VetMatrix, a provider of websites and web marketing for veterinarians, has now created the “Pet Selector,” a new feature that presents website visitors a ten question quiz for clients to discover the best dog and cat for their household.

San Diego, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) December 19, 2010

On December 6th, 2010, VetMatrix released a new feature for clients called the “Pet Selector.” This was the most recent feature in a long string of releases from theveterinarian website marketing firm.

The Pet Selector is an exclusive item that fits on any VetMatrix-created site and is used for both prospective and future clients of any veterinarian. The format is a ten question quiz, in which a potential new pet owners answer questions to determine what breed of dog or cat is right for their homes.

Examples of questions in the Pet Selector for dogs include: “How big or small would you like your dog to be?” “What level of exercise can you provide your dog?” “What protection ability would you like in a dog?”

The questions for potential cat owners cover: “How vocal would you like your cat to be?” “How much time and attention do you have to give your cat?” “How amenable to handling would you like your cat to be?”

Tracy Walton, Brand Development Manager of VetMatrix said, “This is one of our most highly anticipated releases as a veterinary marketing and web design company. A lot of families want to do their research on a pet before making the commitment on buying and raising this new member of their family. We wanted to create a way for our veterinarians’ clients to find all of this in one place, whether it was a family’s first pet or a second one along the way. This is why we have very situation-specific questions, such as whether a dog or cat will get along with an existing pet in the house.”

This feature is automatically included for all existing clients of VetMatrix. “It’s possible we may charge a premium on this in the future because the feature has been so popular,” said Asaf Benhaim, CEO of VetMatrix. “However, for now, we want to help all of our veterinarians connect better with their community by making each veterinarian part of their clients’ lives from the moment a decision is made to give a dog or cat a new home.”

About VetMatrix:

VetMatrix is a veterinarian-focused online marketing service company that specializes in creating websites and web marketing packages for veterinarians who want to increase their number of clients.

For more information on VetMatrix, call 1-800-462-8749 and visit http://www.vetmatrix.com.

Source:  PRWeb

© 2010 – 2011, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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The American Veterinary Association (AVMA) is cautioning potential pet buyers of internet scams that say they’ll deliver pets after receiving payment, but end up not fulfilling their end of the bargain.

These internet scams can be identified if the price of the pet is being sold at below market prices and requests wire transfer payments to Cameroon or a money drop in the U.K.  These potential buyers are then asked to pay an additional fee for insurance purposes, permits, transportation, etc.

Keep in mind that any reputable breeder would be interested in meeting the potential buyer and also not willing to sell the pet until conducting an interview to make sure the pet is secured in a safe and loving home.  After meeting the breeder and the pet, request to check references and credentials before providing any kind of payment.

If you feel that you may have been scammed, contact your local authorities and file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

© 2009 – 2010, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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I talk to dog owners every day. Yet I have never met one that brought a cute, loving puppy into their home with the intention of surrendering the dog 9 to 12 months later because they could not stand him. But yet, it remains a fact that more dogs are put to death because of behavior problems than accidents and disease. An out-of-control adolescent dog is hard to re-home. Nobody wants a bad dog. Many do not want the cost of fixing a dog gone bad at their own hand.

The good news for me is, some do. That is how I stay in business. Though, I would much prefer earning my living by teaching dog owners what to do right from the beginning, at least for the dog’s sake. This being said, most of my business comes from dog owners and rescue groups trying to rehabilitate a dog after the damage has been done.

The shear number of surrendered dogs alone tells me that many of you are not aware of how easy it is to ruin a dog. So, I have taken the time to list four easy methods below.

METHOD 1. Try to fix the dog with love.

Dogs are wonderful. They can bring opportunity to children learning responsibility, companionship to the lonely, assistance to the disabled, fulfillment to the childless and just plain fun to the rest of us. But dogs are dogs, not people. There have been great strides made in the field of animal science. It is now accepted that dogs have feelings and emotions. They can develop attachments and have individual preferences (likes and dislikes). What does this mean? It means they have personalities! So, let’s confuse the human vs. canine similarities with the differences and pretend any dog will appreciate your love and reciprocate by behaving well.

