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Few things are harder to resist than the lovable dog that licks your cheek or the sleeping kitty purring loudly in your lap. But caring for a pet is a significant, lifetime commitment – you have to be willing to put in the necessary effort to care for your new pet and give him the love and attention he deserves.
Use the following checklist to give your pet the lifelong, loving home he needs:
Whether it's housetraining mistakes or enthusiastic play that ends in a mess, new pet owners must be prepared for a little extra cleaning and picking up. It comes with the territory! Expect extra fur, cage maintenance or the occasional drool mark to add time to your regular cleaning regimen.
Damage can happen to anything, so pet-proof your home. Put valuables that can be scratched, chewed or swallowed out of reach, and retrain the humans in your household to keep shoes, clothing and other important items off the floor. Protect your pet from harm by looking at your home from his point of view. If something could be tempting to a toddler, it might be tempting to your pet!
Too many pets in shelters have been given up by owners because the landlord did not allow pets. Before you visit the adoption agency, get written permission from your landlord for you to have a pet, including any size, age, or breed-type limitations that might be included in the rules. With this assurance in hand, you won’t risk a broken heart – yours or your pet’s.
Before you bring home a cuddly pet, be sure your family does not have any pet allergies. Take a half hour or so to pet the neighborhood dog or hold a friend's cat. Then wait at least 12 hours for reactions. It’s best to choose a “test” pet that is similar to the type you’re interested in adopting. Allergies aren’t caused by the length of the pet’s coat, but by the dander that is shed. Reactions are usually triggered by contact.
If your job requires you to travel a lot, consider the added expense of boarding or petsitters. For many frequent travelers, cats or small pets (hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs, etc.) are more appropriate companions than dogs. However, every pet requires daily attention for food, water, exercise, bathroom breaks and social time.
A pet can provide wonderful companionship for children. However, it isn’t realistic to expect a young child to be the sole care provider. A pet’s care is the parent’s responsibility. Be sure to supervise small children with all pets, especially little ones, so that they learn proper pet handling and respect for a pet’s feelings and boundaries.
If you're about to move or have a baby, it’s best to wait until after your life has settled down to adopt that new pet. Both of these huge life events can be traumatic to an animal, and a pet needs time and stability in his new environment to feel safe and confident. Training will be easier, too, when there are fewer transitions in your pet’s life.
If you aren’t sure about your time and dedication to a higher maintenance pet such as a dog or cat, consider other options. Fish and small pets (hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs, etc.) can be excellent pets and are a little more forgiving of challenging work schedules.
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If you’ve decided that this isn’t the right time to adopt, consider volunteering for a local adoption agency. All animal-welfare organizations need volunteers to help with a variety of vital tasks. If you want to live with a pet but aren’t ready for a long-term commitment (10-20 years), consider a short-term assignment as a foster parent. It's a good opportunity to test the waters of pet parenthood and help you make that important decision whether or not to adopt.
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