Bringing a companion animal into your home is a LIFE TIME COMMITMENT.  This story is all too common....

There are many places to find a new pet for your family throughout Michigan. We would highly recommend that your first stop be a local shelter or rescue organization.

Shelter dogs and cats come in all breeds,  mixtures, ages, colors and hair-types. Most animal shelters have a good  selection of mixed breeds to choose from, but they also have purebreds...twenty-five to thirty percent of  dogs in shelters are purebred. Or if there is a specific bred you are looking  for, there are purebred rescue organizations.

Before you  jump in your car to head to the local shelter, first go to your computer and surf the net for the Pet Finder website www.petfinder.com . Shelters and rescue organizations from  all over North America feature their pets on this very comprehensive site. Pet Finder also has a section of Lost & Found if your Pet is missing. You will find the following animals:

• Barn Yard
• Bird
• Cat
• Dog
• Horse
• Pig
• Rabbit
• Reptile
• Small  Furry

You can also search by location, gender, age, and size.  And by a specific rescue or shelter.

REMEMBER

When you are ready to adopt and bring a new family member into your home it is a VERY exciting time. However, adoption is a life time commitment . Most dogs and cat have an average life expectancy of 12 to 16 years, birds can live to be 30, 40 even 50 years. Do a little homework and it can save a lot of heartache. So before you rush out and  buy that leash, collar, cat toy or bird bell STOP and THINK . . . is this the best new family member for our home?  Am I - - - are we as a family ready for a life time commitment?

Each year over 1 million dogs are dropped off at local pounds or shelters by the very same people who once thought they were irresistibly cute and cuddly puppies and kitties. Take one hour and do a little homework and find the right animal for your family and lifestyle.