There are numerous reasons why to adopt an animal from a shelter or rescue. Here are just some of the reasons why:

1. To decrease the demand for a pet from a breeder, and therefore getting healthier animals and decreasing the number of euthanized animals. The number of breeders in Illinois and Missouri combined in 1999 was 1210 breeders; just in Missouri there was 1134. That number has already increased, and is over 3x's greater than any other state. Since there is that many more breeders, it also means there is that many more homeless animals. The low number of dogs each year in a shelter is 4 million. If we decreased the demand, it would decrease the number of animals produced and therefore decreasing the number of animals to be euthanized.

2. Give a homeless animal a home. "Pound Puppies" make some of the most loving and loyal pets. The average shelter animal is one year old, but animals con be found of all ages. You have a good selection and can get background and personality information on most dogs or cats. The staff will make sure you're ready and make sure you get the best animal for you, just like a breeder. These people are mainly volunteers, but they care about the animals and that they get the best homes and aren't euthanized.
Most people think there are no purebreds at a shelter. But they are wrong. Over 1/6 of the sheltered dogs are purebreds. If you're not interested in showing the animal, they make the best pets. There are also rescues for specific dog breeds all over the area. Check the List of Centers for more information on these rescues.

3. Not all animals brought to the shelter are there for bad things. In fact, there are vrey few "bad" pets at the shelter. Most of the time they are there because their previous family expirienced a change (a death, divorce, birth, moved,etc.) or the family didn't have time or proper care for the animal in the first place. The animal could have just been wrong for them (example= a dalmation in a small apartment). Sure some were given up because of barking, jumping fences, or chewing, but if they weren't bored or were cared for properly, they wouldn't do that stuff.

4. Puppies aren't for everyone. Shelters are the perfect place to get older animals. An energetic, untrained puppy or kitten may not be for a house with senior citizens or young babies. Older animals may be already housetrained (or in a cat's case, litterbox trained), have obedience training (or at least not jump up on everything and everybody), and are almost always spayed or neutered.

5. There are health bebefits associated with having a pet. Studies show people with pets live longer (and of course happier) lives, exercise more, and have lower blood pressure. In other words, it's good for you to walk your dog. It's also usually healthier on your wallet to bu from a shelter rather than a breeder. Prices from a shelter average about $50-$150, while a breeders price can be much higher.

1. Which best describes your household's daily schedule?

a. Someone would be at home with a puppy most of each day.
b. A household member works part-time and would spend only a few hours each day away from home.
c. All household family members work full-time, and at least one person has a predictable schedule with regular hours.
d. All household members work full-time and have unpredictable schedules that may include long hours and frequent overnight trips, or are involved in leisure activities that require frequent evening absences from home.

2. Where do you live?

a. An apartment or condominium.
b. A house in an urban neighborhood.
c. A house in a suburban neighborhood.
d. A house in a rural area.

3. Where will your puppy stay when no one is at home with him?

a. Inside my home.
b. In a secure fenced run or yard.
c. Put him on a tie-out.
d. Allow him to run free.

4. How do you plan to provide for your puppy's need to go outside to eliminate?

a. Take him of leashed walks.
b. Place him in a fenced yard or run.
c. Put him on a tie-out.
d. Allow him to run free.

5. How do you plan to provide exercise for your puppy?

a. Take him on leashed walks or runs.
b. Take him to play in a dog park.
c. Play with him in my home or yard.
d. Put him on a tie-out.
e. Allow him to run free.

6. How big would you like your puppy to be as an adult?

a. Tiny.
b. Small.
c. Medium.
d. Large.
e. Giant.

7. What kind of coat would you like your puppy to have as an adult?

a. Short and smooth.
b. Stiff and wirly.
c. Soft and curly.
d. Thick and bushy.
e. Long and silky.

8. How would a puppy fit into your budget?

a. Any necessary feeding, care, and grooming expenditures would not bust my budget.
b. I would feel comfortable spending as much as necessary on feeding and care, but would like to keep grooming expenses down.
c. My budget is tight. I would need to keep feeding, care, and grooming costs low.

9. How frequently would you be willing to devote some of your own time to routine maintenance grooming of your puppy?

a. Daily
b. A couple of times a week.
c. Once a week.
d. Once a month.

