Shelters offer a large array of dogs and cats for adoption. There are numerous benefits to adopt your next pet from a shelter.

In most cases the animals will be up-to-date on their vaccines and altered. Some shelters may even provide dog and cat insurance coverage upon adotion.

Adopting a shelter pet is one of the best ways to acquire a new pet for your family. Animals often end up at the shelter when their families can no longer care for them, or they are rescued from poor living conditions. A shelter should be one of the first places you look for a new pet.

Shelters have animals ranging in age from new born puppies and new born kittens to older animals. If you are looking for a pet that is past the puppy and kitten stage, an adult pet makes a great choice. Adult pets are usually house trained and may even be obedience trained.

Once you have adopted your new pet, be sure to take them to your veterinarian. If you have adopted a new pet, it is good idea to enroll them in an obedience class and start looking into pet insurance if you don’t yet have it. Be sure to ask your veterinarian or trainer for pet behavior tips to practice at home.

The most important thing to remember is that a pet is a lifelong commitment. Don’t adopt a pet unless you are committed to keeping the pet permanently.

I don’t know if I smell of catnip or if word has gotten around to the local cats, but I am one of those people who always seems to find the strays and lost kittens in the neighborhood.

I’ve repeatedly exclaimed, “the kitten can stay – but just for tonight,” only to find myself with a growing number of lifelong family pets.

While new born kittens can be slightly more intense than the needs of adult cats, taking in and taking care for a newly rescued stray kitten isn’t so complicated if you keep a few things in mind.

1. A stray kitten will almost certainly have fleas, and may also have worms. Fleas carry parasites, so if your kitten has ingested any fleas while grooming herself, she’s probably taken in a few parasite hitchhikers.

You can purchase a flea control agent and medication, especially for de-worming kittens, at most pet stores. Be sure you buy the type intended for your kitten’s size and weight. Adult dosages can be toxic to small kittens. Dawn dish washing detergent is a gentle and effective kitten flea shampoo. Any stray kitten should be washed immediately if brought into the home to prevent an indoor flea farm.

2. Spaying and neutering is an important part of responsible cat ownership, as is purchasing a pet insurance policy for your beloved feline. A kitten may be sterilized as young as 8 weeks old, so contact your local rescues and research and see if you can find a spay neuter assistance program. Sibling kittens will mate earlier than expected if not fixed.

3. Pet health insurance is an excellent investment for your new kitten. Not only will you pay very low pet insurance premiums due to your kitten’s young age and presumable lack of pre-existing conditions, but many cat insurance policies also offer wellness and routine care packages.

If you’re deciding between adopting from dog rescue shelters or a breeder, you may have heard some misinformation from well-meaning friends. I’d like to shed some light on the life of a shelter dog.

Myth #1: Shelter Dogs Have Behavior Problems
These helpless, innocent dogs—often some of the best dog breeds out there, like Labs, Boxers and good old mutts—are at the mercy of everyone around them. The reasons why they ended up at the shelter are as varied as the dogs themselves.

“Ironically, many of the dogs are there because of their owners’ behavior problems, not their own,” wrote Marion S. Lane in the book, The Humane Society of the United States Complete Guide to Dog Care: Everything You Need to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy.

Some of them were off-leash, got lost, and their owners never came to get them. Some were abandoned in foreclosed homes or left in a public place to be found. Some even had wonderful lives until their owner died or lost their source of income. They don’t deserve what they’ve been through, and they want to prove it to you. And remember, many shelters do not make a dog available for adoption until it has been temperament tested first.

Myth #2: You Can’t Bond With an Older Shelter Dog. Start Off Right With a Puppy
Many pet owners who have had both rescue dogs and purchased from a breeder feel that their rescue dogs appreciate them more. A shelter dog has been through more life experiences. As nice as it is to know exactly where your dog came from, and that it was raised underfoot by an attentive family, that doesn’t always mean the dog will be loving and well behaved. In fact, such dogs might be a little aloof simply because they never experienced going without anything.

Shelter dogs have seen a lot in life. Sometimes this can make for a very well-rounded pet who is comfortable in many different situations. Every day, abandoned rescue dogs are adopted and trained to become companion pets for special needs centers, the elderly, and hospitals.

Myth #3: All the Good Dogs at the Shelter Were Probably Adopted Already
New dogs find themselves in shelters daily. If you didn’t fall in love with any yesterday, visit again.

Once you find the perfect match, it’s a good idea to begin looking into pet insurance for your new friend. Not only can dog insurance help to ensure you won’t be in financial distress if something unexpected happens, but some plans also help pay for a portion of wellness and routine care.

For some individuals, a pet is as much of a constant companion as a significant other – at least that’s what Desperate Housewives star, Teri Hatcher, says.

Hatcher recently added to her brood of rescue dogs by opting to take in an American Bulldog, according to PeoplePets.com. While Hatcher already has three other rescue dogs, she admits to the news provider that she has a special affection for her newest addition.

"I have an American bulldog that’s my most recent rescue: Jack, also known as my boyfriend," Hatcher said.

The actress also revealed that she has been an avid animal rescuer since 7th grade, and that if she wasn’t an actress, she always dreamed about being on the show, Stupid Pet Tricks.

