Start by being a Responsible Caregiver...

• License your pet according to your local laws and have him/her wear an ID tag at all times, showing your name, address and phone number.
• Make your sure pet is an indoor pet only! Your cat or dog should live inside where it is safe. 
• Keep your dog or cat on a leash or under your control whenever you take him/her outside for exercise. This will protect your pet from injuries caused by cars, other animals or theft. 
• Spay or neuter your pet. This will help him/her healthier and will reduce the problem of dog/cat overpopulation. 
• Give your pet a nutritious diet, including constant access to clean water. 
• Provide your pet with plenty of exercise regularly. Lack of exercise not only contributes to health problems like obesity but also affects their mental enrichment and can reduce behavioral problems related to boredom and anxiety.
• Be sure your pet receives proper vet care and keep up with the necessary vaccination and routine physical exams.
• Train your pet patiently and give him or her lots of praise and attention. 
• Groom your pet often to keep their coat and skin soft and shiny. 
• Have realistic expectations about your pet. Nobody is perfect. Make a commitment to work through behavior and health problems that arise. Don't just get rid of your pet! 
• Visit your local animal shelter when it is time to bring a new pet into your family. Click here for links to area rescues and shelters.

Please Don’t Breed, Sell, or Buy While Shelter Animals Die…

• Consider adoption. Adopting an animal not only helps positively affect the world’s pet overpopulation, but offers many breeds and mixed breed animals for you to fall in love with that you may have never known about. To find the perfect match, you'll want to choose the right one for you and your lifestyle. Animal shelters often have purebreds just waiting for homes. There are also breed specific rescue groups for every breed of dog or cat, including "designer" or "hybrids" like Labradoodles and Puggles (which are mutts).
• Responsible breeders do it for the love of the breed not money. On average, the cost of breeding 1 bitch that has 4 pups including proper genetic history, health checks, prenatal nutrition and care, post-birth vaccinations, veterinary care, and nutrition is $4,000 and the average selling price of a purebred pup is $800. That’s a loss of $800!
• You’ve looked everywhere and you just have to have that particular breed and it’s got to be a puppy or kitten. Find a responsible breeder and visit their premises. Responsible breeders provide a loving and healthy environment for their canine/feline companions, but don't take their word for it see it. Never buy a puppy or kitten without seeing where they and their parents are raised and housed with your own eyes. 
• Pet store puppies come from puppy mills and kittens from kitten mills. Despite what they may tell you, pet stores sell puppy mill puppies and kitten mill kittens. Think about it…they sell 10 to 30 different breeds at any given time, that’s manufacturing. For more information about puppy and kitten mills visit: http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/Commercial-kennel-facts.html
• Don't be swayed by a great website or ad. Just because a website says great things about their "home raised" or "family raised" puppies or kittens doesn't make it true. Many animal millers pose as small family breeders online and in newspaper and magazine ads. Learn to know the difference between a Backyard Breeder and a Responsible Breeder. Here are some materials that you may want to read: Tips on Buying from a Kitten Breeder and Good Breeder Guide.