What better way to bring joy to the whole family than with a new pet from the Lake Worth Animal Shelter?

But not so fast! Owning a pet is not something to jump into. It’s a startling fact that the city puts down more than 68% of animals that come into the shelter each year mostly because someone wasn’t a responsible pet owner.

Before you adopt a puppy or dog, make sure you have a fenced area and are willing to walk it on a leash each day for exercise. If you have to keep a dog on a tie-down, you probably shouldn’t have a dog.

If you have small children you should look for a medium-sized dog. Small children may easily abuse a dog that is too small, and a large dog could easily injure a child.

If you’re thinking about a puppy, remember it may be cute now, but it won’t be so cute chewing on the living room sofa. Puppies need extra attention, almost constant. Puppies need to be housebroken and trained on a leash. If you are not ready for this kind of commitment, look at an older dog.

It’s different for a cat, however. Cats need less training and are not so dependent on you for their everyday activities. If you plan to get a cat, make sure you are able to keep it inside your home at all times. Also, make sure you have a space for its litter box and are willing to regularly clean the box.

Adopting an animal from the city is a beautiful thing, and could save the life of an animal. Many wonderful animals are looking for homes each day at the Lake Worth Animal Shelter.