by RAIN-Rescuing Animals In Need, Inc.
Picture this...You are at a local pet store and you see a cute, fluffy gray kitten with green eyes, just begging for attention. Or maybe it's a beautiful black Labrador mix whose tail seems to wag whenever you look her way. You only stop for a moment and then you find yourself pushing a shopping cart full of pet supplies for your new companion. It can happen to the best of us and it does!
If you're heart is beating, you're breathing and you're a regular human being, falling in love with this cute, sweet animal is the easy part. It's no surprise! Sharing your life and home with a four-legged best friend can be one of life's little joys. Dogs and cats provide us with constant companionship and give us unconditional love and acceptance. Dogs and cats don't judge, they look to us for love and guidance, always wanting to please. What better way to end a stressful day at work than with your dog or cat meeting you at the door giving you a look that you are the only thing that matters to them. It can be quite humbling.
Adopting a dog or cat is a big decision, one that should not be taken lightly and one that should not be done on impulse. Dogs and cats require a large commitment of time and money - often over 15 years' worth. Animal guardianship (we don't like the word 'owner') can be so very rewarding. But it is only rewarding if you think through your decision before you adopt a companion animal.
What You Should Consider Before Adopting
The very fact that you're even thinking about adopting an animal means you're a responsible and caring person. Before you make that decision to bring a new animal friend into your home, please take some time to think over the following questions.
Why do you want a pet?
- It's quite surprising how many people fail to ask this of themselves before they adopt a pet.
- Adopting a pet just because the kids have been begging for a puppy or kitten usually ends up being a big mistake. Kids can't be the sole person in the home responsible for taking care of a cat or dog. It has to be a family effort.
- Don't think that you have to adopt because "we are a family, we are supposed to have a pet".
- If you adopt for the wrong reasons, it will end up being a big mistake.
- Don't forget that in many cases a dog or cat may be with you 10, 15, or 20 years. Yes, even 20 years!
Do you have time for a pet?
- Dogs and cats cannot be ignored just because you're tired or busy.
- They require food, water, exercise, care, and companionship every day of every year.
- Many animals end up at shelters because their owner's didn't realize how much time it took to care for them.
- Research the type, breed, activity level of a pet before you adopt.
- The idea that a cat is totally independent and can fend for itself is old school and simply not true.
- Cats need and require care, love and companionship just like dogs. They just usually need it in a different way!
- The costs of pet ownership can be very high.
- Can you afford the veterinary care? There are no HMO's for pets, although there is pet health insurance!
- Dog licenses, microchips, obedience classes, spaying and neutering, routine veterinary care, grooming, toys, food, kitty litter, and other items add up quickly.
If you are adopting from an animal rescue organization or shelter, often you won't need to worry about spaying or neutering, vaccinations, microchips, infectious disease testing, etc. because we have done that for you.
Are you prepared to deal with any problems that an animal may cause?
- Flea infestations, scratched-up furniture, accidents from animals who aren't yet housetrained, and unexpected medical emergencies are unfortunate but common aspects of pet ownership.
- Puppies and kittens especially have a way of getting into things when you least expect it.
- A trip to an emergency vet clinic will set you back $60 or more, just for walking in the door!
- Many people who rent an apartment or house are not allowed to have pets. If they do (and it's usually just cats and small dogs), there are usually restrictions to having a pet.
- Make sure you know what your rental manager requires before you bring a companion animal home.
- A pet deposit can range between $200 and $1000 per pet. Trying to sneak a pet in is not a good idea and could lead to future trouble, leading up to and including eviction. And then what happens to your pet?
- If you have kids under five years old you might consider waiting before you adopt a companion animal. After all, animals, in many ways are like children, they get into thing!
- If your kids are ready, make sure that they know how to handle an animal. It's often hard to teach a young child that you can't simple squeeze the cute, fluffy kitten or they will hurt it.
- Having a pet requires children who are mature enough to be responsible.
- If you're a college student, in the military, or if your work has you traveling frequently you may want to wait until things change before you get a pet. Think about what is fair to the pet also!
- Do you have a lot of stress in your life? New job? New baby? New marriage? Divorce? It may not be the best time to adopt, maybe it's best to wait until life is not as stressful.
- The last thing you want to do is to have to give up your pet because of your lifestyle.
Are your living arrangements suitable for the animal you have in mind?
- The size and type of animal is not the only thing to think about.
- People often think that small dogs are ideally suited for an apartment, but some small dogs, such as terriers, are very active -they require quite a bit of exercise to live in an apartment peacefully.
- Many small dogs also tend to bark at any noise. Hence the "yappy little dog" complaint that some people have heard!
- On the other hand, some big dogs are quite laid back and would be content to be a resident couch potato!
Find a pet that is right for your lifestyle, family, home, etc. By doing your research, you will ensure that you will choose an animal who will fit into your life.
Who will care for your pet while you're away on vacation?
- This can be difficult; don't assume that your family will automatically take on this task. Many times it's just too much to ask.
- The ideal situation is to hire a pet-sitter. They come to your home and take care of your animal. Your animal will probably be less stressed out by having someone come to them, versus taking them somewhere foreign. A few pet sitters will actually live at your home making your pet feel like nothing much has changed. And the added benefit to that is that your house looks lived in. If you have reliable friends or neighbors that can be ideal. Maybe you can swap taking care of each others pets while you are away.
- You may need to get a good recommendation for a boarding kennel or veterinary clinic. Ask your friends what they do and what experiences they have had with their animals.
- Having your pet spayed or neutered does more than just prevent animals from being born that are not wanted. It also makes your pet healthier, calmer and often more obedient.
- Please remember to obey community leash and licensing laws.
- Keep a collar and identification tags on your pet at all times. Pets without ID tags are rarely reunited with their owners if they are lost.
- Of course, being responsible also means giving your pet love, exercise, a healthy diet, and regular veterinary care to ensure that it lives a long and happy life.
When you adopt a pet, you are making a commitment to care for the animal for his or her lifetime. This can range from a few years to 20 years or more. Cats and some dogs have been known to live into their 20's and you need to ensure that you can care for this animal for his or her whole life.
Adopt an Animal for Life
Yes, it is a long list of questions to ask yourself. But if you take one quick trip through the local animal shelter, you will understand why answering them before you adopt is so important.
- Many of the homeless animals at the shelter are puppies and kittens. They are the tiny victims of people who allowed their animals to breed.
- There are, however, at least as many dogs and cats at the shelters who are out of that "cute" puppy or kitten stage. Most of these adult animals were turned in by people who didn't think through responsible animal guardianship before they got an animal.
- Dogs between 6 months and 2 years are turned in to shelters all the time.
- Why? No training, no understanding on the guardian's part that an animal needs training to make it live a happy life in your home.
Please, don't become a statistic. Think it through before you adopt an animal. Sharing your life with a companion animal can bring incredible joy, but only if you're willing to make the necessary commitments of love, time, money and responsibility-for the entire life of the pet.
by RAIN-Rescuing Animals In Need, Inc.
