In this economy, it's a bull market at local animal shelters

With the sluggish economy and a surplus in the marketplace, there's never been a better time to find your dream dog _ whether you are looking for a Mastiff, a miniature Shih Tzu, or a lovable pit bull.

"It's amazing what you can find. It's a buyers market," says Kerry Vinkler, executive director of DuPage County Animal Care & Control.

People who think of shelters as some sort of Island of Misfit Pets couldn't be more wrong, Vinkler says.

"We're receiving a multitude of dogs. Most are due to finances, with owners surrendering their pets," Vinkler says. Many are well-trained and had been exceptional pets until their owner's home was rocked by unemployment, the need to relocate, a medical crisis, aging owners, a new baby, the onset of allergies or some other event that has nothing to do with the dog.

"Moving is the number one reason for giving up a dog," says Dana Deutsch, shelter manager for Save-A-Pet in Grayslake.

While she agrees that the economy is playing a role, Deutsch says that Save-A-Pet and other local shelters and rescue charities "always, always, always" have good dogs available.

Go to petfinder.com and you can locate the nearest shelter or rescue organization. You can even search according to the breed you want, from Dover the Airedale Terrier/Beagle mix at the Animal House Shelter in Huntley to Rockie the Yorkshire terrier at the Almost Home Foundation in Elk Grove Village.

"These are dogs from families," Deutsch says of their current roster at Save-A-Pet. "Over 30 percent are purebred dogs. There are some phenomenal dogs. I'd never go outside of a shelter or rescue to buy from a breeder."

Overbreeding of pit bulls has made that breed the most available for adoption at most every shelter. A third to half of the dogs at some shelters are pit bulls.

"Pit bulls have become a status symbol. There were a lot of backyard breeders who thought it could turn them a quick buck," says Vinkler. "They are overbred at this time and we're seeing more and more of them at the shelters. They are really wonderful dogs but unfortunately the breeders got out of hand and bred for the wrong reasons."

Often portrayed only as the breed of choice for illegal dog fights or to serve as protection for drug dealers, pit bulls nevertheless can make great pets, Deutsch says.

"The most highly adopted ones are the pit bulls. They are wonderful dogs," Deutsch says.

The breed now known as a pit bull was a cross between a bulldog and a terrier when it began showing up in this country in the 1870s. The American Kennel Club recognizes the breed as American Staffordshire terriers.

"They were America's original family dog. That's why we gave them this name," Deutsch says of the American Staffordshire terriers. "Most of our pit bulls here are from families."

Deutsch and Vinkler say they both are huge supporters of the pit bull breed. Whatever breed works for you is probably available at a suburban shelter today.

That said, the holidays, with all the relatives, parties and hectic celebrations, are not the best time to welcome a dog into a family. Buying a dog as a gift, without doing the research and planning, is always bad idea.

"Wait," Deutsch advises. "We get a lot of returns in January and February."

That's good advice. But you might want to start the research and shopping now. You have a lot of options to wade through.