There are many factors that go into decision about going digital, not least being whether you are a professional or amateur photographer. You need to ask yourself how you will use your photographs. Will they be for your website, magazine articles, stock agencies, advertising or something else? You then have to do some research and see what each of these markets asks for. Stock agencies love digital, as do many ad agencies, but most magazines want slides.

Do you want to stay with film? Great. Film still gives better image quality than digital. However, in a year or two digital will probably rival film. You also need to consider that film manufacturers are reducing range of film they produce. I was amazed when a few months ago owner of my local camera store told me that Kodak is going to discontinue Kodachrome 25 soon, and within two years discontinue Kodachrome 64 and 200. Film manufacturers know that eventually digital will take over, and they don't want to be caught flatfooted. So they're making fewer types of film, and starting to manufacture digital camera.

You also need to consider costs of going digital. A professional digital camera or camera back, will cost between $5,000 and $15,000. These prices are dropping quickly, but they are still high. There's also need for a computer (like a Mac G4 at $2,500), PhotoShop 7 ($600), high end printer (at least $500), maybe a scanner ($500 and up) and possible external data storage devices. This along with time spent manipulating each image in a computer, after you learn to use computer and software, archiving each image on several sets of CD's so you can store at least one set offsite. An off-site set protects your images from being lost due to flood, fire, theft or some other catastrophe. As you can see, digital will eat up lots of time and money.

In website words of one of first no-kill shelters, The San Francisco SPCA:

"(We)guarantee to find a home for all San Francisco's adoptable cats and dogs - animals that are healthy and free of serious behavior problems. Animals are euthanatized only if they are too sick to be rehabilitated, or too aggressive to be safely placed in a home."

2. Tax Supported Shelters Can't Turn Down Anyone

No-kill shelters have been criticized for skimming cream of abandoned pets and letting public, tax-supported shelters deal with all sick, aggressive and elderly animals.

There is truth to this. If you take Fido to a no-kill shelter, you may be required to have a clean bill of health from a Vet before shelter will accept him. People who won't or can't afford this wind up leaving Fido at county shelter.

3. Some Adoptions Don't Take

With pressure from animal rightists to avoid euthanizing animals, some shelters allow dogs to be adopted that shouldn't be.

The dogs have a history of biting or have chronic health problems. Typically, these problems may not be disclosed or mentioned so casually, a new dog owner doesn't understand gravity of situation.

Some shelters claim they don't take puppy mill dogs, but how could they possibly know dog's background! You most certainly can teach an old dog new tricks, but only an experienced person can train an aggressive dog.

If you ever decide to get a dog from a shelter, be sure to ask if dog has ever been adopted and then returned.

4. Personnel Is Biggest Problem at Any Shelter

Do you enjoy cleaning up after Fido? Imagine having to do it for a 100 strange dogs and for Cujo as well as Lassie. Salaries are low and even with government benefits, employee turnover is high.