Who doesn’t fall in love with the many animals featured in hit movies of today and years past? You may be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t want to adopt 101 cute spotted dogs or wish to cuddle with a little, talking Chihuahua but the reality is the animals we see in the movies or on television are simply not reality. As the movies continue to bring us “insight” into different types of lovable pets, parents are more inclined to run out and buy the same kind of animal to appease the kids without much thought into the expense, care, and time needed to truly love and nurture the real deal.

Every time a lovable critter makes it big in Hollywood, impulsive consumer demand causes a frenzy that often turns out bad for the real life "stars".  As quickly as they're scooped up from stores, they're abandoned at shelters.  These fads aren't just made up of four-legged Hollywood stars.  The colorful clownfish of Finding Nemo is facing extinction due to soaring demand.

With the new movie, “Marley & Me” already in theaters across the country, there is little doubt that many families will go on the hunt for an adorable Labrador Retriever with hopes of recreating scenes from the movie in their own homes. However wonderful a pet a Lab is in general terms, they will not be a perfect fit for every family. Beyond the expense of feeding, grooming, and providing appropriate medical care (insurance and vet visits), there are also other unforseen financial costs. For instance, what if your sweet-faced brand new puppy has a taste for your shoes, clothing, or furniture? Or needs a facelift?

Owning a pet is a serious responsibility, and there are many things to consider before bringing one home. You need to be fully prepared to invest in a pet and this includes time spent with said pet. If you do not do your research and buy an animal on a whim, you will likely be unhappily surprised at what happens to your life. Research will tell you plenty of information such as what kind of animal associates well with small children. Also, consider alternative pets that are low cost and low maintenance. For the cost of not doing proper research, you could have just took the whole family to the movies several times over to see a well-trained actor dog on the big screen instead of the brand-new puppy that ate your living room sofa.

If after taking the time to research and consider the cost of adding "Marley" to your family, or any other Hollywood star, wait a few weeks after the movie’s release date to head out to the shelters. Chances are very good that a number of other families thought they wanted a “Marley” dog too but things didn’t work out well, and the once-adorable puppy ends up at a shelter with several others who now desperately need homes.