Think ahead, plan before buying a new pet

Heart of America Kennel Club is holding cluster dog shows through this weekend at the Independence Events Center. These are full of “aww” moments, sometimes followed by “gotta have one” moments. And that’s great, but here are some things to bear in mind if Fido – or some other critter – is scratching at the door of your heart.



10 Consider cost and commitment. A hamster can live a year or more. A parrot might outlive you. Dogs and cats are somewhere in between, but one main cause of animals being left at shelters is life changes – divorce, moving, loss of a job – for owners. Animal advocates suggest considering how ready you and your family are to take on a new member for many years. Vet bills and food bills do add up. The Humane Society of Missouri has an “are you ready” quiz at www.hsmo.org/m_adopt/choosing.php



9 Start with the animal shelter. All sorts of pets – young and adult – are available. The Examiner runs listings and photos each week of dogs and cats available at the Independence Animal Shelter. Animals Best Friends uses an adoption process with many steps along the way during which everyone involved can decide if this is the right way to go.



8 Got to have a purebred? Start with the animal shelter. Nationwide 25 to 30 percent of dogs available for adoption are purebreds, according to the Human Society of Missouri.



7  Still insistent on buying a puppy? The Humane Society of Missouri suggests these six tips:

•  Look beyond the license because that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a reputable breeding operation. Ask around with your veterinarian, groomer and boarding kennel. Check out dog shows and breed clubs.
•  Insist on seeing the breeding facility.

• Look for shiny coats and wagging tails (and ask to see the mom and dad).

• Resist the doggie in the window. “The cute puppies in the pet store window are almost certainly a product of a large-scale commercial breeding facility commonly known as a puppy mill,” the Humane Society says. “Often in these facilities the parent dogs are caged inhumanely, constantly bred in filthy conditions and receive little or no veterinary care.”

• Be wary of buying any pet on the Internet. You don’t get to see or know the animal, and you could be getting a puppy mill animal.
• Get references. Ask the breeder for names of customers and the veterinarian who cares for the breeder’s dogs. Then make some calls.

6 Read up on the subject.

“Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America,” by Nathan J. Winograd.

“The Complete Guide to Dog Care,” published by the Human Society

“What is My Dog Thinking?” by Gwen Bailey

“The Loved Dog” by Tamar Geller

“How to Speak Dog” by Stanley Coren



5 Inside dog, outside dog? Animals Best Friends in Independence advocates keeping pets inside as members of the family. It’s warmer inside, and the dog gets more social interaction. If you keep your dog outside, however, here are some things to keep in mind. A dog needs a shelter big enough that it can stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. It needs to be well insulated and have a door flap to keep out the cold wind. Fresh, clean straw keeps your dog warm and dry. Fresh water is needed too.



4 Be ready before the big day arrives. Have the crate, leash and collar on hand. Buy food. Set aside time in your schedule – with predictable feeding and walking times – that is part of housetraining. Consider having a puppy sitter help out if needed. And remember that this is a huge change for your pet, so be ready for a stressed-out pup to whimpering and bark for a few nights.



3 Have your animal spayed or neutered.  This is the single best thing you can do prevent more dogs and cats ending up in shelters – or suffering a worse fate than that.



2 Give your time, give your money, give your heart.

Animals Best Friends, for instance, is always looking for help with everything from adopt-a-pet weekends to cleaning cat cages. Go to www.animalsbestfriends.org



1 Don’t buy a pet on a whim. “Spur-of-the-moment decisions to get pets usually result in these animals ending up in municipal shelters,” the Independence group Animals Best Friends said in a recent Examiner column. “The human gets rid of the problem pet by dumping the animal in the local shelter while the taxpayers have to support the shelter that is full of these unwanted pets. The poor animal doesn’t know what it did to deserve being dumped. ... Many animals don’t get a second chance and end up going on to the next world. The dumping and euthanization of these pets is a big black mark on our society.”