Animal Shelters

I got my dog, Shaylin, from the Sterling Animal Shelter a few years ago. She's a mixed breed (part terrier, part something else...) and she's just about the greatest dog ever. She was a rescue dog from Puerto Rico, and she knows commands in both Spanish and English - so she's a bilingual dog! She is also a great companion; she follows my family everywhere we go throughout the house. I've heard that shelter dogs will form a strong bond with people, and it seems to be true!

- Their owner moving to a new home where they cannot bring the dog.
- Their owner not being financially able to care for them anymore.
- Their owner not having enough time to care for them.
- Their owner finding out that they are allergic to dogs.
- The dog not getting along with the owner's other pets.
- The dog biting someone.
- Their owner experiencing personal problems that make it hard for them to care for the dog.

A relative of someone my dad works with was driving down the highway when they saw a group of lab puppies that had been abandoned on the side of the road. They stopped their car, picked up the dogs, and brought them home. They were able to find good homes for them within a day.

Luckily, the puppies had a happy ending this time. However, instead of leaving unwanted puppies somewhere in the hopes that they will be able to fend for themselves or that someone will pick them up and take care of them, bring them to an animal shelter. They will be much more likely to have a caring family and a good home.

One of the reasons animals end up in shelters is that people go out and get a pet without fully understanding the responsibility it entails. Be sure you're ready for a pet before you find yourself with a furry friend you can't take care of.
Consider this before you adopt:
1. Dogs need exercise. A LOT of exercise. Do your working hours allow enough time for you to walk your dog when it needs it (most dogs are walked at least three times a day, puppies need to go out every four hours or so)?
2. Consider the expenses:
- A dog's gotta eat. You'll need to be able to pay for dog food.
- If your dog gets sick, it will need to go to the vet. It will also require annual check-ups and vaccinations. Also plan for unexpected medical costs.
- Don't forget play time! You'll need to buy toys for your dog to play with.
- If you go on vacation, you'll need to either board your dog in a kennel or hire someone to care for it while you're away.
- And, of course, the dreaded (for most dogs, anyway) trip to the groomers.
3. If you have kids, are they responsible enough for a pet?
4. Do you have time to spend training your dog?
5. If you move, can you be sure you'll be able to bring your dog with you? Pets are a commitment for their whole lifetime.

Ferrets! What you need to know before you take home one of these cute little creatures:
- You'll need to keep those pearly whites pearly and white! Brush your ferret's teeth twice a week using a small cat toothbrush and enzymatic toothpaste.
- Ferrets must be spayed or neutered soon after they turn 6 months old; do not add to the overpopulation problem. It will also decrease a male's odor and aggressiveness, and is important for females because they may die if they do not breed while they are in heat.
- Clean your ferret's ears once a month with a cotton swab dipped in an alcohol-based cleaner.
- Do not de-scent your ferret. It is unnecessary and potentially harmful.
- Ferrets eat high-protein cat food, but most of them do not like the fish flavor - I don't blame them :) - so you'll need to keep that in mind when buying food for them. In addition, you can give them fruits, vegetables, and vitamin supplements.
- You'll have to ferret-proof your home. Be careful when your ferret decides to explore: cabinets and drawers (which they can open!), heaters and furnace ducts, recliners and sofa-beds, anything spongy or springy (if swallowed, they can lead to intestinal blockage), human food (even fruits and vegetables are harmful in large quantities), toilet paper and paper towel rolls, filled bathtubs, toilets, water and paint buckets, plastic bags, refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and common houseplants.

Guinea pigs! How to care for these furry little pets:
- Make sure your guinea pig has hay to rest in and to eat.
- Food: guinea pig food pellets, and small amounts of fruits and vegetables (my guinea pig loved lettuce!)
- Keep water for your guinea pig in a bottle with a sipper tube, and keep the water fresh.
- Comb or brush your guinea pig's fur weekly.
- Your guinea pig's cage should be at least 30 inches wide, 36 inches high, and 36 inches long.

Rabbits! How to take care of them:
- Your bunny's diet should include grass, timothy or oat hay, a limited amount of pellets, fresh vegetables, and a small amount of fruit to him or her. However, do not give them iceberg lettuce or large amounts of cabbage.
- You need to groom your rabbit at least once a week to prevent digestive problems (rabbits are unable to cough up hairballs.)
- It is generally not a good idea to pick up rabbits. They do not enjoy being carried, and if they struggle enough, they could end up breaking their own backbones. If you must pick up your rabbit, make sure that you support it's feet!