Adopt a foreclosure pet: By Guest Blogger Carol Schults

In these harsh economic times, if you have always wanted a dog, this may be your opportunity to get a great dog. or cat. There are many loving and loveable dogs currently available in shelters. The current crop of dogs were not wandering the streets -- many of the dogs come from loving homes and may have already some basic training. These dogs have been placed in shelters for reasons ranging from foreclosure to re-location and these dogs were unable to follow their best friend. These dogs are looking for a forever home to call their own. Some of the same basic criteria still apply to bringing a dog into your life. Some considerations include: do you have time to give to the animal, can you afford the upkeep on dog and do you have the space for the animal. A dog is a long term commitment. If you get a puppy or a young adult, you can count on many years of ownership. Yes, it is a financial and time commitment however it does reap many hours of joy and happiness. A good first step is do research on dog breeds. This can either be done by speaking with friends, looking at books or going to the web and looking up what breed suites you. Some web sites have a quiz you can take and they “match” you with a dog type. Bottom line, you are looking for a dog that will be compatible you (and your family), lifestyle and expectations. Once you have narrowed it down to what you think is a good breed, then you can start looking for a dog. This can be done one of several ways. One way is visit your local shelter and see what is available – the shelter may update you as animals come in. Some shelters have simple applications some are more extensive. The next way is to go to the web – www.Petfinder.com is a great resource to find dogs. They have pictures and brief bios and medical history on the dog. Petfinder.com allows you to do searches by breed/gender/size/age and then they provide a list of dogs in local shelters. Another source for adopting a dog is to go to a mobile pet adoption (sometimes held at pet stores). Visiting your local vet also may have ads of dogs that need a new home on their bulletin board. However, whichever way you choose to find a dog, do it as the group who will live with the pet. This allows everyone to see how the animal responds to the whole group and how the group responds to the animal. Once you see a dog you like, you want to “test” the dog. First, see if everyone is comfortable with the dog’s temperament. Remember, the dog is very excited and just trying to say “hi, I’m a terrific dog and I want out of here”. Observe how the dog responds to being touched and patted. Once you have played with the dog, try to spend some quiet time. Watch to see if the dog can calm itself. If possible, take the dog for walk and watch how it responds to noises and other stimuli. All of these “tests” will give you some idea of the dog’s temperament. Once everyone who is going to live with the dog agrees that this is the “right dog”, it’s time to sign the papers and pay. Ask for all papers regarding the dog. If you can get vet records from the previous owner, that’s the best, otherwise the report from the kennel is extremely helpful. Find out what the dog has been eating at the kennel. It is good idea to continue feeding the dog the same diet while the dog is adjusting to his new “home”. After the initial days, you can gradually switch to something else. When we adopted, the next step gave me a lot of peace of mind. On her way home for the first time, we had made an appointment for her to see the vet. She was checked for fleas, heart worm and we had a fecal sample in hand to make sure she was healthy. She also had a bath, so we knew she was not carrying anything externally or internally into our house. Once home, introduce the dog to their new home. Show them where food, water and their bed. Then take the dog outside and show them the neighborhood. Now the fun can begin! If you've recently adopted a pet, tell us your story at stories@petside.com