Tips for Choosing a Pet
Adopt a pet for the right reasons. It’s an important decision for you, your family and, most importantly, for your new pet. Avoiding spur of the moment decisions or getting a pet because your children are hounding you for a puppy or kitten may be obvious pitfalls, but every day, Animal Resources, Inc. and other animal rescue organizations and shelters see the consequences of poor choices. Before you get a pet, please take a moment to consider the following tips below, adapted from American Humane.
9 Considerations Prior to Adopting a Pet
- Consult your entire household.
Everyone who has to live with the pet should be in agreement about adopting it. If you are adopting it for your children, are you willing to care for the pet once the kids lose interest?
- Consider your lifestyle.
Do you travel a lot or work most of the day? Do you have young children or other pets that may not interact well with a new pet? Is an energetic puppy that needs to be housebroken, prone to chewing everything and in need of obedience training right for you, or would an older and more sedate pet?
- Evaluate living accommodations.
Many rental places do not allow pets or restrict what type of pet you can have. Even if your current landlord is okay with pets, do you anticipate a move in the near future that could prevent you from keeping your pet?
- Not everyone can live with a pet.
Is anyone in your household allergic to pets? Or is anyone in the house fearful of that type of pet?
- Time Management.
Do you have time to train, socialize, and offer companionship to that animal? Do you have the time to feed, clean up after, groom, exercise, and play with that pet?
- Budget expenses for your pet.
Will your budget allow for food, toys, bowls, collars, cages, obedience lessons, kitty litter, and other such expenses? How about regular visits to the veterinarian for preventative health care (vaccinations) as well as unexpected emergencies?
- Pets need room to exercise.
Do you have the appropriate space for the type of pet you are considering? If you don’t have space for an energetic dog, are you able to take him or her somewhere for regular exercise?
- Troubleshooting 101.
Are you prepared to deal with problems that may arise from pet ownership? Even the best-behaved pets may occasionally chew or scratch furniture, bring in flea infestations, have accidents on the carpet, bark, etc.
- Prepare for a lifetime commitment.
Are you prepared to make a commitment to that pet for its entire lifetime? The average life span of many dogs and cats can be 10 - 20 years.
Remember, pets are not disposable!