FooPets

It’s the New Year! Are you thinking about adding a pet to the family? Pets enrich our lives in so many ways, but there are some things you need to do to prepare yourself for a new arrival. So, are you ready to adopt?

Let’s start with the basics. Questions you need to ask yourself before even considering adoption:

Commitment:  The biggest question of all, are you prepared to commit 15-20 years of your life to a cat or dog? This is the general life span, so make sure you spend a lot of time considering this question.

Time:  Pets require a lot of attention. They need constant love and care. Dogs need  to be walked, cats need to be litter trained. Pets enjoy being played with, so if you have a job or something that will keep you away for long hours, perhaps now is not the time to adopt.

Money:  Aside from the actual price of adopting the pet, money plays a big role in pet ownership. There are vet bills, food, litter, and toys. Also grooming supplies, a carrier for smaller pets, and of course dishes for their food.  If your pet suffers from a chronic condition, you may be paying vet bills for the rest of their life.

Home:  Are you allowed to bring in pets where you live? Is your space large enough for the pet you want to adopt? A small apartment, for example, may not be ideal for a large dog.

Children:  If you have very young children, you may want to wait to adopt a pet. The child may not be mature enough to handle a pet.

Preparations:

House:  Pet-proof your house before bringing an animal home. Plants, chemicals, cords, and anything small that can be swallowed should be put out of reach for your pet.  Make sure that the toys you give your pet are safe with nothing that could be chewed off and swallowed such as buttons.

Food/Litter:  Make sure to have these on hand before adoption. Ask the veterinarian which food is best for your pet.

Breeder/Shelter:  Always do a lot of research about where you want to go to adopt. A bad breeder or shelter could end up giving you a sick pet, and if you bring that pet home it could potentially infect other pets.

Vet Visit:  One of the very first things you should do as a new pet owner is to get your dog or cat to see a veterinarian. The pet will need a full check up, vaccinations, and depending on where you obtained it, most likely should be spayed/neutered and you have the option to declaw if it is a cat.

Training:  A lot of time will go into this, and you must be patient. Cats need to be litter trained, and dogs need to learn to go outside. Some people crate train their dogs, there are many methods, but patience is key.

These are just a few considerations. I would definitely recommend some online research time before adopting.

Filed under: Announcements | Tagged: FooPets, FooPets adoption, FooPets tips | Comments Off on Are You Ready To Adopt?