everyone has heard of puppy-mills. To be very honest, in all my years of dealing with animals, rarely have I heard of wonderful success stories from people who purchased their new pet from a Pet Store. Unless it is a turtle or giant spider! In general, many pet stores purchase their animals from puppy-mills. Breeders who breed hundreds of Labs, or Dalmations, or Shepherds every year. Many are reputable, and provide the very best care for their animals. Many more however, do not. If you want a pure-bred dog or cat, I recommend a breeder who specializes in that one breed, and has verifiable paper work regarding the lineage of the father & mother, and is willing to produce any paper work you might ask to see, especially regarding veterinary care. If they balk at your request to view these documents, you should be warned! Most breeds of dogs have one or two genetic traits that you should be aware of before adopting. Hip displasia, eye problems, skin problems. Be sure you know what these potential problem areas are, and plan accordingly. In-breeding is common in many puppy-mills, and this can make these issues even worse, not to mention create new ones not mentioned here. Also, many breeders over-breed the parents of these puppies. If your potential breeder has only a single male and female, but they have 50 available puppies, you might want to keep looking!

How about those animals from the local shelter? True, they may not have a pedigree, but I have personally adopted all but one of my animals from a shelter. And to be very honest, I would have been proud ...and still am actually...to put any one of them up against a pedigreed dog for anything from temperment to intelligence. As you can see from this site, you can get some beautiful animals from a shelter. And with the money you save by not paying for that pedigree paper, you can even afford that obediance class you might have been thinking about!

And remember, every dog can be trained, no matter the age. True, an older dog may be more set in it's ways, but they are also usually more settled down, and thus, training them to new ways is actually easier in many respects.

So, before you decide to surprise little Jimmy with a new puppy this year, please, be sure this a gift that you are prepared for. With the proper thought and planning, this gift will keep giving you and your family ton's of love and enjoyment for many, many years to come! And unlike that itchy sweater from Grandma, this one will be much harder...if not impossible...to return for another gift!