evaluating a seller

Now you have a list of phone numbers for different breeders, shelters, pet stores and a few ads from the newspaper. You have to find out which one has the perfect pet for you. You would like to buy your animal from an honest person who raises animals carefully. To do that you have to ask a lot of questions and look closely at the conditions in which your future companion was raised.

For pets in general

The first time you meet a breeder or hobbyist, pay attention to how he treats you. Anyone who uses pressure sales tactics should be crossed off your list. If a breeder or pet store owner does not care about where the animals end up, he probably does not care about their welfare right now either. A good breeder or hobbyist will offer you information and a business card so that you can talk further after you have had the time to think. He will also ask questions about you and he will really listen to your answers.

Ask each breeder how long he has been in business. You certainly would like to find a breeder you may contact over the years to answer your questions. Ask the breeder whether he has a relationship with people who purchased animals from his previous litters.

No matter what kind of animal you are adopting, if you are dealing with a breeder, ask for the names and phone numbers of previous customers. Call these people and ask about how they were treated and whether they ran into any problems. You know you are dealing with a good breeder when a person say:

they have always felt comfortable calling with questions
the pet they brought home has been free of disease or serious health problems
any pet with illnesses was promptly exchanged without any hassle.

Take the time to ask other breeders and hobbyists what do they know about the person you are planning to adopt from. If you suspect the person you have contacted is not honest or that he is selling unhealthy animals, call the Humane Society or your local animal shelter. Every shelter or organization generally keeps a blacklist of breeders with bad reputations and they can warn you away if need be.

Before you even think about buying, ask the seller specific questions about the care she recommends for individual animals. The person should also be willing to give you background on an individual animal, including a specific health history of ailments and vaccinations.

If you are planning to adopt from a shelter or a rescue group, you may not be able to get a lot of information on the background of a particular animal, but the staff should be able to give you some details about what they have observed.

For cats

The first time you walk into a breeder's house, you realize that it looks like the feline version of the 101 Dalmatians of Walt Disney. The breeder tells you not to worry but you should. Have you ever heard about "Puppy Mills"? Well there is a version called "Kitty Mills". They are disreputable breeders who sell a lot of unhealthy kitten and as quickly as possible. How can you recognize a Kitty Mill. First of all, ask where the kittens' parents are and that you would like to see them. If the breeder refuses or gives you flimsy excuses, it might be a Kitty Mill. Usually they have a lot of litters and that is because they turn out litter after litter without any regard for the health or well-being of the animals. Frequently, these animals have been inbred and they have serious health and temperament problems and sometimes they have been raised in unsanitary conditions. Just like humans, cats cannot sexual interact with their family members. To put these people out of business, contact the Human Society or your local shelter. Do not buy from them, just walk away and find a responsible breeder.

Another way to avoid buying from a Kitty Mill is to make sure that the kittens have been raised as a litter and not in a tiny, overcrowded cage. If you see cages, walk away immediatly.

If a rescue group tries to charge you market prices for a cat or tells you that they have no health history for the cat, you should leave and contact another breeder, shelter or rescue group. Most rescue groups and breeders are in business because they want to find good, caring homes for their animals.

For dogs

Same advices as for cats

In this chapter

Introduction Adopting a pet House Budget Matters of time Type of pets

Other considerations Sources for pets Evaluating a pet Best season to adopt

Finalizing the adoption

Following chapters

Finally at home Health & care Behaviour Living together

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