You will have different responsibilities to deal with depending on the age of the dog you decide to get. Puppies are of course very cute and playful, but be mindful that they are a lot of work. They grow quickly, require socialization and training, vaccinations, and exercise to burn off their energy. An adult dog requires less work, and it is easier to see his temperament and energy level from the start. As with all dogs, an adult dog will need exercise, attention, and commitment. Think carefully about the pros and cons of puppies and adult dogs and decide which one is best for you.

Research breeds and their characteristics to determine what kind of dog would fit your lifestyle. Many breeds have specific needs and require different amounts of exercise. Do you have room for a big dog? Do you have children? Are you an active person or do you like to relax at home? Remember that many dog breeds are similar, such as how small dogs tend to have higher energy levels and more rambunctious personalities, so don’t narrow your choices down too much. Many people can be seduced by the looks of a particular breed, but the most important factor in choosing a dog is its behavior. At rescues and shelters, pure breeds are not as common as mixed breeds, so it’s good to get a feel for the general characteristics of many breeds. You might not know all of the breeds that go into a specific dog, but if you’re looking at a lab mix, you probably have a good idea about the temperament and energy level of the dog. Remember however, that every dog is unique, and you should always take note of the individual’s behavior.

Once you’ve decided on a set of characteristics, the next step is to actively search for a dog. Shelters and rescues have so many dogs that are looking for a good home. If you don’t find a dog that day or you just aren’t sure about a particular dog, just come back again until you find one that would fit your lifestyle better. Once you’ve found one that you think would be a good match, bring your other household members (especially other dogs) to meet him. The new member of your family should get along with everyone to avoid stress and bad situations. Remember also that the environment at the shelter or rescue can be difficult for dogs, and some dogs may hide or bark loudly because they are scared or stressed. Always ask the volunteers or employees about the dogs!!! Many of them are regulars and have known the dogs for a long time or are familiar with their foster families. They can give you a much better idea about their temperament in a home environment. At Puppy Hill Farm, we have many dedicated volunteers who are knowledgeable and eager to help match dogs with loving families.

Doing research and making an informed decision about choosing a dog is the best thing that you can do for your new friend. It will ensure that he comes into a house where preparations have been made and he gets along with all other members of the family. Welcoming your new dog into his forever home is one of the most rewarding experiences out there, especially when the right steps are taken to match the dog with the owner. Good Luck!

Puppy Hill Farm is looking for stories and pictures of dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens that were adopted from us. We are going to start posting these stories in our Happy Tails section.

Also, many of you have noticed our adoptable "animal of the day" on Facebook. We are going to start featuring some of the pets who have found good homes.

If you would like your former Puppy Hill Farm pet featured, please send the following to puppyhillfarmnews@gmail.com:

(1) The pet's name when you adopted it and what its name is now

(2) A good story or anecdote about the pet. The better the story, the more likely it will be featured. Be creative and have fun!

(3) 2 or 3 pictures (please try to keep the file size under 1.5 MB per picture)

(4) any other information that you would like to see featured on our website

Note that unless you specifically say otherwise, we will keep these stories completely anonymous to protect your identity. We will not release any of your personal information to anybody for any reason.

Thanks, and we hope to receive lots of great Happy Tails!

Camp Marlin Doggie Daycare has recently reopened in their new location at 3749 SW 42nd Ave., right off of SW 34th Street next to Ally Katz Bowling. They are hosting an "Open House" that is being advertised and open to the public on Saturday, June 13th from 10:00am-2:00pm. Puppy Hill Farm, along with several other groups involved with Maddie's Pet Rescue Project will be participating. Proceeds from the Open House will be given to all participating rescue groups present that day, as well as the St. Francis House Pet Care Clinic. There will also be training demonstrations, food/drinks, paw painting, dog wash, and local dog photography displayed during our Open House, plus much more!

Activities will include:

• Facility Tours
• Treats for pets & humans
• Paw paintings
• Dog wash for charity
• New pet boutique
• Meet the staff
• Training demonstration
• Pet Adoptions

We hope to see you there!

Gainesville, Florida – June 4, 2009 – When more than 90 animals were seized on Wednesday from a Gainesville home and brought to Alachua County Animal Services, the added strain came at an already critical time of year. The shelter and other local adoption organizations are full to brimming, and we at No More Homeless Pets are asking for the community’s help to save the lives of Alachua’s homeless dogs and cats.

Alachua County Animal Services is already teeming with animals needing adoption, like “Milo & Otis” and their siblings.

“Sydney” is just one of the adoptable dogs available for viewing on ACAS’ website.

“Blossom” huddles in her cage, anxious to be shown that her life has value.

Please help us save lives….one life at a time.