If (when) the dog develops bad behaviors, ask it nicely to stop. As the bad behaviors get worse, ignore them; after all he is just acting out because you suspect he was abused by someone else. When he finally hurts someone you can rest assured, the dog is ruined.

METHOD 2. Choose the wrong dog.

If you can imagine Einstein being a roommate to the Three Stooges, then this will be easy for you. Give an 8-week-old Terrier to your 80-year-old grandmother in a walker. Or if you are a family where both parents work while caring for 2 or more small children, adopt 2 large breed puppies at the same time. With very little effort or thought you can easily succeed in choosing the wrong dog. It takes time to research which breed and temperament would fit into your household and heaven knows none of us have enough time. You will know when you have chosen the wrong dog because nothing will go right, and after 6 months the dog will automatically be ruined.

METHOD 3. Get a dog you cannot afford.

If you cannot afford to feed yourself, then just get any dog and you will have succeeded at getting a dog you cannot afford. If you really, really, want a dog and you do not take the time to figure out what proper nutrition, veterinary care, training, supplies and emergency boarding (don’t forget miscellaneous stuff) might cost, then you may or may not succeed. I have a basset hound with Addison’s disease that will live a happy, normal life as long as I keep feeding him $100 bills. But, that doesn’t count because I can afford to do that.

I guess if you only calculate enough for cheap food and possibly the veterinarian’s surrender fee (for when he breaks his leg), then almost anyone could fool themselves (remaining guilt free) into thinking they can afford a dog; but there is a very high probability that they can’t. You could also save the cost of the surrender fee by just dumping the dog in the animal control lock box when you are done with him. If you do this anonymously you will not be able to receive public credit for ruining the dog, so just knowing that you did it will have to be satisfying enough.

METHOD 4. Do not train the dog.

Training consists of several elements such as socialization, leadership and obedience. This is where it is real easy to ruin a dog. We don’t even have to waste any time discussing leadership or obedience because you have the opportunity to ruin a dog by the age of 12 weeks old by just neglecting his socialization. Here is how you do it. From the time you bring your puppy home at about 8 weeks old, do not let him go anywhere or meet any people or animals. Do not enroll him in puppy classes. If you enroll him in puppy classes you take the chance that someone will stop you from ruining the dog. While it is still cute to do so, let him jump on you, nip at your hands and clothes and pee on the floor. When these behaviors are no longer cute, just banish him to the back yard and only let him come into the garage to sleep. As you do this he will become bored and frustrated. Let a few months pass and when he has destroyed the back yard and garage he will be a full-fledged, out-of-control adolescent dog that no one will blame you for surrendering.

There are a few variations to this. If it is a small dog, pick it up whenever he shows fear or barks at anyone. If you are lucky it will not take very long for the dog to develop fear aggression. Or, maybe he will become possessive of you and bite your husband when he tries to get into bed. If you rescued an adolescent or adult dog, you can feel sorry for him and indulge the few problems he came with. After a while the few problems will turn into many and you can just give him back. Don’t worry; you will still get credit for ruining him because he was returned with more problems that he had when you adopted him.

There you go, four easy ways to ruin any dog!

You may think this article is a silly attempt to use reverse psychology. Or maybe I wrote it because being a dog trainer I would like to see more troubled dogs, a form of job security I suppose. Could it be that this article describes what many otherwise good-hearted dog loving people are unintentionally doing to “man’s best friend” without even thinking? If that is the case then perhaps they will see this article and think about what really happens when they do not think.

If you think you have ruined your dog please call a professional dog trainer for help; it may not be too late!

Eleanor Scheidemann, CEO The Dog Lady, Inc. and President of Last Chance for Love Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc. has over ten years experience as a professional dog trainer. Her company provides hundreds of dog owners each year with obedience training, behavior modification and problem solving. She works actively with rescue groups by rehabilitating dogs that would otherwise be considered unadoptable. This company is about more than just dog training; it is about everything “dog”. Eleanor, “The Dog Lady” is more than just a dog trainer. You are sure to find her opinions on dog training matters both educational and entertaining.

Eleanor encourages everyone to visit her dog training site and the rescue site at lclrr.org to see how YOU can make a difference in the world of animals and receive your free dog training ebooks.

