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People who love their pets know that in exchange for a pet's companionship, they are making a commitment to provide a home for a lifetime. But sometimes personal hardship can make it impossible to keep a pet. Many Baby Boomers who are helping their aging parents are suddenly faced with the challenge of finding a home for a pet after its owner has died or moved to a nursing home.

Finding good homes for adult animals is never easy; but choosing the right avenues for advertising and carefully screening the people who reply to your ads will improve your chances of finding a loving home for a pet. Your mission is to promote your pet to the right audience, and to carefully screen out undesirable inquiries.

Here are some guidelines:

1) Reach out to other responsible owners. The Humane Society of the United States suggests advertising through friends, neighbors, and local veterinarians (http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_ care/guidelines_for_finding_a_ responsible_home_for_a_pet.htm l). If you deal with a groomer or a boarding kennel, advertise there too. People who provide their pets with regular veterinary care, get them groomed, and board them at well-run kennels tend to have friends or family who would also be responsible owners.

2) Post a picture. Your audience is continually being bombarded with information, all competing for attention. Whether you are promoting your pet on printed posters or on your blog, without an attractive color photo, your pet won't get a second look. If you don't have a digital camera, find a friend who does. Got video? Even better. Put it on-line and use your printed posters to direct people there. This gets attention! Take a look at this dog who makes his bed. Chances are that you will remember him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =UIvvEr3-yOI

3) Make your pet attractive, but remember to be honest. Use your pet's name, and describe his best qualities. Be honest about any behavior issues. Be specific about any special requirements, for instance, a home with a fenced yard or without small children. If your pet is not already spayed or neutered, have that surgery done. It will protect your pet from being used for breeding. It will also curb the impulse to roam or to urine-mark his new territory.

4) Be careful how you advertise and wary when evaluating replies to your ad. Back in the "newspaper age," some humane organizations warned that newspapers are as likely to attract people who want to use pets for unethical purposes as they are to reach responsible

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