My family and I have had dogs. I believe that if you are going to get a dog, you need to first and foremost research your area vets to find out how much annual exams, tests and shots cost. You need to factor this into having a dog. Responsible pet ownership means taking the animal to Vet for regular care. If you find that this is an expense you are able to live with and you want a dog or a cat, I strongly suggest that you check with breed specific rescue organizations (see my previous article on Greyhound rescue). There are organizations for almost every breed of dog you can imagine. Use the Internet as a powerful tool to find out what breeds of dog best suit your needs. Dalmatians are cute, however they were specifically bred to run incredibly long distances as carriage dogs. This makes them high energy dogs with a serious need to burn this energy off. That makes this choice of dog for a very small city apartment a bad combination.
Cat rescue organizations are growing almost as rapidly. Many people will take in cats and have them fixed or spayed for adoption. I would check with these resources first before going to the pound or local human league. I am not trying to be inhumane, I am pointing out the savings factor of not having to pay for the neutering.
My family and I have had rodents in the past. They were not my favorite pet of all times. They are amusing and can be very tame with the right amount of handling. They are however, incredibly difficult to catch should they get out of their pen. Cages are inexpensive as are supplies. Their life span is on the short side, leading to dealing with death of a pet and your children.
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