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Pet adoption is not something to be entered into lightly. Some breeds of dogs and cats can live up to nineteen years, it's almost welcoming a child into your life. Some exotic birds live for decades and may even out live you! Make your choice carefully so both of you will have a long happy live together.

What kind of pet is best for you?

Dogs and cats are the most popular choices. However, there are horses, birds, rodents (mice, rats, etc.), pigs, rabbits, fish, snakes, tarantulas, lizards, hermit crabs; the list goes on and on.

Hamsters, Gerbils and reptiles are great for small spaces.

Cats are a better choice than dogs if you are away for long periods of time during the day. A dog will need someone to come in and let them out sometime during the day if you're away at work for eight to ten hours.

Horses take a tremendous amount of time and care, not to mention the expense. So figure this into your budget along with the price of a horse.

2. Find out if the pet you have in mind is permitted where you live. Obviously you can't have a pony in an apartment, but there are many seemingly harmless pets that are not permitted by condo complexes or neighborhoods. Roosters are against the law in some communities that don't like to be awakened at dawn.

The number of pets is also limited by most urban and suburban neighborhoods, a maximum of four the norm.

3. Once you've chosen an animal, consider the breed that bests suits you and your family. This usually is most important when choosing a dog as their size, life expectancy and disposition vary widely.

Do you want a pure-bred or are you more of a mixed-breed kind of person? If you have your heart set on a purebred, there are many rescue groups that focus on one specific breed, so you actually rescue one.

4. Vet bills can be huge! Back in the day, sick pets were routinely euthanized or 'put to sleep' as there were few treatment options for many animal diseases. Today, however, pets can be treated for everything from diabetes to cancer. It's great to be able to save your pet's life, but can you afford to? Will that kind of choice end up costing you too much either monetarily or emotionally? Pet health insurance is available for about $20 a month and may be a good idea, but read the fine print as they often will not cover genetic health problems like hip dysplasia in larger breeds of dogs, etc.

5. How will this pet affect your partner or family members? If you're starting a family it may be best to wait awhile. If you are elderly an

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