Photograph: Allison Williams |

**The family**
Kathy Stohr and John Blasi, and their kids Olivia, 14, Nora, 12, and Charlotte, 8, from Oak Park

**The situation**
The Stohr-Blasis currently have fish, but Kathy and the kids are pining for a dog. “I grew up with a dog, but my husband did not,” she says. “He doesn’t see [having one] as an essential part of childhood the way I do. He’s okay with the idea of a small dog, but the kids and I want something bigger and more playful, like a retriever.” Middle sister Nora has allergies to “fluffy” dogs, and while they’d like an older dog from a shelter, the family is concerned about whether that’s a safe move with kids in the house.

**The advice**
“There’s never a bad reason to check out a shelter,” says Barbara Royal, a veterinarian who owns the Royal Treatment Veterinary Center *(4130 N Rockwell St, 773-267-9966)* and is the author of *The Royal Treatment: A Natural Approach to Wildly Healthy Pets*. “They have amazing dogs, and you can tell personalities very quickly. There’s no way a shelter is going to give you an animal that’s dicey; it will ruin their whole business.” She suggests the family consider initially fostering a dog for a week or two to see if Nora’s allergies are affected, and recommends a medium-sized dog to make everyone happy. “I’ve seen big stature in little dogs that’s just amazing. Little dogs can have so much personality. Something in the 25–45 pound range works really well for families who have the big dog/little dog controversy.”

The perfect pet

Whatever your family’s needs, the ideal companion animal awaits.

Monday March 18 2013

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