Tips for Adopting a Pet from a Shelter

We adopted a kitty! With the help of Petfinder and Maine Coon Adoptions (a division of the nonprofit, SAFE), we finally found our perfect pet pal (left). She was a stray that was picked up by the City of Oakdale.

According to Pets 90210, an estimated 8 to 12 million animals are entered into U.S. shelters each year, and an estimated 4 to 6 million are euthanized by shelters because homes are not available.

Do you have room in your home for a homeless pet? Tip Diva offers things to do, and consider before adopting a pet in her, Top Ten Tips-Getting a New Pet:

* Determine your situation (i.e. where you live, who you live with, budget, etc.).
* Research the type of pet you think you want.
* Consider how the pets you already have will handle a new pet.
* Ask pet owners about their experience.
* Get some experience (i.e. pet-sit).
* Have pet resources (i.e. a vet).
* Understand your adoption options.
* Be ready before the pet arrives.
* Give the pet time to adapt.
* Give yourself time to adapt.

SocialPacks offers 5 factors to consider when selecting a pet in her post, Animal Friends: 5 Simple Tips to Choose a Pet.

1. Its relationship with future pets.
2. Its relationship with your children now, or in the future.
3. Your living space and lifestyle.
4. The animal's origin. Find out from the shelter why the pet was abandoned.
5. Breeds. Research the different kinds to understand their different personalities.

Finally, Pet Connection recommends being open to adopting pets of all shades and colors. In their post, Dog Discrimination: Why Ignore a Pet Because of It's Color?, they quote an article that says shelters have more trouble getting people to adopt animals with black coats.

Adopting a pet can save an animal's life, and it can be good for your health too. Kitty's Kitty Blog post, The Significance of Cats, includes an article about a 10-year study of 4300 Americans that found that, "a cat at home could cut your heart attack risk by almost a third."

We've only had our kitty for a few days, but I wish we hadn't waited so long to find her. We took her the vet today and she seemed pretty comfy around all the dogs there; maybe there is a canine pet pal in our future!

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