Adoption Issues: a Critical Choice Nexus

Decisions reached before a pet is adopted have long range consequences for both pets and their owners. Is a dog or a cat your most suitable choice? Should it be a kitten, a puppy or an adult version of the former? Kittens and puppies have unmistakable appeal which is usually enough to sway your decision. But if already trained and suitable adults are available you might find that avoiding the training period is worth the loss of that brief period between infancy and adulthood.

The choice of a breed can be all important particularly with dogs and especially when children and elderly owners factor into the decision process. Simply put some breeds are a better fit for some circumstances than others. That's well known but a thorough knowledge of the characteristics of different dog breeds is not as well known.

Adoption: Puppy or Adult? is a brief but informative article about adoption. Practical advice on puppies and kittens and helpful information about adults in shelters is available.