Animals to take home and love

If you are asking how much is that doggy in the window this holiday season, perhaps it might be best to start at local animal shelters.

Shelter dogs and cats, many of whom were abandoned or rescued from bad situations, often make the best house pets, advocates say.

"Shelters are not as sad as people think," says Melissa Tiska, adoption coordinator for the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons. "Shelter dogs are amazing. You can almost see the 'I love you' on their faces," she says.

Shelters also offer support -- some even after the adoption -- often in the form of animal behavior specialists who assess each animal for certain traits, to see if they fit in well with families and other pets. Potential adoptive families should expect to provide detailed personal information. Many shelters ask for references and will check in with your veterinarian about the care and condition of the household's other animals. Renters may even be required to furnish a letter of permission from the landlord. The idea, experts say, is to cut down on the number of animals returned.

Shelter officials often extol the benefits of adopting older pets, as well. "They are a lot calmer, and more loyal," says Richard Parrinello, Brookhaven Town's interim animal shelter director. Shelter managers say the "pit bull question" often comes up. Indeed, a large number of dogs in shelters are pit bulls.

"We promote the adoption of pit bulls," says Hempstead Town animal shelter director Cindy Iacopella. "We temperament-test all our dogs with a certified dog trainer . . . We make sure they are safe for the family."

Costs are anywhere from free to $175, but include spaying and neutering, rabies and some other vaccinations, plus a checkup from a veterinarian.

Most shelters have cats for adoption, too. And the fees are generally lower.

Experts offer these tips for finding your next family pet at shelters:

People might think they want a Jack Russell terrier because of the cute factor, but, in fact, many are high-strung and need lots of attention. That might be good for some families, but not for others. "It's like Match.com," jokes North Hempstead animal shelter director Sue Hassett. "They look good now, but can you live with them later on?"

Puppies can be hard to resist -- but they also are a lot of work (think housebreaking, teaching them not to chew on furniture). Adult dogs, even those a year old, are more settled and might make a better fit, shelter officials say.

In some instances, there may be instant love, but don't fret if not. Many times, it is necessary to return to see other animals.

All shelters have a meet-and-greet room, where the family can spend quality time with the animal away from the din of the other barking dogs. "If they have children, we require that the children come to see how the dog reacts to them," says Oyster Bay town animal shelter supervisor Laurie Scarpa.

Some shelter experts say it's better to wait until the holidays are over to adopt since it can be a chaotic time. Others say, go for it. "To bring the gift of life into the home, as a family decision, I think there is no better time than the holidays," says Joanne Yohannan, of the North Shore Animal League in Port Washington. Either way, make sure there is time to spend with the new pet and try to establish a routine, experts say.

A dog is not a sweater -- it's not a good idea to surprise someone with a pet. In fact, most of the shelters insist on meeting the person who will be responsible for taking care of the pet.

Shelters -- both municipal and private -- have lots of animals to take home and love.

They also have an application process. Some ask for references, letters from landlords granting permission to keep a pet -- and some will even place calls to a family's veterinarian if they have another pet. Certain shelters will require a meet-and-greet between potential adopted animals and other pets already living in the home. Such checks, officials say, are designed to cut down on returns of animals.

The fees listed below include spaying and neutering, appropriate vaccinations and -- in most cases -- microchipping. Municipal shelters fees include cost of town dog license.

All the shelters have adoption specialists on hand, meet-and-greet rooms for the family to be alone with the animals, and websites to see which dogs are available.

25 Davis Ave., Port Washington

90 Daniels Hole Rd., Wainscott.

51 Lamar St., West Babylon

300 Horseblock Rd, Brookhaven

Does not have its own shelter, but brings its abandoned animals to the Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) in Wainscott.

3320 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh

106 Deposit Rd., East Northport

210 South Denver Ave., Bay Shore.

75 Marino Ave., Port Washington

150 Miller Place, Syosset

Youngs Avenue, Riverhead

Does not have its own shelter, but brings its abandoned animals to the Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) in Wainscott.

410 E. Main St., Smithtown

102 Old Riverhead Road West, inside Red Creek Park, Hampton Bays

165 Peconic Lane, Peconic