© 2008 – 2010, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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By Richard Cussons

So you’ve brought home your new puppy, it’s time to name your new animal friend but you’re running short on ideas. Choosing a name for your dog can be hard if you aren’t feeling very creative, so here we give you a head start with the basics and some great ideas to help you choose the perfect name for your puppy.

Three Basic Dog Name Guidelines

1. Pick a name your dog can easily recognize. Dogs usually respond better to one or two syllable names. If you do want to go for a dramatic and unusual long name, consider whether you can easily shorten it to something a bit simpler for your dog to understand.

2. Avoid dog names that sound like the standard commands of No, Stay, Sit, Come, Down or Fetch. For example “Joe” is probably too close to “No”. It can be difficult for dogs to tell the difference between similar sounding words.

3. Choose a name that’s both easy to call out and one that you are happy calling out. Remember, you will be calling your dog’s name out in public places at times and shouting out “Parsnip” in the local park, may leave you feeling a little embarrassed! You also want a name that will work well when you are straining your voice to call your pet as he disappears into the sunset chasing after a rabbit!

Looking For Dog Name Inspiration

Start with the obvious. Take a long hard look at your new little friend he may be telling you his name without you knowing. Look at his appearance, behavior, personality, and disposition. Names like Spot or Red may come to mind. How about Bandit for a dog who steals things or Rebel for a stubborn dog?

Then look elsewhere for inspiration. You can name your dog after another famous dog, for example Pluto, Pongo, Lassie or Digby. What about your favourite sports, movie, music or comic strip star?

How about choosing a dog name after a member of your family or friend of a figure from history like Napoleon, Alexander the Great or Rasputin? Take a look at your environment or think about your favourite place they will give you more ideas.

Remember, the dog name you choose for your puppy says as much about you as it does about your pet. It shows how you view your dog and your relationship with him. But other people may judge your dog’s character by reference to its name and might therefore react negatively or fearfully to a ‘dominating’ name when meeting it. It is a good idea to use a dog name that conveys the image you want your pet to have.

Also, pick a name that will grow with the pet. For example “Tiny” may be less appropriate for a full-grown dog.

Whichever method you choose, have a good time doing it and choose a name that you will want to keep.

Teaching Your Puppy Its Name

Pick a dog name that pleases you and stick to it. Use your pet’s name consistently as part of your dog training routine. It can be confusing for your puppy if you keep changing your mind. Your dog will learn his or her new name quickly if you use it often. When you call your pet, use his name. Do not say “here puppy”. Calling your pet by his name will help him to become familiar with it and with your voice as well.

If choosing a long name keep in mind the shortened version. A long name will inevitably be shortened, but it may ruin the effect that you were originally looking for.

Above all have fun and choose a name you really like. Your puppy will undoubtedly become your best friend and only you can find just the right name.

Discover more about choosing dog names, puppy training and care. Richard Cussons is a dog lover with a passion for helping people with their dogs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Cussons
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Choose-The-Perfect-Dog-Name-For-Your-Puppy&id=69749

© 2008 – 2010, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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By Jennifer McVey

You’ve picked out the perfect puppy. You spent hours on the internet, researching the right breed for you and your family. Then you went from breeder to breeder or humane society to humane society, meeting and greeting pups until you find just the right match.

Now what? He needs a name!

Over the course of its life, you will use your dog’s name more than 35,000 times. So be sure you’re picking a name you can live with and love.

With these seven simple steps, the key to finding the perfect puppy name is at your fingertips!

• Dogs understand short commands. Easy names with two or fewer syllables work well.
• Your puppy’s name shouldn’t sound like any commands. “Stacy” and “stay” are too close for comfort. Such a name will only confuse the issue.
• Remember, you’ll be using your pup’s name in public. “Boner” may be cute among your fellow fraternity members, but it won’t go over well at the veterinarian.
• Make your kids part of the decision process. Kids like it simple, too, so if calling your Champion Cavalier King Spaniel “Bootsie” works for them, consider keeping the hoity toity name strictly for AKC purposes.
• You may think it’s an honor to name your pup after you’re favorite Uncle Norbert. Naming your baby after him may keep you in the will, but naming your puppy after him won’t.
• If you’re bringing home an older dog, ideally, stick with the name it already owns. Can’t stand it because “Barney” was the first boy who broke your heart? Then stick with similar sounds when choosing a new dog name. “Barney” morphs into “Farley” easily.
• Once you’ve chosen a name, try it out for a day or so. You’ll know right away whether it’s a keeper. If not, there’s always more puppy names on your list!

