Adopting A Pet

There are many things to consider when thinking about the lifetime commitment of a pet. It is important that you take the time to evaluate your needs and the needs of the animal before making the decision to get a pet. The following questions can help you in your decision making process:

1) Do you have time for a pet? Do you have a busy lifestyle? Do you have a great many responsibilities and commitments? Do you spend a lot of time at home or are you frequently away? As with people, pets need daily love and attention. It can be time consuming to devote this daily attention of keeping a pet clean, well fed, healthy and providing daily exercise.

2) Have you considered the other animals in your home? Will they need to adjust or will they get along with your new pet?

3) Do you want a calm, low-keyed pet or an active one?

4) Are you permitted to and do you have room for a new pet? Do you transfer and move a great deal? Could you be moving on short notice? Do you think you would be able to look in advance to find a place that allows pets? Is there a deposit? Can you afford the deposit? Will the landlord increase your rent for each pet you have? Is there a size and /or weight requirement? Does the landlord allow only a certain number and kind of pet? What will you do if you get caught with a pet if it is not allowed? Don't forget, cats love to sun themselves in windows and dogs bark at least once in a while. All pets, no matter how small, need a place to sleep and room to roam around the house. Inside cats need to have an area for their litter box, while dogs should have fenced yards in which they can play safely.

5) Can you afford a pet? There are basic expenses that go along with pet guardianship that must be considered. Grooming, pet food, general pet care supplies, as well as annual inoculations and license fees can add up. It can be considerably more costly if your pet has an unexpected injury or illness. If you travel, there will be boarding costs or transportation fees if your pet travels with you. It would be unfair not to be realistic when budgeting for your new pet, to ensure you are able to sufficiently and comfortably provide for it.

6) Do you or does anyone in your family suffer from allergies? Would that person be willing to take allergy shots? (Spend a substantial amount of time with the animal in a small, confined area to verify that allergies will not be a problem, if you are not sure.)

7) Do you have patience? No matter how well trained and behave a pet is, there will be times when accidents occur. Nobody's perfect! When a pet is brought into a new home, it needs time to adjust, it can take up to several months for your pet to become totally comfortable in its new environment. When animals are ill, just like humans, they need an extra dose of tender loving care. Can you be patient, forgiving and loving?

**Keep in mind that while you have several options as to where to get a pet, animal shelters are a great place to start. You will be saving a new best friend that really needs you.