(funky upbeat music)

[onscreen action] A graphic of a dog shaking it’s head side to side


[onscreen text] “Adopting the right dog”


[onscreen action] A woman and her 2 daughters are sitting on a couch petting a dog.


[Narrator] To help ensure a lasting relationship,
you'll need to choose the right dog for you family.


[onscreen action] A man lying in hammock reading a book is cuddling with a dog.


[narrator] So, here are the things you'll need to consider
before you adopt.

[onscreen action] A vet is examining a dog while a lady pets the dog’s head.

[narrator] First, ask yourself if you can afford a dog.
Research suggests an average dog
will cost about $1,000 a year.

[onscreen action] A dog runs and jumps into a pool while attempting to catch a toy.

[narrator] Second, consider whether you have the time it takes
to exercise, train, and play with your dog.

[onscreen action] A man is sitting on a couch with a small dog in his lap.

[narrator] Then you need to consider the personality
you are looking for.

[narrator] Are you seeking a cuddly lap dog?


[onscreen action] A dog runs and jumps through a hoop.

[narrator] A playful active one?


[onscreen action] A woman is holding a small child and both are petting a dog.

[narrator] Or perhaps a friend for your kids?

[onscreen action] Outside, a man is standing next to a large dog.


A man playing fetch with a dog.

[narrator] When considering size, keep in mind that the size of the dog
doesn't determine the amount of energy he'll have.


[onscreen action] A dog is lying on the floor chewing on a chew toy

[narrator] Now, a common mistake people make when adopting
is choosing a dog based on his looks
rather than his personality.

[onscreen action] A woman kneeling next to a dog and a cat.
A small childing is climbing the stairs and a dog is running up the stairs along side him.

[narrator] For instance, if you have other pets or children,
it's important to know
if the dog you're considering adopting
will get along well with them.

[onscreen action] A shelter staff person is walking a dog.


[narrator] The shelter volunteers and staff
interact with the dogs daily,
so ask for their opinions
to help make an informed decision.

[onscreen action] A woman is sitting next to a pool hugging a dog.


[narrator] Another decision many adopters consider
is whether to get a purebred or a mixed breed.

[onscreen action] A woman is sitting on a park bench petting a dog. 25% of shelter dogs are purebreds.


[narrator] Adopting a purebred allows you
to research some common characteristics
that typically accompany the breed.


[onscreen action] A child is sitting next to a dog rubbing the dog’s belly.

[narrator] However, adopting a mixed breed dog
will always guarantee that you'll get a one-of-a-kind dog.

[onscreen action]A puppy is laying on a couch chewing on a toy.

[narrator] And finally, we all know puppies are cute
and can be lots of fun,
but they can require a lot of your time for training
and some heavy-duty supervision.

[onscreen action] A child is hand feeding a puppy.
A woman and her child are sitting on a bed petting an older dog.

[narrator] While most people are immediately drawn to puppies,
we encourage you to consider adopting an adult dog.

[onscreen action] A woman is rewarding a dog for walking on it’s hind legs.


[narrator] Adult dogs are often house-trained,
and some even know some basic training and tricks.

[onscreen action] A web browser appear and www.petfinder.com is being typed in the address bar.

[narrator] To begin your search for your new best friend,
we recommend starting with Petfinder.com.

[onscreen text] www.petfinder.com

[narrator] It's the largest pet adoption site in the world.


[onscreen action]A demonstration of how to search for pets is being performed.


[narrator] With over 250,000 pets available for adoption
from over 10,000 animal welfare organizations nationwide.

[onscreen action] The results of the search appear on screen.