Take a look around you. Everywhere you are, you’ll find a variety of terrific ideas on what to name your pooch.

At first glance, a couple things will stand out about your new puppy. Enjoy him or her for a day or two and take these into consideration.

• Appearance. What’s your dog look like? His color, size, and personal style inspires a variety of name choices. “Stubbs” would be a great name for a dachshund pup. Or you may call a cream colored cock-a-poo “Buffy.”
• Personality. Given a couple of days, your new dog’s personality will really shine through. Try “Cuddles” for the sweet little guy who loves to get cozy or “Puddles” for the pooch who can’t seem to find the doggie door.

If you want to go beyond the basics, many famous dog names or foreign dog names can fit the bill. Consider these favorite puppy names when making your decision.

• Celebrity puppy names. Today, pooches have more celebrity following than their famous owners. Chew on “Lola,” a name used by both Hilary Duff and the Osbournes.
• TV dogs. “Scooby” and “Astro” come to mind if you want to honor a famous TV pup.
• Movie dogs. Cool movies and cool dog names seem to go hand in hand. Cool Hand Luke’s “Blue” would be a fitting label for a variety of dogs. Or try “Bodie,” from the weeper Steel Magnolias.
• Comic dogs. “Snoopy” will always be a favorite, but also consider “Daisy” or “Odie.”
• German dog names. For starters, try out “Fritz” or “Kaiser.”
• Irish dog names. “Finn” fits well for any pup, as does “Murphy,” which just happens to mean “hound of the sea.”
• French puppy names. “Pierre” and “Gigi” are top contenders for any dog, especially those with a little oo-la-la in their genes.

The choices are endless. However, with these simple tips and some thought, before long, you’ll have found the perfect puppy name!

Want to find a puppy name? Visit http://www.favorite-puppy-names.com for a great list of dog names and naming tips to help make the puppy naming process easy and fun!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_McVey
http://EzineArticles.com/?Dog-Names—7-Puppy-Naming-Tips&id=51341

© 2008 – 2010, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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By Cass Hope

It was November and I had spent 3 months searching for just the right puppy. Finally we had found what we considered to be the perfect one. Luckily she was already 7 weeks old so she could already be separated from her mother. I was so excited when we brought her home, our new addition to the family. I made sure I had all the required supplies; food and water dishes, food, a bed and a crate. We were ready. The fact that we already had a cat never really caused me much concern. I figured they would give each other a good sniff and surely it would not take long for them to become the best of friends and live happily ever after. I had visions of our little puppy all curled up with our cat in front of the fireplace.

Reality hit when I walked into our house carrying a crate with our newest family member inside. Our dog is a female so I will use she when referring to a dog. The cat seemed a little curious so in a moment of obvious brain freeze I took the puppy out of the crate to introduce the two. Our cat in a split second armed herself for battle. The hair was straight up making her look like I had just taken her out of the dryer and she started hissing and growling as if her opponent was a rottweiler rather than a puppy that could fit in my hand. The poor puppy could barely walk so she just fell into a ball and shivered and whimpered. I’m sure that as soon as we removed the dog and put her back in her crate, the cat went to her bed and stated plotting a way to have the new puppy just suddenly “disappear” like getting flushed down the toilet. She considered herself to be the queen of the household and it was obvious that there was going to be a battle for the crown. Boy had I called this meeting wrong! In an attempt to help you avoid a similar situation I’m going to outline a few pointers as to what you SHOULD do when you introduce your new puppy to your resident pet. This information comes from research done concerning raising a puppy, unfortunately the how to introduce guidelines would have been much more beneficial if found BEFORE the actual deed was done.

