I adopted my adorable little cockapoo, Buster, from a local animal shelter in October, 2002. At the time of adoption the shelter told me that he was 2 years old. Approximately 1 year later, a veterinary assistant told me "I hate to tell you this, but your dog is at least 5 to 6 years old and maybe older." I didn't think that much of the comment at the time because my little Buster seemed to be ok....that is until he started to have seizures. On 8/12/06, Buster left me for the Rainbow Bridge and I cannot tell you how much pain and sorrow I have endured because of losing him...my best friend. The last vet I took Buster to told me that he was at least 10-12 years old, if not older. The moral of this story is twofold - (1) Anyone considering purchasing a pet from a shelter - BEWARE...they will tell a potential owner anything, even if it is an obvious lie, just so they get the animal a home and (2) There is something dreadfully wrong in our society concerning pet care...the person who left my poor Buster at the shelter obviously did so because of his poor health. I can't understand how people can be so cruel and heartless. Also, the number of incompetent vets out there proved to me that change needs to be made in the requirements to practice veterinary medicine. Can anyone please tell me why a person who has graduated from vet school can immediately go into practice and yet a M.D. has to have several years of practicing experience under a supervising attending doctor before they can go off into private practice? Our animal companions are of no less value in God's eyes than his human creations. Change must be made so that people who want to become veterinarians should be required to go through the same training and preparation to practice medicine as MDs do.