Dog shelters and rescues use the term “forever home” when looking for potential adoptees, but, sadly, many dogs end up coming back. No one who adopts a dog ever intends to bring it back to the shelter, but often families find themselves unable to make things work out with their new dog. Generally, people return dogs for one of a few reasons. If you take a minute to read about these reasons and ensure that they aren’t a problem for you or your family, it’s much more likely that you’ll provide the “forever home” for which every shelter dog yearns.

You’ve done your research and carefully selected a new dog or puppy to bring home. The day of the big arrival is at hand, but are you really ready? There is some essential equipment that every dog owner needs, so before you bring home your new dog, take a minute to be sure you have these items on hand.

Those of us who own a dog will probably agree that Rover’s companionship and unconditional love are priceless, but the hard truth is that caring for a dog and keeping it healthy costs money—sometimes more than we are willing to pay. A common reason given for surrendering a dog is that it was just too expensive to take care of. Every year, thousands of dogs are turned into shelters and humane societies because their owners can’t afford the care they need. As hard as it may be, don’t bring home a new dog until you have sat down and looked over your budget. A little financial planning in the beginning can save a lot of heartache in the end.