There are millions of pets in shelters across the nation. Nearly half of them were abandoned by owners. The rest had been wandering the streets. More than fifty percent of these animals will never find a home and be put down. Adopting a homeless pet can be a rewarding opportunity, but it is not a step you can take without first thinking through the whole matter. It is a big commitment. You will need to provide a healthy home and be ready to give some training. You have to be able to provide regular exercise and to pay for veterinary expenses. It also can be a rough learning curve, as you may have to return a pet before finding the right animal. Of course, animal adoption can be a wonderful opportunity too.

You will have to assess whether you can fit a cat or dog into your daily life. Do you travel a lot for work? Are you looking to relocate soon? You also have to think of fitting the animal where you live. Do you have enough room? Perhaps you only have enough space for a small dog. You also have to be honest as to whether or not you and your family will be free to spend enough time with the pet. You also have to know whether or not you can provide adequate exercise. Different breeds will require different levels of care.

Can you afford the animal? Every year, trips to the vet for a cat can cost you as much as $650, and a dog can carry a bill of $1,000. You have to be prepared with adequate finances and the right tools. The shelter might charge around $75 for adoption, and with your buying supplies beforehand, the cost can come to as much as $300. This is still a value, however, as the shelter took the costs of spaying or neutering, vaccines, disease assessment and treatment, and more. This could be saving you $2,000 of expenses. At the pet store, you could be looking at a $600 animal that needs to be spayed or neutered and is probably prone to disease.

As for the supplies you need, you should consider getting a microchip, so you do not lose your pet. You will also have to look over your house to make it safer for an animal. Hide electrical cords, and clean up little toys that could be swallowed. For a cat, the ASCPA further recommends that you have a litter box ready, a towel or blanket laid over some sort of bed, a nail clipper, a brush, and some safe toys. You might also want to have a scratching post at the ready, and one that stands no less than three feet tall. When adopting a dog, the ASCPA suggests having a crate for training, gates to keep the dog out of restricted areas until fully trained, and a leash. A chew toy or bone would go a long way as well

If you have determined that you can care for a cat or dog, you next have to consider the type of shelter to go to. Be aware that you may have to go to the shelter multiple times before you find a pet you want. You want a shelter that will give you the information you need. You should also be looking for whether or not the animals look well-cared for, as this reflects on the quality of the shelter. You want a shelter that provides basic diagnoses and care, and that also runs behavior assessment. You are dealing with enough uncertainty as it is. Make as informed a choice as possible. Once you have decided to take an animal home, it would be best for you and your new pet to see the vet as soon as possible. That way your pet can start as healthy a life as possible in its new home.