My favorite appointment is meeting a newly rescued pet. It makes my day to see loving animals taken in by big-hearted new owners.

 

Overpopulation is a huge problem: by Humane Society of the United States estimates, 8 million pets enter shelters yearly. About half are euthanized; half are adopted (less than 5 percent of cats and 30 percent of dogs are reclaimed). We all owe a huge thank you to these organizations, volunteers and adopters who make it possible.

 

Adopting an animal is an act of public good, and beneficial to the individual adopted. However, we often overlook that it is one of the best ways to find a pet that matches your lifestyle. A word of warning, though: don't go "just to look"! This is a recipe for bringing home the wrong kind of pet, or one for which you are not prepared. Similarly, form a firm idea of what you want before you go, holding a family meeting if necessary. If you can't find it here, today, try another organization, or come back next week!

Some decisions are obvious -- cat or dog? Some are aesthetic: long or short hair, pointy or floppy ears? Some prefer big dogs, others small. Do you want to raise a puppy or kitten (adorable, but a lot of work, and you have less idea how they'll turn out), rehome an adult, or have the satisfaction of rescuing a deserving senior? Some decisions should be based on resources -- do you have a fenced yard? Can you afford emotionally and financially to deal with a particular medical condition? Do you have the time to give that herding dog or retriever a "job" to keep them happy?

Despite all these decisions, I think there are some universals:

- Absolutely no aggression! Even a guard dog should not act aggressively, or even seem overly stimulated, about other dogs, cats, children (especially!), or people of any size, sex, race or attire. They should not guard objects or food. Test these things. Cats may be quiet if you prefer, but no growling, hissing, swatting, attempting to bite or run away. There are too many nice animals.

- No anxiety or hyperactivity! Sit quietly and ignore the animal. They should settle in less than 10 minutes (shorter equals better). Interact with the animal then leave the room. Again, they should calm quickly (no barking, whining, urinating, panting, or hypersalivation).

- Positive motivation! Look for an animal that is interested in treats, or is very responsive to praise or toys. You want a pet who pays attention and will work for a reward. You should be able to begin to positively mold the response "sit" in one session (if they already know it, that's a good sign too).

- No chronic diseases (unless you're looking for a problem to solve, and if so, then bless you!).

Many of you, like me (it comes with the job), already have re-homed pets of your own. I hope that next time any of you is ready for a new friend, you will look to the rescue organizations first. Did you know that around 25 percent of dogs in shelters are purebred? In this area we have the County of Durham Animal Shelter, the Wake County Animal Shelter, the SPCA of Wake County, the Orange County Animal Shelter, and smaller public shelters and independent rescue organizations, including breed specific rescues.

I hope I have given you some food for thought today, and I know that your personal veterinarian can't wait to see you and meet your new family member! As always, thank you for caring.

Maia Tcheng Broussard's columns appear on the first Sunday of the month. She has worked in the veterinary field in Durham since 1994. Dr. Broussard is a general practitioner at Westside Animal Hospital, a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner, and has a special interest in behavior medicine. Contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . My favorite appointment is meeting a newly rescued pet. It makes my day to see loving animals taken in by big-hearted new owners.