So you want a new puppy? Kitten? Bird? Elephant? Awesome.

Just make sure you are prepared. On the other end of that cute little face is a pooping machine. Are you ready to deal with that? Well, maybe the following will help you decide.

Before You Start Looking

So you want a __________. (insert animal there) Now it is time to ask yourself some key questions.

• Do I have enough space? If it is a dog, does he have space to run? Or if it is a lizard, do I have room for a big enough cage?
  
• Can I afford it? Food, vet bills, neutering, training, toys, accessories (beds, poop and scoops), unexpected things like surgery?
  
• What about the rest of my family? Do they want one too? Will they help when I am not home?
  
• What animals are in the neighborhood? Is there a vicious cat that beats up all the other cats? Does your hillbilly neighbor like to use your pets as target practice?
  
• Do I have other pets or family pets that come over often? Will this animal get along with them? Will the other pets like a new friend?
  
• What laws are there in my area? Is it illegal to own a roaster in a residential area? Is there a limit on the number of pets I am allowed to have?
  
• Do I have the time? Can I take a week or two off work so I can train my puppy and house break him? Can I make it to the pet store every week to buy crickets and silkworms for my tarantula?
  

If you feel you can answer all those positively, I think you are ready to take the next step.

Picking Where To Get Your Pet

Common places to get pets are:

-Breeders
-Pet stores
-News paper ads
-Shelters
-Friends

Each has its pros and cons. Lets go over them shall we?

Registered Breeders
These people breed animals as a living. They often have a couple animals they use in shows/contests. They are usually very passionate about their animals.

Pros to Buying with a Breeder
-The dog comes with papers, this makes them more valuable and allows you to enter them in competitions
-Guaranteed to be 100% thoroughbred (no other breeds mixed in pasted generations)  
-The puppy is with it's mom until you get it
-You get to meet the mom (sometimes the father too) to see what it is like. Often dogs have similar temperaments as their parents
-Usually are safe, clean and satisfaction guaranteed way to buy a pet

Cons
-Expensive. Dogs could range from $800 to a couple thousand. So be sure to call lots of breeders and see their price ranges
-Breeders can be picky about who they sell to. Don't have a fenced yard? No dog for you then

Pet Stores

*sings* How much is that doggy in the window? The one with the waggly tail?
Ok ok, lets get serious. Pet stores are great for getting suckered into those cute little faces. But they get sold quick.  Fish, non-exotic birds and small animals (hamsters, etc) are usually bought at pet stores with no problems. Cats and dogs (and reptiles if your pet store carries them) should be given a closer look.

Pros
-You get your pet right away! Point to the one you want, and it is yours
-All the things your pet needs is right there in the same store. You can buy the same food that the store was feeding them and do it all in one trip
-You can bring the pet back for visits. Pet stores love having animals in it, so as long as it is well behaved, bring it along for the trip for more food
-Prices are good, they are much lower than buying through a breeder

Cons
-Where did these animals come from? A puppy mill? Born in the back of the store? What is the animals history? Why is only one kitten left?
-Those poor animals don't get to run around much. And they have snotty nosed kids poking and pulling at them all day. Do you want a dog who has gone through that? How will that effect their temperament?

Newspaper Ads

What? Free cats to a good home? Sweet! Or $100 for a 5yr old golden retriever! Wow!

Now before you get your boots on and go get it, there are some things you should think about.

Pros
-Really low prices, sometimes even free! And usually some shots or neutering has been done already so you don't have to (be sure to ask)
-Quick way to get a pet

Cons
-You aren't dealing with someone who knows animals usually. They are just an average joe who doesn't know hairball from a dust ball.
-You don't know what is 'wrong' with the animal. Why do they want to get rid of this cute doggy? Well, it bites children. Wow, don't want that!
-No guarantees about anything and no clue what the animal has gone through

Shelters

I hate going to shelters. I just want to load all the animals up in my car and take them all home with me. But I can't. There are a lot of cruddy owners who abuse perfectly good animals. Shelters are a great place to go find an animal in need. The dog missing a leg could be your next best friend.

Pros
-Less expensive than some places, though you still have to pay because this is how the place stays open and continues to save animals
-Tests are done on the animal. They make sure you aren't getting an aggressive dog that will mall you.
-You get to deal with animal lovers who will do anything to help you find the right animal for you
-You get to help with an over growing problem, which is abanded pets. Help one find a home
-Usually an older dog, so it is usually house trained and not so hyper like a new born

Cons
-It is an older pet, and sometimes sick or injured. It may mean you don't get to have the animal as long because it is fighting cancer, or is just plain old.
-While the shelter should do everything in its power to ensure you are getting a safe animal, you are taking the risk of having unexpected behavioral problems and fears if the animal was abused in its past home.
-Added vet bills and visits if the animal is sick

Friends
Aww. Your best friends rabbit had babies! And they want you to have one. Perfect right? Well, maybe.