Firstly the introduction must be done slowly. If possible take a towel and rub the new puppy with it then bring it home and put it somewhere that your resident pet will frequent and be able to smell. This will also work if you take something that has the scent of your existing pet on it and put it in the carrier you bring your new puppy home in. When you first bring a new animal into your home she should stay quarantined from the other animals until it has seen the vet. Once she has seen the vet you will still need to keep her separate from the other animals. Allow the animals to smell the new puppy from under the door so they may become to each other. After a few days to a week you can try the introduction but make sure you are close in case you have to take on the roll of referee. If there is some growling or paw raising don’t interfere unless of course you feel your puppy is in danger.

If your puppy is being crate trained you can put her back in the crate and continue to take her out for short intervals to spend time with the other animal. Make sure the amount of time you let them spend together is increased gradually. Most importantly never leave the two animals alone and be sure to flood the resident animal with love and attention so they feel secure in their place in the family. This will greatly reduce the risk of having the new puppy take a whirl in the toilet. If you want all animals to live in harmony you have to be patient and let the animals deal with each other in their own way and on their own time.

Cass Hope has been a writer for over 5 years. Cass regularly contributes to online and offline publications in a variety of areas. She also teaches classes in basic obedience for puppies.
She is currently sponsoring this site: http://www.1st4dog-training.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cass_Hope
http://EzineArticles.com/?Introducing-a-New-Puppy-into-a-Home-with-an-Existing-Pet&id=35004

© 2008 – 2010, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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By Louise Louis

It’s appealing to see yourself “saving” an adult dog from a shelter but
dealing with a dog with a troubled or insecure past can be very challenging.

The good news is that you’ll be getting a full size dog so you know what to
expect in that regard. He’s likely to have at least some rudimentary
training, perhaps from shelter personnel.

The worst thing that can happen is that the dog and the owner are not well
matched. Inexperienced shelter personnel might place a strong-willed,
albeit small, dog with an elderly couple.

Sometimes, owners over-estimate their own abilities and under-estimate the
time commitment to handle dogs with tricky or troubled personalities.

Louise Louis of www.ToyBreeds.com notes that many older dogs entering a new home will not behave well. Expect problems like whining, barking, destroying things, and toilet mistakes.

That’s because the dogs are anxious and do not feel safe in the new home.
Do not take this behavior personally and try not to become angry.

Please recognize that the concept of gratitude is a human one. It does not
exist in dogdom.

On the other hand, some owners make the opposite mistake and become too
indulgent with these dogs. That will only increase the dog’s insecurity and
may create a dog that can’t bear to be away from its owner.

If you get a second hand dog, you need to find a middle ground. The dog needs security, not pity. Be kind but be firm. You are in charge and you need to show it to your dog.

If you dog anxiously paws at your lap trying to get attention, ignore him!
You make the decisions on playing, walking and feeding. Behavior problems
are minimized when your dog feels secure and has a leader (you) that he
is confident can protect him.

Not all shelter dogs will come with problems, but because some will, it’s best to begin your relationship on the basis that problems should be expected and dealt with.

In the long run, this will help the dog’s new home become it’s last one.

Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist and creator of the popular website on small dogs, http://www.ToyBreeds.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Louis
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-You-Should-Know-When-You-Get-a-Shelter-Dog&id=110295

© 2008 – 2010, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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As many people go shopping for the holidays, they will be passing by pet stores and stopping in to look at the cute puppies.  Shoppers may think that the puppies are healthy and in good condition, because they’re at a reputable pet store.    However, veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner Bell, reported on the CBS Early Show that they’re “being born in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions”.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) reported several the pet store chain Petland Inc. advocated puppy mills and told their customers that the dogs came from good breeders.

HSUS investigators went to 21 Petland stores and 35 breeders and brokers who sold puppies to the pet chain store and claimed “to find classic puppy mill conditions – dogs in small cages, animals living in the cages 24 hours a day, 365 days a year”.

What I find funny is how Petland Inc. denied the allegations by stating that the HSUS makes this claim every year around the holidays, which is coincidentally around their annual fundraising efforts.  They are a non-profit organization that advocates the protection of these animals. 

What I don’t understand is how Petland Inc. has enough puppies to supply all of their chains and what their requirements are for what they consider to be a good breeder.  Perhaps someone can help make some sense out of this for me?

