Having to adopt a pet is a big undertaking. Often enough, people make more effort to investigate what kind of vehicle they need than the kind of pet which would better suit their lifestyle.
There are very few things in this world that are as cute as a puppy or a kitten. It is not easy to look through one’s soulful eyes and not bring it home to you at once. But as enticing as it may be to catch it, it is crucial not to hurry into every pet adoption. Before you carry home a four-legged friend, make sure to do all the correct thing by asking yourself a few questions like discussed below:
1. Do you have the time for a pet?
Pets need a lot of time and commitment. Pack animals by default, look for our company. They require activity and play every day, depending on the breed. Few breeds, such as herders (think: border collies, Shetland sheepdogs, and corgis) require more than just a stroll around the road. They need spending time playing the game, a ball or tossing a Frisbee, going on a run, or playing with the other dogs in a secure and enclosed environment.
Getting home a high-energy breed, and then waiting for it to amuse itself all day, will cause problems in the form of despicable actions. Please ensure you have enough time to give your pet the activity it needs each day. Many people enjoy cats since they are relatively low maintenance pets. But the cats get bored too. Cats, particularly young ones, ought to communicate with its owners daily in the form of recreation and affection.
2. Will you be able to afford it?
Pet adoptions are always cheap, but it is a matter of caring for an animal for its whole life. Even the most stable pet wants to eat. Cats are in search of litter. Many dogs require flea and tick medicine, and one might need to hire a dog walker. All pets need collars, transporters, brushes, and toys. These expenses will quickly add up, and that is before you get to the regular vet check-up. As your pet grows, you can need medications or simple medical procedures that can be prohibitively costly. Even a comparatively simple procedure, such as extracting a rotting tooth, can cost a lot.
However, to reduce medical costs, many pet owners decide to opt for pet health insurance. This pays off significantly as it covers most procedural costs. You can find pet insurance companies like Bivvy online, and have your pet insured today.
3. How are you doing to deal with behavioural issues?
No pet can always behave ideally, and it is critical to identify how to cope in such situations. Dogs, in particular, need specific learning and encouragement. However, cats will act out too, such as ripping the sofa to bits or pooping outside the litter box. If your pet starts to behave inappropriately, are you going to hire a coach? Are you going to enrol in classes? Or will you buy a book and try to handle it yourself?
Many individuals feel frustrated with their pet’s behavioural problems (especially biting). The only solution is, to be honest with yourself about your willingness to cope with these circumstances until you end up with a pet you can’t manage. For your information, if a little bit of extra vomit on your bed sheet is enough to be a deal-breaker for you, you definitely should not go for a furry friend.
4. Who will care about it daily?
Getting a pet has more responsibilities than just playing with it sometimes. Somebody has to feed the four-legged friend regularly, perhaps several times every day. Dogs require a considerable amount of outdoor activity, and cats need regular litter switches and enough excitement to prevent them from getting bored. Having a dog can teach the children responsibilities, but they can lose focus on their daily tasks. If you stay with flatmates, are you going to depend on them to support you with pet care? Before bringing an animal home, please ensure that someone is always available to supply it with dinner, even if you are busy in the office at wee hours.
5. Does the pet’s personality fit your lifestyle?
A Chihuahua may well not be appropriate to join you on exhausting walks or on runs to join you, and a border collie may have more stamina than the tiny urban flat can accommodate. Please ensure you choose a pet that can catch pace with your living situation, such as the frequency of your scheduled journeys, or settle down. A solitary cat may tolerate your every-other-weekend vacations more than, for example, a puppy with separation anxiety.
6. Do you have small kids?
No species or breed is prepared to live with children, contrary to common opinion. You must first teach them the rules of safe pet behaviour if you have kids: no teasing, kicking, pulling, or climbing on pets. One must spend enough time observing multiple pets to understand their tolerance level, training responsiveness and the ability to recover from disturbing events.
7. What type of grooming does it need?
To ensure that their coats don’t get matted, long-haired pets require a lot of grooming, which implies you will need to spend up to 20 minutes brushing per day. Repeated ear-cleaning and nail-clipping may be essential for all kinds of pets. Start deciding whether your pooch will be groomed daily or if you need to take it to a vet.
8. Should you adopt or buy a dog from a breeder?
This choice is an entirely subjective one, but ensure your family takes a wise move. Rescued dogs make beautiful pets, and the early vetting of the dog is performed when you adopt from a rescue organisation. With the issue of excess pet overpopulation in the country, rescue is a perfect solution to make. Find a reliable, professional breeder in your city if you want to learn about the background and pedigree of your dog.
9. What happens to the pet if you go on a vacation?
Now and then, most individuals want to go out of town, often with very little advance notice. If it is a professional pet-sitting system or a helpful neighbour, ensure you have somebody to call.
10. Will your new pet fit with your old pet if you have any?
Most animals profit from making a mate hang out with, but it does not guarantee that all animals live together peacefully. Would a newcomer barging in on her territory tolerate your older cat? Will your dog enjoy your new rabbit with you for a bite? Only because we love all of our pets does not mean that all of our animals will love one another. To see whether your new pal is adapting to others, consult with the shelter to see whether you can collect similar details about your current pet.