For many families, the household is not complete without a pet. If you are thinking of becoming one of the 18 million pet-owning households in the UK, owning 27 million animals, you might want to consider adoption.

Adoption is a socially responsible way of acquiring a pet. Pet shops often put profit before animal welfare and can result in animals being held in cramped and unfair conditions.

Breeders can also be driven by the profit principle, where animal welfare comes second to cash.

But adopting a pet from a rescue home ensures that animals most in need of a loving home are matched up with prospective owners. That way an animal that has had a bad start to life is given the chance of finding happiness in a loving home where they will be valued, cherished and loved.

The first thing to clarify in your mind is what pet you are looking for. A cat or dog are the more popular choices, but there are rescue centres that specialise in different animal types. A simple internet search should help you find one in your area.

Once you decide on animal type think about what breed if any, you are looking for. You might have your heart set on a border collie. In which case, look for a breed-specific rescue centre.

Alternatively, you might have decided that you want a small dog that is especially good with children. In this case, allow yourself to be guided by the rescue centre. Different breeds have different attributes and personality types. And with cross-breeds much depends on the individual animal. In this way, animals can be like people. There is a huge range of personality types. Some are shy, some like children, and some demand to be the centre of attention. Workers at the centre will know each of their wards. They will be able to give invaluable help in matching your needs to the animals they are looking after.

Your next step is to work out how far you are prepared to travel in your search for the perfect pet. Once you have decided, the phone book or internet will list rescue organisations within your preferred radius.

You might want to speak to the centre to find out what their adoption policies are. Many are caring and responsible organisations that will ask you to sign a contract and will want to inspect your home for suitability. Many also have a no-kill policy – that means they will care for their charges for as long as it takes and will not have them put down if they fail to be adopted.

Visit the centre. Do the animals seem happy? Are they well cared for? Do they have free space for exercise? Are their coats shiny and healthy, free of tangles? Go with instinct. If you get a good feeling about the centre, the animals are sure to.

By giving these animals that have had a poor start a second chance, you are creating a double gift. A loving home for your new pet and an addition to your household that is sure to become a much-loved part of the family. Make sure you insure your pet by acquiring pet insurance.