The Alpena Animal Control shelter and the Huron Humane Society have dozens of dogs and cats available for adoption in nearly every size and color, but finding the right fit for them when they leave is key.

Alpena County Animal Control Officer Michelle Reid said it is not uncommon for the same animals to cycle back and forth between the shelter and new homes. She said that, in most cases, when that happens, it is not because the animal is aggressive or misbehaves, but because the animal isn’t trained properly or because the owners didn’t research the breed of animal they decided to adopt or purchase elsewhere.

Reid said that, before a person decides to acquire a pet, they need to take a long look in the mirror and ask themselves if taking on the responsibility of a pet is the right thing to do based on their current living and financial situation, and then decide the best choice of dog or cat to fit their lifestyle.

“People have to do research, period,” she said. “You don’t want to adopt a dog that needs to walk five miles a day if you’re a couch potato and if you are a runner who wants a dog to run with you, you don’t want one that is a couch potato. You need to know how big the dog will get and also how much medical expenses could be and if you can afford it. You need to know everything you are getting into so you aren’t surprised when you have a large dog in a small apartment.”

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz A 7-month old Great Dane puppy greets a visitor at the Alpena County Animal Shelter on Wednesday. The dog recently went to the veterinarian for a simple procedure and is looking for a home that has plenty of room for him to roam and relax.

Reid said too many people acquire a new pet, especially dogs, and don’t train them to do simple things that will help make their lives easier and limit the animal’s chances of having to be rehomed. She said people can train their pets at home or utilize dog training classes that will teach the dog how to respond to commands.

Still, it is up to the owner to continually work with the dog and maintain what it has learned.

“Most dogs that come in here don’t even know the basics,” she said. “They don’t know how to mind their manners or other things they can easily learn. It takes a little time and effort, but it’s hard to blame the animal if nobody is working with them.”

To learn more about specific breeds, Reid said there is a wealth of information online from people who know a great deal about individual breeds. She said it is also a good idea to contact veterinarians to learn more about health risks the breed of dog could experience and the cost to maintain the animal’s health.

Reid said a vet can also inform a potential pet owner how much simple annual checkups are and that any pet owner should save money so they have enough to cover larger bills from an unexpected health emergency with their pet.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz A batch of puppies jostle with one another for attention from a visitor at the Huron Humane Society in Alpena on Wednesday.

“Too many people just get a dog and have no idea how much it will cost and then they just want to get rid of them,” she said. “You have to plan and be honest with yourself about if you can afford the animal and be able to care for it the way it needs to be cared for. The last thing we want to see is an animal who isn’t cared for the right way and is either abandoned or sitting in a shelter.”

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Alpena County Animal Control Officer Michelle Reid plays with a rambunctious kitten while working at the county’s Animal Control shelter on Wednesday.

New file photo

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Ashley Hilberg, manager of the Huron Humane Society, gives some love to one of the cats at the shelter on Wednesday. There are cats of all sizes and colors available for adoption in shelters around Northeast Michigan.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz A pair of dogs wait to go outside and play while at the Alpena County Animal Control shelter on Wednesday.