Puppies!

It is completely unethical to buy a puppy from a puppy mill. The only way to do something to end this is to be a responsible consumer and only buy from companies/stores that you believe are doing the right thing. It's good advice for everything...not just pets.

Another downside to pet shop puppies - they live in a glass enclosure and are starred at and glass tapped like zoo animals for the better part of the day.

Comments aren't showing up until you submit a new one - you need to fix that!

That was so cute! I adopted my cat from the ASPCA shelter near me, and she is the nicest cat.  If you do go into a shelter and want a kitten or puppy, not a dog or cat, you should go in the morning.  The cute, easy to train young'uns go fast.

I work at a vet clinic and it is the county pound shelter also.  We HAVE too keep the animals separated unless they are found together and are considered "family".  This is so dogs don't get in fights.  We do not know how dogs are going to react to each other until they have been there a while.  Then we may move them into cages with other dogs, but only then. We also do not have enough people wanting to adopt the dogs in the pound.  Many dogs we get are potty trained and even follow commands, but they are older dogs. Most people would rather have puppies.  Thanks to bringing the horrible conditions in puppy mills.  Also Mary thank you for telling everyone how great older dogs are.  Julia your hair looked really great today!

i adopted my dog from the ASPCA on east 92nd st, which is newly renovated and beautiful; i highly recommend it.  while my dog's behavior is not quite perfect (i had to house-train her and teach her some commands), she is lovely and it felt so good to give her the loving home she so desperately needed :]

Another thing to keep in mind is separation anxiety. Ask if the dog has any odd or aggressive behaviors when the foster owner leaves them behind for an acceptable (short) period of time. One of my best friends just got a dog that will literally bash himself bloody against his crate or against doors, walls, and windows as soon as my friend leaves the room. He gets really anxious and is unable to sleep, play, or relax at all. He's had to be put on all sorts of puppy meds to deal with this problem. Personality quirks like this are an important consideration - my friend has gone to huge lengths for this dog and they are continuing to work on a healthy situation for both of them, but not everyone has the time or resources to be able to accommodate an animal who has emotional trauma like this. Love and attention doesn't fix everything.

Poor Lilly. I bet she was kidnap by you and your pink tutu.

Julia, you say your concerned with animal rights, but from reading your blog it looks like you constantly leave your dog with other people and take her out to loud, crowded parties and events that might frighten a small animal. 

Personally, I think it's really cruel to have a pet when you know that your busy schedule doesn't allow for you to be home with it very often. Don't you think that subjecting your pet to unfamiliar environments and constantly-changing schedules and places is inhumane?

Okay, that's not entirely true - Lilly is unbelievably well-behaved and does understand commands.  I just thought it would be funnier to say she didn't.  She doesn't always come when called, but she sure as hell comes when I yell out "TREAT!"