You see a sweet little kitten or puppy roaming alone on the street outside your house. Or maybe it's an older dog, looking weathered and worn. A tug on your heartstrings tells you that you just can't let him stay out there; a car could hit him! What if he's hungry? So you coax him over and pick him up or bend over to offer a kind hand. So sweet and trusting, you think you'll keep him! But wait! There are a few things you need to consider before you get too attached.

First you need to determine if the animal already belongs to someone else. Take Fido or Fluffy to your local Humane Society and ask them to check for a microchip. If there isn't one, how much effort you put into making sure no one is searching for his or her pet is up to you. Try putting up fliers around the area with a simple description of the animal and your phone number. If you haven't gotten any calls after 3 or 4 days, chances are, he's yours!

Once you determine that the little guy is indeed "on the market", it's time for a visit to your local vet. Animals can carry all sorts of diseases so this is especially important if you already have other pets at home. The vet can do a complete physical and give you an approximate age, then do age-appropriate vaccinations or treat any obvious health problems. It's also a good idea to have the animal spayed or neutered. This can prevent many future health problems and unwanted litters. Before you leave, ask the vet about the proper diet to feed your stray. He can tell you if the animal suffers from malnutrition or is too young to be fed regular dog or cat food.

Once you have seen to the health and welfare of your new pal, relax and enjoy his company. No matter how your new friend came into your life, a pet can be an awesome addition to your family!

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