Source: “Pet Giant Linked To Puppy Mills”, CBSNews.com; Retrieved on November 21, 2008.

© 2008, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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It can happen to the best of us. You see a cute, tiger-striped kitten with white paws and green eyes, just begging for attention. Or maybe it’s a gorgeous Labrador mix whose tails seems to be wagging just for you. You take one look, and the next thing you know, you’re walking down the pet food aisle at the supermarket.

If you’re like most of us, falling in love with a pet is easy. And no wonder! Sharing your home with a four-legged friend can be one of life’s greatest joys. Dogs, cats, and other pets give us unconditional loyalty and acceptance, provide constant companionship, and even help relieve stress after a hard day’s work.

Adopting a pet, though, is a big decision. Dogs and cats require lots of time, money, and commitment—over 15 years’ worth in many cases. Pet ownership can be rewarding, but only if you think through your decision before you adopt a companion.

Things to Consider

The fact that you’re thinking about adopting from an animal shelter means you’re a responsible and caring person. But before you make that decision to bring a furry friend into your life, take a moment to think over these questions:

• Why do you want a pet? It’s amazing how many people fail to ask themselves this simple question before they get a pet. Adopting a pet just because it’s “the thing to do” or because the kids have been pining for a puppy usually ends up being a big mistake. Don’t forget that pets may be with you 10, 15, even 20 years.

• Do you have time for a pet? Dogs, cats, and other animal companions cannot be ignored just because you’re tired or busy. They require food, water, exercise, care, and companionship every day of every year. Many animals in the shelter are there because their owners didn’t realize how much time it took to care for them.

• Can you afford a pet? The costs of pet ownership can be quite high. Licenses, training classes, spaying and neutering, veterinary care, grooming, toys, food, kitty litter, and other expenses add up quickly.

• Are you prepared to deal with special problems that a pet can cause? Flea infestations, scratched-up furniture, accidents from animals who aren’t yet housetrained, and unexpected medical emergencies are unfortunate but common aspects of pet ownership.

• Can you have a pet where you live? Many rental communities don’t allow pets, and most of the rest have restrictions. Make sure you know what they are before you bring a companion animal home.

• Is it a good time for you to adopt a pet? If you have kids under six years old, for instance, you might consider waiting a few years before you adopt a companion. Pet ownership requires children who are mature enough to be responsible. If you’re a student, in the military, or travel frequently as part of your work, waiting until you settle down is wise.

• Are your living arrangements suitable for the animal you have in mind? Animal size is not the only variable to think about here. For example, some small dogs such as terriers are very active—they require a great deal of exercise to be calm, and they often bark at any noise. On the other hand, some big dogs are laid back and quite content to lie on a couch all day. Before adopting a pet, do some research. That way, you’ll ensure you choose an animal who will fit into your lifestyle and your living arrangements.

• Do you know who will care for your pet while you’re away on vacation? You’ll need either reliable friends and neighbors or money to pay for a boarding kennel or pet-sitting service.

• Will you be a responsible pet owner? Having your pet spayed or neutered, obeying community leash and licensing laws, and keeping identification tags on your pets are all part of being a responsible owner. Of course, giving your pet love, companionship, exercise, a healthy diet, and regular veterinary care are other essentials.

• Finally, are you prepared to keep and care for the pet for his or her entire lifetime? When you adopt a pet, you are making a commitment to care for the animal for his or her lifetime.

Get an Animal for Life

Sure, it’s a long list of questions. But a quick stroll through an animal shelter will help you understand why answering them before you adopt is so important.

Many of the shelter’s homeless animals are puppies and kittens, victims of irresponsible people who allowed their pets to breed. But there are at least as many dogs and cats at the shelter who are more than a year old—animals who were obtained by people who didn’t think through the responsibilities of pet ownership before they got the animal.

Please, don’t make the same mistake. Think before you adopt. Sharing your life with a companion animal can bring incredible rewards, but only if you’re willing to make the necessary commitments of time, money, responsibility, and love—for the life of the pet.

Reprinted with permission by The Humane Society of the United States
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_adoption_information/what_to_consider_before_adopting_a_pet.html

© 2008, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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