Seeking the perfect pooch

Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, Nov, 1998 by Jane Bennett Clark

Hmmmm.

I'm thinking! I'm thinking!

RELATED ARTICLE: WHERE TO SHOP, WHAT YOU'LL PAY

SHELTERS. An animal shelter is a great place to find a family dog, save a life and save money all at the same time. You'll pay as little as $50 to $75 (usually for spaying or neutering), plus a few dollars for a collar, a leash and a license, and $5 or so for a rabies shot. Shelter counselors may insist that you have a fenced yard or conduct a home visit to ensure that conditions are appropriate. Once you get the dog home, maintaining it can cost almost $500 a year, including $150 for food, $150 for veterinary care and $150 for grooming a medium-size animal.

RESCUE CLUBS. Looking for a purebred in a shelter is a hit-or-miss proposition. More reliable are specialty rescue clubs, which provide foster homes for purebred dogs that have been given up. You may be asked to make a donation of $100 to $200. (For names of such clubs, call the American Kennel Club at 919-233-9767.)

PET STORES. Despite the irresistible appeal of puppies in a pet-store window, experts generally advise against succumbing: Many stores procure animals through a broker from a puppy mill that operates under inhumane conditions. "These people indiscriminately breed in volume and sell the pitiful results at the earliest possible age," writes Chris Walkowicz in The Perfect Match (Howell Book House, $14.95). Some pet stores, such as the Petsmart chain, make shelter dogs (under the shelter's rules) available on so-called adoption days.

BREEDERS. The most dependable source for a purebred dog is a reputable breeder: "If you're not dealing with a breeder directly, you're creating a risky situation because you don't know anything about the dog's background," says Kathryn Graves, a geneticist at the University of Kentucky's veterinary-science department. A purebred dog can cost from $100 to $800--sometimes even more, depending on the breed and the dog's potential for competition. Price aside, look for a professional who is trying to improve the breed, not just make money, says Graves.

Before you take any purebred dog home, ask for a pedigree going back three generations; documentation that the dog has been screened for genetic problems; a written record of vaccinations; and a statement on return and refund policies. With a puppy, ask to see the dog's mother, and don't buy any puppy less than eight weeks old. Finally, expect the breeder to ask you questions about your home and lifestyle. Says Graves: "A good breeder is concerned about the dogs."

RELATED ARTICLE: SNIFFING OUT MORE INFO

BOOKS AND WEB SITES on buying a family dog are as plentiful as spots on a Dalmatian. Check out the following resources:

* The Complete Dog Book (Howell Book House, $27.50, available in libraries) is the official publication of the American Kennel Club. The AKC also provides names of local breeders and breed clubs. Call 919-233-9767.

* The Perfect Match, by Chris Walkowicz (Howell Book House, $14.95).

* The Roger Caras Dog Book, by Roger Caras (M. Evans and Co., $14.95).