10. How much time would you be able to devote to exercising your puppy?

a. Less than 30 minutes per day.
b. Thirty minutes to one hour per day.
c. More than one hour per day.

11. Which best describes your preferred leisure activities?

a. Active outdoor activities like hiking, biking, boating, camping, and gardening.
b. Quiet indoor activities like watching TV, reading, listening to music, cooking, and crafts.
c. A mix of both a and b.

12. Which best describes the way you prefer your day to day life to unfold?

a. I like an ordered life. I prefer to feel that I am mostly in control and that there are no inconvenient surprises lying in wait for me.
b. I'm tolerant of a bit of excitement. I don't mind the feeling that things are slightly astir and that something unexpected may be about to happen.

13. Which best describes your personality?

a. Persistent and consistent, able to be authoritative without being a bully.
b. A bit of a softie, with a laid-back. laissez-faire attitude.

14. How would you like your dog to relate to you?

a. Very friendly and affectionate, wearing his heart on his sleeve.
b. Appreciative of affection and attention from you, but low-key in the affection he returns to you.
c. Devoted, perhaps to the point of being willing to die in your defense, but reserved and undemonstrative in his interactions with you.
d. Affectionate, sometimes exuberantly so, but on his terms, not yours.

Results of the quiz

Questions 1 through 5 are designed to help determine if your lifestyle and environment would be good for a puppy. #1. , if you answered a or b, you are great for a puppy. C. is also okay, but if you answered d. you may need to rething things. #2 is easy. If you live in an apartment, don't get a large or giant dog unless you are prepared to walk it often. In #3, a and b are great, if you answered c or d, rethink your decision. #4 is also about safety. Again, a and b pass, and c is okay, but d is never acceptable. In #5, just like #2, get a dog that suits your life. Don't get a Herding or Nordic Dog if you can't give him enough exercise.

Questions 6 to 9 are for focusing on whether you can afford the dog you want. A bigger dog means more food and medical care, a longer coat means more grooming, and the other way around. # 10 also has to dog with the type of dog you may want. High-energy dogs and most hounds and herding dogs need a lot of exercise to keep them happy.

#11 should help you focus on the type of dog that will be capable with you. If you chose a. , bird dogs, herding dogs, a Nordic dog, a scenthound or a terrier will all do well with you. For b. , you would be better suited with a low-energy Mastiff, a placid sighthound, or a compact toy dog. Your response to #12 should direct you toward the category of dog that meshes with you. For a. , you would be happiest with a bird dog, herding dog, a mastiff, or a sighthound. For b. , Nordic dogs, scenthounds, terriers, and toys may be more your type.

#13 is designed to show you what type of dog you could train most easily. If you answered a. , you should be up to the challenge of a puppy like a mastiff type with a guarding background, a Nordic dog, a scenthound, or a terrier. On the other hand, for those who answered b. , a bird dog, herding dog, a mastiff with a drafting background, a sighthound, or a toy would be easier for you to train. #14, a. , the affectionate bird dogs and herding dogs should appeal to you, while sighthounds and toys are probably better for those who said b. C. , should direct you to the strong silent mastiff or Nordic dogs. And if you said d, scenthounds or terriers are the dogs for you.

Supplies
You will need food, toys, a crate, collar, leash, license, etc. These items can cost upward of $500 per year. A puppy's first year can run roughly $900, including food, toys, neutering, vaccinations, and other items.

Affection
While all animals need extensive love and effection, the active attention your animal requires will depend on the breed and personality. Make sure your dog is well-trained. Also, make sure your pet is secure and well cared-for by playing with it often.

Living Situation
Single apartment dwellers should think twice before acquiring an energetic dog, and never get an animal for your child unless you want one yourself.

Environment
Simply bagging and disposing of your pets wastes is no longer enough. Using composting posts is environmental friendly and gets rid of that smelly mess in a good way. You can also use a commercially available mix of water and enzyme powder, which breaks down your dog's mess.

Interaction With Other Animals
Socialize your dog. Keep your dog on a leash when stray or strange animals are around, and when he will be in contact with other species. No dog should be let loose on a wildlife preserve.

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