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Adopting a dog can be one of the most rewarding decisions you may ever make. But how do you choose the right dog for your family? How do you get off on the right foot once your new dog has moved in?

Here are some resources to help you.

Making the decision to adopt a dog shouldn’t come lightly. Here are some thing to think about before adopting-

Things to Consider Before Adopting A Dog…

Are You Really Ready To Get A Dog?

There are many places to adopt a dog. Many people are familiar with their city or county run shelter, but there are also private run shelters and rescues to adopt from. Look for a group near you at:

Petfinder

Pets911

1-800-Save-A-Pet.com

For someone looking for that extra special dog, you may want to visit-

The Senior Dogs Project

Pets With Disabilities

Deaf Dog Education Action Fund

Once you find a shelter a rescue, it is important to make sure it is reputable.

What is “A Reputable Animal Rescue”?

“HOW TO CHOOSE A REPUTABLE DOG RESCUE GROUP”

Then, of course, there is choosing the dog that will become a part of your family. It can be difficult, especially when you see so many dogs looking for a home. Remember this is one of the few times you get to chose a family member, you want to make sure it is a good fit.

Choosing the Right Dog

Choosing the Right Dog for You

How To Find the Right Dog Breed For Your Family- even if you are looking for a mix breed, it helps to know about different breed characteristics. This is a great post that discusses the different types of dogs.

Choosing the Right Dog

Adopting A Shelter Dog

Once you have chosen your new best friend, there are things you can do to make his adjustment to his new life easier.

Tips on Adopting a Dog - A guide to the First Few Weeks

Adult Dogs: Adjusting to a New Home

Before the New Puppy Comes Home

What to do after adoption

Bonding with Your Dog

Naming Your Dog Well

Welcome Home: Preventing Problems from Day One

Introducing Dogs to Each Other

There are many more resources available online, these were just some that I thought would be helpful. Once you’ve added that new furry family member, be sure to come back and tell us! Good luck!

Ricochet- adopted in January 2001 from the Luzerne County SPCA.

With October being Adopt a Dog Month, I thought it would be great to have a carnival to let people know how much a rescue dog adds to our lives.

Share how your adopted dog has affected your life, stories about your adopted dog, reasons to adopt, or how to find the right dog to adopt. Deadline for post submission is Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 11pm Eastern time. The carnival will run on Friday, October 19.

Submit your post at Blog Carnival. The Deadline for post submissions is Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 11pm Eastern time. Watch for the carnival to be posted on Friday, October 19.

Let’s show people why there is nothing better than giving a dog a second chance!

A few hours ago I went to pick up a ferret from the next county. This ferret had been found outside by a family over a week ago. She could have been lost, but unfortunately, often people will just let a ferret free in the wild when they don’t want it (in this ferret’s case, possibly due to her biting). The ferrets we keep as pets are not wild animals, they have been domesticated for thousands of years. They imprint on their food at a very young age making it hard for them to switch to a new diet as they get older. For the majority of pet ferrets, the diet they are used to is kibble (ferret food). Since there isn’t much kibble laying around outside for them, a ferret that is released outside will die if it is not taken in by someone.

Fortunately, for this little girl someone did find her, take her in and then made contact with some ferret knowledgable people to get her the care she needed. So please if you are thinking about getting rid of a ferret or any pet for that matter, take it to a shelter, don’t just let it go outside. They at least deserve a chance at having another life.

For most people, pets are an important part of their family. Last year Americans spent over 38.4 billion dollars on their pets in 2006. Of that amount, 9.3 billion was spent on pet products and over-the-counter medications. With more and more products appearing on the market and because of some recent events, people are becoming more discriminating about what they are willing to buy. But how do you decide what is the best product for you and your pet? Having other people’s opinions help. Let us know if these submissions to the Favorite Pet Product Carnival help you!

The pet food recalls that began in the beginning of the year affected all pet owners. Even if it didn’t cause illness, it has made everyone concerned about their pet’s diet. Surfer Sam talks about this in his post Pet Food and Nutrition. What’s the Best Pet Food? found at Surfer Sam and Friends.

Sometimes there are simple solutions to problems. Suzanne gives her solution to her problem in her post works for me: baby gate found at :: adventures in daily living ::.

Keeping your pet happy doesn’t always mean spending money. Jeremy talks about his cat’s favorite toy in WTTF: Welcome to the Future » Archive » Cat Addictions posted at WTTF: Welcome to the Future.

Thank you for the submissions!