Nearly half of all households in the United States and Canada have a pet. Sometimes a pet can be just what a family needs, but other times families soon discover their households simply don’t make an ideal place for a pet.

Pets end up in shelters for a number of reasons — most through no fault of their own. Moving is the primary reason family pets are relinquished, according to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy. Other top reasons include the cost of pets, animals given as gifts, lack of time to care for the animal, or an animal that grew larger than expected. One way to avoid this scenario is to accurately assess if a pet is right for the home.

Prospective pet owners who carefully analyze the pros and cons of pet ownership are more likely to keep their pet for the long haul. Certain animals require more care than others, and knowing about this can prevent the heartache of having to give away a pet. Here are some questions to ask yourself.