At the clinic we are constantly visited by new pet parents who have just adopted their first furry friend or those who are growing their furry family. Adopting an animal is exciting and honestly, I would have a million animals if I could manage it. However, adoption is something that should not be taken lightly. There are many factors that should be taken into consideration when thinking about bringing in an animal into our homes. So before we decide on a pet, we should first evaluate what we can handle, how much time can we give them, and if financially we can afford adopting an animal. Pet ownership is not all cuddles and playful walks, it is real work and a lot of responsibility but if we are smart about our decision, it can be one of the best relationships of our lives.
Let’s start with the basics: what kind of commitment can I handle? Time is something few people have to spare so knowing how much time in a day that can be allocated to a pet is important. If you are going to be the sole caregiver, can you take a dog out at least 3 times a day? If you are a family adopting an animal, who will take the dog for walks or clean up after the cat? Knowing how much time you can give to a pet will help you choose which animal is right for you or your family. For instance, if you are a busy person with only about an hour or two to spare a day, an Australian Shepherd might not be best for you as they require a lot of interaction and exercise.
Are there any environmental factors that need to be taken into account? Living in the city, many of us live in apartments with little or no yard at all, which would not be ideal for dogs. Having a specific area that is dedicated to our animals is key; they need their own space. We need to ensure that there will be space for a scratching post or crate area with storage/ space for toys and all of their things.
Is there anyone in the house that might have allergies? Most people know if they are allergic to animals or their dander. However, there are those, like children, who may not have been exposed to animals for a prolonged period of time to know that they are allergic to them. We have seen cases at the clinic where people have to surrender their newly adopted pet due to unknown allergies to the animal. If you are unsure if someone in your home has allergies, you might want to talk to your GP to discuss allergy testing prior to adoption.
Will you be adopting an older pet or an infant? Again, knowing how much time you have to give to an animal will help you answer this question. We all love seeing kittens and puppies, and really, who doesn’t? However, older animals need love too and they have their own personalities which is a lot of fun to see. If you have time to crate/ litter train the youngster and teach them that your furniture is not be chewed or clawed, then that’s great. However, if you are a busy person and cannot dedicate time every day to their education, then you might want to consider an animal that is already house trained and knows how to interact with people and other animals. Whichever age of animal that works with your household and schedule, you are in for a ridiculously cute adventure.
The last point that I want to make is very important but unfortunately it’s kind of a touchy subject: can I financially afford to care for an animal? When we have our homework on which pet would be best for our homes, most of us are somewhat naïve when it comes to the financial part of pet parenthood. We are prepared for the adoption fees and the monthly cost of food. However, we never think “what if?” What if my cat has kidney failure? What if my dog gets hit by a car? These types of questions get us thinking in huge dollar signs. Unfortunately, our furry friends are just like people: they grow old, they develop diseases and unforeseen accidents happen. So we have to think, can I afford medical bills? Dental-care? Boarding? Or pay to fix Mrs. Smith’s garden and yard when Spot decides to dig a million holes in it? Starting your own savings account can be a great relief down the road, as can pet insurance. Before adopting an animal, we need to make sure that we can take care of all of our furry friend’s needs, especially the ones that they can’t pay for themselves.
In the end, these are just a few of the factors that we need to be aware of before we become pet owners and we need to make the decision for ourselves. However, we can’t be selfish. I would love to adopt every pet that needs a home, but I know that I would not be giving those animals the best life possible. We just need to evaluate our situation and see what we can manage, then find a little critter that will call our house a home. If you are like me and don’t have enough space or time for that Australian Shepherd but still want to help animals in need, volunteering at a shelter or donating money to them can be a way to help keep orphaned animals healthy and happy.
(If you have questions about adopting a furry friend or if you are new to pet parenthood you can always talk to your Veterinarian. They know what needs animals need and can share some insight into how to be prepared for the new addition to your home.)
