¡°3Unscrupulous 4breeders have gotten pretty good at trying to 5dupe the public into thinking that they¡¯re 6adopting an animal when they¡¯re in actuality buying from a 7puppy mill.¡±

Holly Sizemore from Best Friends Animal Society has these 5 things to consider before purchasing a new furry addition to your family. One, avoid online fraud. Many listings could be 8fake and you could be paying for a pet that doesn¡¯t exist. So meet your new pet in person before exchanging any money. Two, know the 9years-long commitment, both with time and the costs of owning a pet.

¡°Basic costs such as food, toys, enrichment, those are all important 10necessities for pets. Pets can be 11affordable, but it is a cost that you need to anticipate and, and budget.¡±

Three, get the animal¡¯s health checked. Sizemore says dogs sold online often come from puppy mills and suffer from health issues due to poor living conditions and 12inbreeding. Four, make the sustainable choice. Consider saving a life by adopting from a local shelter or rescue group. And finally, consider giving the experience of 13picking out a pet, instead of picking it out yourself.

¡°That is a great way to bring the joy of a new pet into the house during the holidays and allow the, the pet parent to choose the pet that best meets their lifestyle.¡±