Choosing the Right Pet for You and Your Family

Do your research.

Animals come in all shapes, sizes, energy levels and grooming needs. Even pets of the same breed will possess different personalities, so speak with the adoption counselors. They work with the pets every day and know their personalities. Take your time getting to know your prospective pet in one of our Get-Acquainted Rooms.

Looking for a purebred?
Try our Breed Request e-mail service.

Mixed-breed animals often have a lower rate of inherited physical ailments such as hip dysplasia prevalent in purebred dogs. However, if your heart is set on a purebred, check your local animal shelter first. Most animal shelters report that as many as 30 percent of their pets are purebreds given up because their families could no longer care for them.

The Humane Society of Missouri offers Breed Request, a service to search for dogs and cats BY BREED. Once your register for Breed Request, you will receive an e-mail if and when that breed becomes available. Learn more about Breed Request.

Consider an adult dog or cat.
Adult animals arrive at shelters often because their former households have experienced a death in the family, divorce or layoff and can no longer care for them.

Adult dogs often are housetrained, have lost their baby teeth and are finished with that "chewing" stage. There is also less guesswork about their grown size. Adult cats are usually less destructive than kittens since they have learned to retract their claws and usually prefer napping to climbing!

Are you ready for a pet?

Also read
Selecting the Right Pet for You