Are you REALLY ready to adopt?  Seven points to consider...
By Linda Nelson

1. MONEY:   Can you really afford to own a dog?  The average yearly cost is at least $1,000+ and in the Southern California area, you can expect this figure to double or triple because of our economy.  The cheapest part of owning a dog is the adoption fee or purchase price.  A serious health condition or surgery can easily run into the thousands of dollars and requires all dog owners to available lines of credit for emergencies, purchase health insurance for their pets or have savings they are willing to deplete if need be.  Foster & Smith have an exceptional 'hard facts' document to read through before you decide if you truly can afford to adopt or buy a dog.  Click HERE to read the pdf file.
    
2. FUTURE PLANS & CIRCUMSTANCES:    Where will you be 15 to 18 years from now? Does anyone really know?  But major changes in your upcoming lifetime should be considered BEFORE you fall in love with that rescue dog or puppy for if healthy, they will live at least that long.  Marriage, children, divorce, chronic and/or debilitating illnesses directly affect every pet in your life.  Have you considered alternatives to all potential upcoming lifestyle changes?  Do you have a plan now on how to deal with them and your new pet?  If you are currently single, have you considered the situation of falling in love with a 'cat person' or someone who is allergic to your new dog or puppy?  What will you do in matters of the heart if this happens?  If married, what will you do if domestic violence becomes a part of your life down the road?  Numerous women have stayed because they couldn't leave their pets behind and spent years being abused and/or were killed in the end.  Are you currently in college?  What happens when that 'to-die-for' job materializes a few years in the future and you have to spend 50+ hours a week at the beginning to get ahead?  These are ALL future aspects to consider BEFORE you make the commitment to this dog or puppy.
    
3. COMMITMENT: Look back at your past experiences with dogs and puppies - were they REALLY your pets to take care of, foot the bills, exercise, clean up after, train inappropriate behaviors, etc. or did all of these responsibilities fall on your parents, a roommate or someone else you were in a relationship with?  Dogs have the intellectual ability of a toddler, require as much time, energy and commitment of having a toddler - are you really ready for this at this stage of your life?   Six out of ten first-time pet owners statistically turn over their pets to animal shelters or give them away to family or friends... sometimes strangers... unable to deal with the behaviors or lack of training in the dog.  The state of California annually kills over 800,000 animal companions each year - did you contribute to this statistic?  What are you prepared to do this time to not repeat the experience and outcome again?
    
4. REASONS FOR ADOPTING:   Why are you adopting a dog or puppy?  They should NEVER ever be given as gifts for they are not returnable without trauma affecting the dog's psychological personality.  Are you lonely?  Friends are easily made that will not poop on your bathroom mat, nor cost you a small fortune!  Are you adopting for your children?  Children have a short attention span and also should be able to run, jump, shriek and enjoy being a child as nature intended - a petite or fragile dog can easily be harmed unintentionally by a youngster.  'He has his dog, I want my own dog' syndrome causes more dogs to be given up when the new dog once again gravitates toward one member in the family unit.  What is he or she doing that promotes this bond with an animal - can you (are you willing) to replicate it?  Consider all the reasons you believe you have for adopting a dog and puppy, then run them by someone who is not emotionally involved in this decision to get their perspective before making your final decision!
    
5. MOVING:  Cited as the number one reason for animal relinquishment for years, "we have to move and can't take our dog with us" is harder on the dog or puppy than it is you.  Dogs thrive in routine and consistency.  Moving even with their family has caused numerous dogs to be lost as the stress, new smells, different environment, etc. caused them to bolt when least expected.  The loss of you and all they have known, combined with the shelter environment readily causes 'shelter shock' and some dogs never truly recover from it.  If they are not put down (and most are) at the shelter, the dog will have to endure at least two major changes (if not more) until they hopefully find their furever home because you had to (or decided to) move.  If you've fallen in love with that cute little puppy or dog, you rent and don't own your own home, it is better to walk away from the dog than to put them through that trauma!
    
6. LIFESTYLE, VACATIONS & TRAVELING:  If you enjoy going away once a year or more on vacation, consider that the average daily expense to get a pet sitter is at least $20 or more; boarding can range from $40 and above.  One seven-day vacation for you just cost you an additional $150 to $400 because you've adopted a dog or puppy.  If you travel frequently, you will need to consistently line up accommodations for this animal companion, and most kennels will not take dogs who are not up-to-date on their vaccinations and/or sick.  Can you cancel your vacation plans because your dog is sick?  If you plan on taking your new adoption with you, consider that many hotels and facilities will not accept dogs at their locations or facilities.
    
7. VICTIMS OF OUR CHILDHOOD:  Most of us grew up with the visions of Lassie OR the belief that the classical family unit included two or three children and a dog.  The majority of rescue dogs never materialize into the Lassies of our childhood.  'Father Knows Best' visions and feelings may be subconscious that we ourselves are not even aware of, but a house can be a great home without the addition of a dog or puppy.  Many of us believe we'd love to have this breed or that one because a neighbor had one when we were a child or a friend has one that you love - BUT - more Afghans, Malteses, Shih Tzus and Poodles show up in rescue because of their breed's beauty AND the new owners not realizing just how much daily work is required to maintain that pristine appearance (plus those monthly grooming fees as well!!!). 

Before you adopt a new dog or puppy, consider all the VERY worst aspects and if you feel you have completely thought this decision through - weighed the pros and cons of companion animal guardianship - and determined that you're ready, well, then, CONGRATULATIONS!