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Pet Article
PET ADOPTION
It may melt your heart when you see the puppy in the pet store window, but you need to bear
in mind that adopting a pet is a big responsibility. Very few people do research to find the
right pet for them before they go ahead and get it. Its the biggest reason why so many
animals are relinquished to humane shelters every year. These sad endings can be avoided with
a little research and preparation on your behalf first.
What are the kinds of things you should consider before choosing a pet?
The first step should be to think about why you want the pet in the first place.
This is probably the most important question to ask yourself when choosing a
pet because it can often tell you right away what sort of pet you are looking for.
A person who wants a companion but won't be home enough to care for a high-maintenance animal
may be better off with a cat rather than a dog, whilst a person who spends lots of time at
home may enjoy the companionship of a dog.
Unfortunately, people often choose pets for the wrong reasons. Some people choose
purebred dogs as a status symbol, while others get whatever breed they have recently
seen on television or in a movie. The problem with choosing a pet in this way is that
the pet may not suit the owner's personality and may not make a good match for the
owner. Breed personality traits should always be taken in to consideration when choosing a
pet.
For example, people often say that Labrador retrievers make great family pets. Why is
this? It is because they are usually high energy, very patient, and non-aggressive?
Retrievers have been bred for these traits, for their work alongside hunters, so they
usually display them as family pets too.
Here are some questions you should be asking yourself if you are thinking about getting
a pet:
Do I have the time necessary to care for an animal's needs?
Do I have the physical space required for this pet? Does this pet need a decent sized yard?
Do I have the money to care for this animal? It is often more expensive than you
think!
Is this pet suited to the place where I live? A large dog may not be very happy in a
big city if there is no yard.
If I get this pet, will I physically be able to handle the animal on walks? This one
is especially important when the owner is elderly or when children will be the
primary caretakers.
Do I have young children in the house? If so, a puppy might not be the best choice.
Having a puppy in a household with a tiny child can be like having two small children
competing for the attention of the parent. Puppies can also be very high energy and
can sometimes cause accidents and injury to the child. An adult dog may be calmer and
may be a better choice for people with young children.
Two resources that are often overlooked as a source for some really great pets are
the local humane shelter and rescue groups. Not only do these animals often make great
pets, but many are not purebred, which means that in the long run they may be
healthier and may not have some of the genetically predisposed problems that purebreds
have.
Purebred animals that do end up at a shelter are often taken to a rescue group for
that breed. Rescue groups reduce the numbers of animals that the local shelter has to
care for and provide people with a source of purebred dogs without going to a breeder.
Getting a dog from a rescue group is a great way to get a purebred dog and still help
an animal that needs a home. If you are thinking about getting a certain breed, it may be
a good idea to contact a rescue group and learn from some of the people who know the breed
best beforehand.
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Researching the pet that will best suit you can include more than just reading books
or surfing the Internet. When you have decided what pet will best suit your lifestyle, it
can be very beneficial to talk to people who have had experience with that breed. The more
people you talk to, the better informed you will become before making your final decision.
This includes talking to other pet owners, breeders, rescue groups, and don't forget,
veterinarians. They will each have a different perspective that can help you become better
informed.
Researching what kind of pet is best for you can save you a lot of trouble in the
long run. So if you are tempted to get a pet on a whim, remember that a little
preparation will go a long way to ensure that your home is a happy one.
Mark Woodcock
1 Flea Control
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