When Marley and Me hits the theatres Christmas Day, you can almost bet that children will fall in love with this beautiful Yellow Lab.  However, if your child falls to hard for the dog, they may want their own Marley.

"Owning a dog is really a huge responsiblity.", says Cheri Wachter with the Humane Society of Broward.  Wachter isn't trying to scare you away from adopting a new puppy or kitten.  The animal lover herself just reminds future pet parents that it's important to do your homework before deciding if you're ready for a four-legged family member.

Before Diane and I chose our Chihuahua Lilly, we learned the breed is different than what you may have heard.  No, our dog isn't 'yippy' like you might think.  Actually, it's all about training and doing it early.  We took Lilly everywhere and let everyone pet her.  Now, at two years old, she's  a very well-adjusted pup.

Being a 'toy breed' we had to make sure that her blood glucose levels were in check.  A gel supplemented her puppy food to keep her healthy.  Not knowing about this would have put her life at risk.  Just another reason you should do your homework when choosing a new dog or cat.

Every year, Shelters around South Florida encounter a problem with the amount of animals that are dropped off at facilities.  It's chicks and bunnies at Easter.  Chicks turn into chickens and bunnies into rabbits, go figure!

So, when you're children are asking for a new puppy or kitten, just remember it pays to do a little research to find the best pet for your family. 
Having an animal in your family is an amazing opportunity for kids to learn responsibility and how to respect all forms of life.  As a child myself, I had ducks, rabbits, dogs, cats and even quails (don't ask, long story). 

If you would like to learn more about adopting a pet, visit the Humane Society of Broward.