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Adopting a pet is a wonderful idea, but one that should not be entered lightly or on a whim. There are several factors worth considering before adopting a pet

1. Are you allowed pets where you live? Consider landlord approval if you rent, and local by-laws, if you own. Some cities have laws regarding not only what kind of pet you can own, but how many, and fencing requirements in addition.

2. Do you have time for a pet? Pets are a lot of work, some more than other. Consider the time you need for playing with the pet, and cleaning up after it. Intelligent pets (such as Parrots, Ferrets and herding dogs) require a lot of mental stimulation or will become bored and destructive.

3. Is "now" the right time for a pet? If you are planning a holiday in the next month and are going away, then perhaps this is not the right time for a new pet. If you are expecting a baby, or move, then now is not the right time for a new pet.

4. Do you have funding for a pet? Consider not only the initial purchase price of the pet and supplies, but emergency expenses and general on-going care and feeding costs. For pups and kittens, consider the cost of spaying or neutering. For dogs, consider grooming costs and the price of obedience lessons.

5. Do you have space for a pet? If you are considering a dog, is your yard fully fenced, or can you put up a dog run. If you are considering a cat, do you have a place for the litter box. If you are thinking of adopting a rabbit, will you keep it indoors or out?

6. What will your other pets think? If you have a dog breed known to chase cats, such as a husky or sight hound, you probably should not consider getting a kitty. If you have an older cat, who is use to living alone, it will not be happy with you bringing home a new kitten (additionally it will be hard for you to feed a kitten only kitten food, and an older cat senior food especially if you leave the dry food out all the time).

7. Is everyone in the household in agreement on getting a pet? No surprises, no allergies?

What Does Adoption Mean?

Many people are confused by the word adoption, many "sellers" use the word to confuse people who are looking for a new pet. The sellers use the term loosely because people tend to associated "adopting" a pet with "rescuing" it. Adoption makes people feel better, but not all available pets are really "Adoption" pets.

The word Adoption does not really have a definition when it comes to pets, but many people involved in animal rescue understand it to refer only to

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