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There
are many things to consider when thinking about the lifetime commitment
of bringing a pet into your life. 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:
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.
Have
you considered the other pets in your home?
Will they need to adjust or will they get along with your new pet?
What
kind of energy level are you looking for in a pet?
Do you want a calm, low-keyed pet or an active one?
Are
you permitted to have a pet in your home?
Do you have room for a new pet? Do you move from location to location
a great deal? Could you be moving on short notice? Would you be
able to look in advance for a home 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 or 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 safely play.
Can
you afford a pet?
There are basic expenses that go along with pet ownership 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 that you are
able to sufficiently and comfortably provide for him.
Do
you or does anyone in your family suffer from allergies?
Would that person be willing to take allergy shots? If you are not
sure, 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.
Do
you have patience?
No matter how well trained and behaved a pet is, there will be times
when accidents occur. Nobody's perfect! When a pet is brought into
a new home, he needs time to adjust, it can take up to several months
for your pet to become totally comfortable in his new environment.
Just like humans, when animals are ill, 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 who really needs you.
Prepared by the staff of PetSmart
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