As an animal lover who spends time volunteering at his favorite animal shelter, Antonio Moschella is an expert when it comes to dog ownership. He has been known to help people who come into the shelter choose their perfect match of a pet just on feeling alone. If you are considering adopting a dog over the summer, Antonio Moschella wants you to consider the following:

Do You Have the Time? There are some dogs that don’t require constant companionship. There are other dogs that are lackey dogs who will actually feel abandonment if you leave the house. For example, you wouldn’t want to leave an Australian Shepherd home alone when you’re at work. Dogs also need to be walked, played with, and trained. These all take time, so you should certainly consider the schedules in your household to see if it’ll work.

Are You Allergic to Dogs? Antonio Moschella sees this all of the time, and it breaks his heart. A family adopts a dog only to return it a few days later because they found out someone was allergic. If you are thinking about adopting a dog, it is a good idea to get tested beforehand to make sure the dog won’t accidentally cause anaphylactic shock.

Do You Have the Money? Dogs can be expensive. Obviously, you will need to feed the dog and provide him or her with toys, but this is only the beginning. In addition to adoption fees, consider the other expenses you may have to pay.  You will have to take your pup to the vet for checkups, vaccine shots, and sick visits. You will also likely need to get the dog trained. All of these costs do add up, so make sure you are able to afford them for the benefit of the dog and yourself.