If you want to add a dog to your family, there are a few places you can turn. Many people head to pet stores. Others go to local pet rescue groups or their local chapter of the Humane Society. And still others search for a breeder. Let's take a look at each and some points about which you should use for your dog search.

1) Pet stores are notorious for getting their dogs from places called puppy mills. On the other hand, animal rescue organizations and the Humane Society have animals that they have found or rescued and have placed them up for adoption after having inspected them health-wise and safety-wise, giving them shots and boosters as needed, ready for you to take home and add to the family at low to reasonable rates. Breeders keep genealogical tabs going on their special breeds they raise and sell healthy pets in somewhat similar manner, although not all act this way. Some breeders - most often those without good reputations - get their dogs from puppy mills, too, so you need to ask questions and do some homework before you buy.

2) Puppy mills basically function like this: they place dogs in small cages, often with the wire flooring and no comforts at all. Then they breed them when they go into heat. That's their sole purpose: to get pregnant. When puppies are approximately six months old, they are taken from their mothers and sold.

The results are that the mothers get sickly, lacking proper care, love, treatment, etc. And the babies are often sickly, too, due to lack of milk from their sick mother's (the females are so tired and sickly they cannot product enough).

Those puppies that survive long enough get packed into small crowded cages and shipped off to pet stores. Once caged in pet stores, some die while others die soon after they reach a final destination as they often have sickness or illness still, even disabilities - often genetic from inbreeding at the puppy mills, as those people do not monitor genealogy.

3) Puppies from pet stores who do make it to loving homes often run up costly vet bills due to their illnesses. This may occur over time, too.

What can you do?

Your best bet is to adopt a dog from a known breed who has a good reputation, or from a pet rescue or Humane Society chapter in your area. Then you can see how well the animal is, get its history, take time to check out its behavior, health, etc. You can also have the dog spayed or neutered at rescue groups, too, often for a low cost or free with your purchase.

Note: Do plan ahead and pick up some essentials for your new family member. Get dog seat covers to protect your vehicle's seats, and then head home in the car with your new dog.

Other items you may want to pick up are dog toys and treats, dog food, a leash, and bedding. Then as you grow into pet ownership, add grooming tools, pet dishes and other accessories.