Finding the right pet to fit your personality and lifestyle is not always easy. Today, images of celebrities carrying little pure-bread puppies around like an accessory do not always paint the most responsible and realistic portrait of pet ownership. These photos seem to promote ownership of a toy, pure-bread dog as being more like a owing a new purse or an iPod rather that a loving pet in need of care. While owning a pure-bread dog is fine, there are some draw backs occasionally regarding behavior issues and other health problems associated with over-breeding. Sometimes the best pet may come from your local animal shelter.

A decade ago, I had the pleasure of working with a local animal shelter on an event and it educated me on the importance of pet adoption from organizations like these who help give pets a second chance. In preparation for the event, I witnessed the volume of cats and dogs housed at the shelter that were abandoned in some way and in need of a good home. As I looked at the animals, I was struck by how almost none of them seemed to be the typical ‘mutt’ and how many of them were beautiful and sometimes pure-bread animals. I was also surprised at how affordable pet adoption at the shelter was, especially compared to the price of pure-bread adoption.

A few months later, a good friend of mine decided he wanted a dog. We talked about what he was looking for and how to go about finding the best fit for him and his lifestyle. Since I had just worked with the local animal shelter, I encouraged him to start there in his quest for his pet. I was able to tag along on his search and was very impressed with the help he received from the shelter. When he arrived, he was able to look at the dogs and allowed to take different dogs he liked into a room to meet and play with for a few minutes at a time to see if which might work best for him. After a few hours of meeting and playing with many different dogs, he finally made a decision. He left the shelter with a new pet and an armful of information on proper care for his dog as well as information on where to go to get his new pet neutered, a practice strongly encouraged by most shelters. Getting used to the dog took a few weeks but soon new owner and new pet started to get into a groove they both enjoyed. They have been together nearly ten years.

In the years following this experience, I have had other friends adopt pets from their local animal shelters and have seen great results. A couple of times, I have seen a few choices not work out. One friend decided after a few weeks that owning a dog just was not for him and took his pup back to the shelter to find another owner. Another friend adopted a dog that just was not a good fit for their lifestyle and took the pup back to the shelter and adopted a different dog, which they have now had for eight years. While it is tempting to seek out an expensive breeder when looking for a new pet, sometimes the best option is waiting at your local pet shelter. While owing a ‘mutt’ is not for everyone, it is definitely worth taking the time to visit your local shelter to see if there may be an animal there waiting for you who might be the pet of your dreams. Your local shelter may surprise you with the choices of pets they offer along with the friendly and helpful service they provide at a very affordable price. Also, unlike many breeders, they are there to help you following the adoption and assist you in working through any issues you may incur as a new pet owner.