Quoting Post Topic A Guide To Buying A New Pet Membername   Not a member? Sign Up Free (takes 20 seconds) Password   Forgotten your password? Post Font: Verdana Arial Black Georgia Comic Sans Impact   Size: Tiny Normal Big Huge   Color: Default Dark Red Red Orange Brown Green Olive Cyan Blue Dark Blue Indigo Black [ Check Spelling ] [ Post Preview ] [ LiveTags ] Quote: from [m]Artistic Drain[/m] at 4:59 pm on April 6, 2007[quote]I never said it was you lol[/quote] FAQ Keyword Search: Post Options Favorites Manager Notify me of new replies to this topic by email Notify me of new replies to this topic by private message Original Post Artistic Drain Posted at 1:03 pm on July 31, 2006 A Guide To Buying A Pet 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) ___________________________________________ 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)

Replies jesuswaswhite Posted at 12:08 am on Mar. 19, 2009 this helps a lot guys, read it MorningStar Posted at 3:58 am on June 12, 2008 Quote: from chocoholic at 4:00 pm on April 28, 2007 Quote: from Artistic Drain at 6:03 am on Aug. 1, 2006   Shelters    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 I thought your guide was really comprehensive but I just wanted to say a few things about these points. I've been working at the RSPCA here in Australia (the Yagoona branch for those in the know) for 10 months now and we don't rehome JUST old animals. We have animals of all ages- heaps of puppies & kittens. The animals don't always come from a cruel owner, we get plenty of surrenders- people who can't look after their pet anymore or when they haven't desexed their pet and they suddenly get a litter of 10 puppies. None of the animals available for adoption are sick or injured. We nurse them back to health before they go to a new home. And if there are any future problems (e.g. chance of a luxating patella in older small dogs) we fully inform the prospective owner as to what their future needs will be so that they are prepared financially and emotionally. Also all the dogs go through a behaviour assessment before they become available and if they show any signs of aggression they don't pass. Even if their is slight behavioural problems, the dogs go through rehabilitation to see if they maybe one day they can be rehomed. But yeah, everyone should at least visit their local shelter. You can't save them all but save at least one!!   Eh, conditions for sheltered animals are probably better in Australia.  In the U.S. it's probably a whole different story because sometimes I feel that the government is not working hard enough to protect the environment.  I do not know enough about this, but I just want to say that everyone should read Artistic Drain's OP because it is interesting and informative.  I love cats and I plan on buying a boy cat and a girl cat from a local shelter here soon. Tavis Posted at 10:26 am on May 11, 2008 We got our animals from a newspaper ad, and a shelter. I reccomend shelters, because they are usually the pets that need a family because their previous one wasn't fair to them. Plus, they are cheap, and in our case, we got to see the mother and its siblings. deathhousee Posted at 5:16 pm on April 22, 2008 Whackity whack, Jack. Frenchie3477 Posted at 2:08 am on April 17, 2008 good tips, thanks Briily Posted at 2:51 pm on Oct. 17, 2007 Quote: from silverbullets at 9:26 am on Aug. 21, 2006 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. 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. Really?  And you know this how? Most breeders are not registered.  Even some registered breeders can be bad.  However, there are responsible breeders.  Responsible registered breeders title their dogs, evaluate temperament, evaluate conformation, do health screening, and provide proper care for their animals.  I've known breeders who spent over 12 hours a day training and exercising their dogs.  Cruelty.  Total neglect.  Absolutely. A responsible breeder doesn't contribute to overpopulation.  Backyard breeders and puppymillers do.  If there were no backyard breeders and puppymillers, overpopulation wouldn't be a problem even with responsible breeders.  BYBs and puppymills contribute to well over 80% of all canines born in the United States.  A responsible breeder has less litters and those litters have been well planned out. Do your damn research =] Places to never get a dog from. Pet Stores, Newspaper adds (unless the add is from a reputable breeder), Backyard breeders, Puppymillers. gracekim111 Posted at 9:26 pm on July 6, 2007 i want to adopt a dog from a shelter. any good breeds that are active enough to go on long walks for but also doesn not need so much attention? HuntingNut Posted at 7:08 am on May 21, 2007 cute dogs i have 1 dog and 20 rabbits chocoholic Posted at 5:30 am on April 28, 2007 Quote: from Artistic Drain at 6:03 am on Aug. 1, 2006  Shelters 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 I thought your guide was really comprehensive but I just wanted to say a few things about these points. I've been working at the RSPCA here in Australia (the Yagoona branch for those in the know) for 10 months now and we don't rehome JUST old animals. We have animals of all ages- heaps of puppies & kittens. The animals don't always come from a cruel owner, we get plenty of surrenders- people who can't look after their pet anymore or when they haven't desexed their pet and they suddenly get a litter of 10 puppies. None of the animals available for adoption are sick or injured. We nurse them back to health before they go to a new home. And if there are any future problems (e.g. chance of a luxating patella in older small dogs) we fully inform the prospective owner as to what their future needs will be so that they are prepared financially and emotionally. Also all the dogs go through a behaviour assessment before they become available and if they show any signs of aggression they don't pass. Even if their is slight behavioural problems, the dogs go through rehabilitation to see if they maybe one day they can be rehomed. But yeah, everyone should at least visit their local shelter. You can't save them all but save at least one!!   SimplisticComplexity Posted at 9:00 pm on April 6, 2007 It was obvious who you meant. Artistic Drain Posted at 4:59 pm on April 6, 2007 I never said it was you lol the raven Posted at 11:22 am on April 6, 2007 Quote: from Artistic Drain at 7:28 am on April 6, 2007 Hey Kid, I am a Mod. :S Then you'll know. And stop trying to make it seem like I am creating multiple accounts then. Lying is not the way to get your point across. Facts are, so maybe next time you could try using them. Artistic Drain Posted at 7:28 am on April 6, 2007 Hey Kid, I am a Mod. :S the raven Posted at 7:10 pm on April 5, 2007 Quote: from Artistic Drain at 3:58 pm on April 5, 2007 You people can't read. I never said I support pet shops selling dogs. I said I think they are fine for fish and small animals if taken care of properly. Learn. To. Read. (And don't make multiple accounts to make it sound like more people agree with you) I did not make multiple accounts. Get a mod to check Ip's before making accusations like that. Or just accept the fact that you don't know much. OhMyDog Posted at 4:08 pm on April 5, 2007 Um, multiple accounts? LOL! I have a different IP address, and am not the same person. Your pros outweighed your cons. And in many cases your article is incorrect. It is actually LESS convenient, as when your dog reaches 6 months or so and multiple, expensive health problems crop up it wont be as easy! LOL. Most recent 15 of 72 previous replies displayed.