Bringing a pet home All puppies and kittens are cute and wonderful. They can make help you and your family experience life in a whole different way. But please don’t just pop by a pet store and pick one up on impulse. A pet is a long term commitment. Some cats and dogs live to be 15 and 20 years old. If you are deciding to bring a new pet into your home, you will need to understand what kind of pet you want - large or small, long or short-haired, family-friendly or working. Pets come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s good to know what you’re getting into. Great Danes are beautiful. If you pick out a cute little guy not realizing that he could grow up to be 160 pounds, you will be in for a big surprise! · Long hair (Persian cat or Chow Chow) needs daily maintenance. · Short muzzle and flat faces (Persian or Bulldog) are prone to nose and eye problems. · Excessive skin folds (Shar Pei) cause chapped and irritated skin folds. · Watch large dogs (like Great Dains) for Gastric Dilation Volvulus which can be deadly. Know what is and what to watch for. Check out the Canadian Kennel Club for some great breed insights. And, the IAMs Company has a dog breed selector on their Web site. It’s a fun tool that can help you with your big decision. More info: Dogs in Canada Is there a dog in your Destiny by Toni Lett