Although it’s clear that Hatcher is an animal lover that bestows proper pet care to her furry friends, she said that she’s done adopting for a while, telling the website, "I think I’m legally at my limit, honestly."

According to iCelebz.com, Hatcher also has three cats, a rabbit, two birds and a horse at her home.

While pet owners can have the utmost dedication to their animals, some individuals may be doing more harm than good when it comes to pet care.

Carol Lynette Samuels, who was hit hard by the recession last year, was recently fined $9,000 for animal cruelty for living in her car with 11 Persian cats, one Himalayan cat, nine Pomeranians and two poodles, according to the Herald Sun.

Samuels was forced to move out of her $1.5 million mansion last year due to financial troubles, and said she could not bear to part with her animals as they were like her children.

"I’d lost an awful lot and didn’t want to lose my cats as well because they are the only family I’ve got," she told the news provider.

The animals were taken to the local veterinarian where a majority were found to be in poor pet health. A number of the cats were malnourished and had matted fur. While all of the animals were seized, one cat had to be put down.

According to News.com.au, Samuels was charged on nine counts of animal cruelty.

During a difficult rescue, police officers were able to pull a dog out of the Chicago River after she wandered into the water.

Elle, a German Shepherd and Yellow Labrador mix, was seen by bystanders struggling in the river, according to Chicago’s CBS affiliate, WBBM. The Chicago Police Marine Unit arrived on scene to assess the situation, which was growing increasingly dangerous for Elle.

"When we arrived, the dog went under," police officer Mark Jaeger told the news provider. "It had lost its function and had gone under, came back up, went under a second time, and as it came up to the surface, we had two divers ready who were able to grab the dog before it went under for its last time and brought it safely back onto the police boat."

When police pulled her from the river, Elle coughed up fluid and was shivering. But once the dog was reunited with her owner, she was in good dog health and returned home.

Animal control officers put a stop to an illegal kennel in Lakeside, California, when they discovered 63 dogs living in crates in a two-bedroom home.

The majority of the canines were in poor dog health as a result of neglect and unfit conditions, according to 760KFMB.com. The dogs were taken to the county animal shelter where veterinarians went to work treating the pups for their numerous medical problems before they’re to be put up for adoption.

According to USA Today, when animal control officers arrived at the scene, they saw that a number of cages had feces and three-day old vomit in them.

After spending 23 hours in a cage a day, the dogs are relishing in their pampering, and animal control officers are hopeful that they can go on to have better lives after the traumatic experience.

"There is a tremendous amount of hope," Lt. Dan Desouza told KFMB. "The public is going to have to step up and say yeah, I can take one of these dogs home and give it a loving home."

Firefighters in Syracuse, New York, recently risked their lives to save a feline that was trapped in a burning building.

A two-family, two-story apartment building was filled with smoke when firefighters arrived on the scene, according to Syracuse.com. The firefighters were quickly able to assess the problem and get the fire under control.

"They forced their way in, quickly located the fire and kept it from spreading," Syracuse deputy fire chief, Stephen Cavuto, told the news provider.

No humans were present when the fire began. After the flames were put out, rescuers found two unconscious house cats that were affected by the smoke. After bringing the two cats out into fresh air, firefighters quickly tried to revive them.

Unfortunately, the large black cat was unresponsive and pronounced dead. The rescuers quickly got to work on the small gray and black cat named Tigger.

Firefighters placed an oxygen mask on the feline’s face and caressed the small cat. Luckily, Tigger came around and has returned to normal cat health since.

According to the Daily Times, some fire departments have special oxygen masks designed to help pets exposed to smoke.

An animal rescue group in Franklin County, Virginia, is doing everything in its power to find a permanent home for a mutt named Herbie.

After his owners abandoned him in the wild three months ago, Herbie was able to last the cold wintery months and snow, in addition to being attacked by another pack of dogs, according to NBC Washington.

After the canine was picked up, veterinarians noticed that despite these injuries and harsh conditions, Herbie is gradually making a recovery back to good dog health.

Herbie has been staying with volunteer foster families until he can be permanently placed. He has won a special place in many people’s hearts, who are joining in the search for finding the pup a permanent residence.

"He actually is very resilient," Herbie’s foster parent, Rick Walsh, told the news provider. "He likes to keep you happy. He is a very happy dog. His tail is always wagging. … Whoever is lucky enough to adopt Herbie will be very fortunate."

Firemen rushed to a house in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, after a home caught on fire in the middle of the afternoon when a heat lamp inside a dog house caused the flames.

While the Ford family was not home at the time of the incident, the family’s seven pets were all in danger, according to Nashville NBC affiliate, WSMV. The firemen assessed the situation and got to work ensuring all of the animals got out safely, much to the gratitude of the Ford family.

"Our family couldn’t be replaced. Our animals couldn’t be replaced," homeowner Carla Ford told the news provider.

According to the Daily News Journal, even a Federal Express worker saw there was trouble and managed to pull one of the pets to safety.

The four dogs and three cats are all said to be in good pet health, and are under the care of neighbors as the Ford’s try to put their lives back together. The Red Cross is currently assisting the family with finding a place to stay.