Pros
-You know who you are buying from and how the animal is raised
-It is free or really cheap because they are your friend!

Cons
-Kinda hard to say no isn't it? You go over to see the babies, and the next thing you know, you are comming home with a tank of barracudas! Lets hope your cat at home doesn't try to catch them!
-You haven't gotten them from a professional, so no tips or guidance can be offered

*wipes brow* Alright. Now you can start looking (finally!)

Picking Your Pet

This will mainly be for cats and dogs.

Spend some time playing with them before picking. Be sure to see how they interact with their siblings.

Some Things To Do To Dogs
These will test to see if it is a dominate dog towards humans. (remember, you are the alpha dog and it never gets ranks over you)

-Hold it under its front legs in front of you. His bottom legs should not excessively kick, and he should be completely calm in a matter of 10-15seconds
-Roll him on his belly and pet it. he should not appear to be in any stress. It should be a fun thing. If the dog does not allow you, do not get it. It is a sign of a highly aggressive and dominant dog
-Cradle it in your arms (like you would cradle a baby) A little squirming is normal, but the dog should calm down and relax in your arms quickly

Tests To Do On A Cat
-Cradle it on its back in your arms. Cats either love or hate this. If they jump out/hiss or attack you, it means they do not trust people. (don't rub their belly though, all cats in general do not like their bellies touched. Just don't do it)
-Lightly tug their tail. Do they hiss at you? Definitely not a cat you want around children
-Encourage it to come to you (call it), does it co-war in the back of the cage? If so, you have a very timid cat and do not expect it to be a lap cat, expect it to be a scaredy cat.

Yay! You have a pet!

Brining It Home

Have everything set up already. A bed, toys, food and water dish.

Let them out of the cage and let them explore one room. Giving a new animal free range of a whole house can be overwhelming and makes it harder for you to keep an eye on them. As days go on, slowly introduce more rooms.

Have a towel/blanket or toy from their previous home (if possible). Put this in their night cage or in a close by area. This will help with separation anxiety. The sent from their old home will help comfort them.

Don't have people over for a couple days. Let the animal get used to you and your house before introducing new people. Tell your family you will invite them over in small groups soon to met Spot or Fluffy. Also, make sure they have all their shots before meeting new animals or people. Young animals can pick up disease easily and need to be protected.

And have fun! Don't get mad when they mess on the floor, just run them outside and praise them then! (if it s a dog:P)
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Well. I hope that covers most of it. Let us know how you got your pets and what it was like introducing them to a new environment. Post pictures of them too!

Other Helpful LW Pet Topics!
What Not to Feed Pets by pan

(Edited by Artistic Drain at 5:45 pm on July 31, 2006)

Post edited at 12:14 am on Oct. 26, 2007 by davjs

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If one, settling a pillow by her head,
Should say: "That is not what I meant at all. That is not it, at all."

Oliver:

He was a stray. He wouldn't leave a house down the street alone. And they took him in because it was winter. They didn't want him, so they gave him to us. He is the best cat ever. We have had him for 6years I think now

Amy and Benson: (Amy is on the right, Benson on the left)

Amy is a foster dog kinda. We take care of her and she will have 3 litters until she is completely ours. At which time the breeder transfers ownership to us. She is about 1.5yrs old. She is a sheltie.

Benson we bought through a breeder. He is 12weeks. Nothing special about his story:P He is a collie

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If one, settling a pillow by her head,
Should say: "That is not what I meant at all. That is not it, at all."

this statment is untrue, breeders are usially cruel to theyr animals because they know that they have more of that same animal if the other dies. breeders are also a bad place to get animals from. breeders are the reason there are so many homless animals. by buying from a breeder, you are endorsing them overpopulating the world with homeless animals.

i also do not agree with this statment: (don't rub their belly though, all cats in general do not like their bellies touched. Just don't do it)
-Lightly tug their tail. Do they hiss at you? Definitely not a cat you want around children.
i have had cats my whole life and at the moment have 6 cats. i have never had, nor known of a cat whom dosnt like theyr bellies rubbed. they love theyr ears and under the chin as well to be rubbed. i do not know where you get that they dont like theyr bellies rubbed. and no cat should have theyr tails pulled. if you have a child, teach them not to pull the animals tail before you get a cat. cats tails are fragile and center theyr ballance. no cats like to have theyr tails pulled. children should learn to respect any animal befor it is gotten because by letting your kid pull the cats tail, you are in a sense saying that its okay to hurt animals. which its not at all.

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"Brave is knowing that tomorrow isn't a bright and happy future."

Pulling a cat's tail lightly will not hurt it. And every cat I have met as not liked their bellied rubbed, and I have had many cats and taken care of many.

As for breeders, no shit there are some bad ones, but they aren't all bad. Most are very good. Not everyone wants a homeless/abused animal. Some want 'perfect' dogs. You get what you pay for.

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If one, settling a pillow by her head,
Should say: "That is not what I meant at all. That is not it, at all."