Every animal should be treated humanely—the basics are food, water, shelter, a bed of their own, exercise, companionship, attention, grooming as needed. All too often, they end up neglected.

I have NEVER seen dogs in such bad condition as our two owner surrenders, our westie and our other cocker, matted, emaciated, and with their toenails curled around growing in their paw pads.

If a person really has no time (often the people who watch TV or talk on their cell phones the most!)  the dogs are better off being given to someone who will care for them, than left to languish in a crate, or slapped out of the way if they try to act frisky, which of course is a Westie’s nature!

If you want a pet that will be seen but not heard, don’t get a dog.

Also get a dog that you can safely and effectively handle. An eskimo dog is lovely, right enough, but it is only a few steps removed from a wolf, they shed incredibly, and they are so powerful that they can easily wrench a grown man’s shoulder from its socket if they get too lively on a walk down the street (my friend actually ended up building a wheeled sled for his dog to tow him on after the second time it happened. Then they got on fine).

Also keep in mind that however helpful and engaged you want your children to be in the dog raising process, you are the adult, and the one in charge. You have to take ultimate responsibility for the dog’s training, and all its needs, to be the alpha or top dog of the pack.

If you are not prepared to have that responsibility, then a puppy is not for you. As for an adult dog, yes, they are easier, in that they are full grown and have a developed personality, but you need to make sure getting a dog is not a spur of the moment decision you will regret later.

You might even consider agreeing to be a foster parent to a dog or more than one dog, to see if the breed and the responsibility level are right for you. Especially given this economic climate, it is hard to find adoptee families.  The rescue group will usually fit all the vet’s bills, you just have to provide love and attention and a good environment, water and a place to hang their leash so they are not caged all the time. They might even pay for the food (though it would be nice to help them out given times are so tough).

Do your research, and decide, puppy, or adult dog, foster, or adoption. And just remember, often you will be saving an adult dog’s life by rescuing them.  Just make sure you make the right choice for the whole family, but especially for the puppy or dog.