Of all the things you shouldn’t purchase or adopt impulsively, dogs should be at the top of the list.
While dogs are wonderful additions to the lives of most people, they aren’t right for everyone, and
while it may be possible to find a loving home for a dog that doesn’t work out for your family, it isn’t
easy to do so. This is also very hard on the dog – she just started getting to know you and now she
has to go live with a whole new family. Its the worse thing that could ever happen to a dog or cat!!!  
It's not fair !! DON'T TEACH YOUR CHILDREN A PET IS DISPOSABLE !!  FAMILY IS FOREVER!

This means that you should always weigh the decision to purchase or adopt a dog carefully, soberly
and deliberately. To help you accomplish this, we’ve put together a list of the 10 most important things
to consider before adding a four-footer to your family. Basically, think of ALL the "bad" things a dog
could do... Multiply it by 100 !!  If it can be done a dog will do it!  Now if you can handle the "bad" ...
the good is 100 times worth it -
Holiday pet gifts are dumped at shelters during the month
of February and March... some later in the spring... but a
flood of holiday pets hit the shelters and rescues EVERY
YEAR!!!

Adding a pet to your life and family is wonderful and exciting......
and thank you for "adopting" your new family member!!      BUT
are you ready for a pet??

It's a LIFE or DEATH decision for the pet.....

The good reasons to have a pet are easy... let's review the
bad...
Southern Shih Tzu & Toy Breed
Rescue and Sanctuary
Make payments with PayPal - it's fast, free and secure!
A 501c 3 Non-Profit charity located in central Alabama and southern Louisiana,  dedicated to rescuing, rehoming and providing
sanctuary care for abandoned, abused and homeless toy breeds. Focusing on shelter dogs and breeder/mill dogs.
  • First... if you're thinking of getting a pet for your children and they will be responsible for taking
    care of the pet... GET REAL....  do they clean their own room?  brush their teeth? wipe their own
    bottom?  take a bath? do their homework without being threatened?  They ARE NOT ready until
    they can take care of themselves 100%-  SO if you, as a parent, are NOT ready to take on
    ANOTHER CHILD... DO NOT GET A PET!!  DO NOT GET A PET!!!  If you are ok with being
    100% responsible for the new pet... Wonderful... get a pet!  

  Other Considerations-

  • Giving a pet as a holiday gift sounds great... IF your family is READY! This time of year people
    get caught up in the excitement of the holidays and GIFT GIVING!-  It's a busy time of year, you
    may not be as ready as you thing... the New Year brings lots of life and family changes! Make
    sure dumping a dog isn't one of them!

  • Can you afford all the food, veterinary care and equipment your dog will need? Most people
    underestimate the financial burden dogs can represent. In addition to the purchase price of your
    dog (which you can almost entirely avoid by adopting a dog from a shelter), you’ll need to
    purchase a variety of items, including food dishes, crates, fenced yard, baby-gates, lots of chew
    toys,  collars and leashes. You’ll also have to purchase food every few weeks and you’ll need to
    pay for your new pup’s veterinary care. While the love of a good dog is easily worth the costs,
    you can’t pay bills with love.

  • Are you reasonably confident about what lies ahead of you for the next 10 to 19 years? If you
    know that you’ll be moving, starting school or changing jobs within the next few years, you’ll
    have to ensure that your dog’s needs are met in the process or avoid acquiring one in the first
    place. Adding a dog to your family is a long-term commitment and not to be taken lightly. Any
    significant life changes that occur in your life will also affect your pooch.

  • Do you have the room to add another family member? While the average family dog probably
    weighs less than 50 pounds and stands less than 2-feet-tall at the shoulder, they require quite a
    bit of space to move around. If you live in a very small or overcrowded home, a new dog will only
    exacerbate these problems. Those that lack a lot of space, yet can be dissuaded from adding a
    dog to the family are wise to select a small breed, with a relatively low energy level.

  • Do you have the time to dedicate to a dog? Simply walking, bathing and feeding your dog
    requires a significant amount of time, and you’ll have to perform many of these duties several
    times per day. Additionally, dogs need plenty of time, attention and love from their people, to
    ensure they do not develop emotional problems. Failing to give your dog the kind of attention
    she deserves is likely to cause serious problems down the road, which will compromise your
    available time even further.

  • Are you willing to deal with the (often gross) aspects of responsible dog ownership? There’s no
    delicate way to put this, but dogs occasionally create messes of one variety or another. Their
    bodily functions may spill out onto your floor or your bed.... they may potty on your rug, towels
    or clothes left in the floor.. even your child's toys!!  They may dig up, play with and re-bury
    animal carcasses in the backyard. They’ll surely get crumbs and slobber all over the house, and
    they may even harbor fleas or other biting pests from time to time. If these types of things cause
    you to wince, you may not be cut out for dog ownership. Not to mention ALL the things the dog
    will "destroy" by chewing! anything a dog can reach is "free game" for chewing, just like a
    toddler, your house has to be doggie proofed!

  • Is everyone in your home or family supportive of the idea? A new dog will become a member of
    your family, and it is wise to ensure that everyone is on board with the decision before adding a
    new four-footer to your crew. Failing to do so all but guarantees tension, which isn’t good for the
    people or dogs in the house. This is not to suggest that everyone in your family must be equally
    excited about the prospect, or willing to help with the dog’s care, just that your family members
    must all be supportive of the notion.

  • Do you have a vehicle suitable for transporting a dog? Although urban dwellers often get
    through life without a car, dog owners will normally find that having access to a car is necessary.
    Dogs are typically prohibited from mass transit and it is a rare cab driver that will allow your St.
    Bernard to hop in. Additionally, you must consider the possibility that your dog will need
    emergency veterinary attention.

  • Do you travel frequently? Just as parents must make accommodations for their children before
    leaving town for business or pleasure, pet parents must make arrangements for the care of their
    dog before traveling. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a young neighbor willing to walk and feed your
    dog in exchange for a small fee, but most people will find it necessary to board their pet at a -
    professional facility whenever they are unable to take their dog with them. Boarding is not
    exactly inexpensive and your dog probably won’t love the idea of going to a strange new place
    for several days at a time, so it is important to consider your traveling schedule before adding a
    dog to your family.

  • Have you considered a breed that will work with your family?  Toy Breeds (small dogs) don't
    always work out with young children- small dogs can be fearful of a child and become defensive
    and nippy.  Large breeds may grow too large for your young child and knock them down or pull
    them down during play time.  So many dogs are surrendered to shelters and rescue for these
    issues !!!

***
Consider each of the issues above before deciding to add a new pup to your home. If none
of these considerations give you pause, you’ll probably enjoy your new pet thoroughly. Just
remember that adding a dog to your family is a serious decision, which will affect the
feelings of everyone in your family as well as those of the new dog.

If  you purchase d a dog that turned out to be a bad fit for your family, you may regret your
hasty decision about a dog .... WHO suffers then??  The unwanted dog-  surrendering a dog
to an already over crowed shelter or rescue isn't the best situation for a dog-  a hight
number of shelter dogs are KILLED, even though you "think" they will get adopted the DO
NOT!!   Rescues are over flowing and can't take them all-  

Giving your dog to the first person that "seems nice" isn't a good option.... NICE people are
so nice in a lot of cases and the dog is abused, neglected or used in dog fighting-   PLEASE
WAIT  to add a pet to your family when you're ready for a life long commitment to a "forever
2 year old"


PETS ARE FOR LIFE!!!  FAMILY IS NOT DISPOSABLE!-   
Holiday Pet ...
     Why it may NOT be a good idea!