Six Important Things to Consider Before Adopting a Pet

Responsible pet ownership is a lifetime commitment. When you bring a dog or cat into your home, you've made a promise to provide them with love, medical care, proper food and clean water. It means you have thought about what bringing a pet into your home means. There are things you need to consider before adopting a pet.

Your lifestyle is one of the most important things to consider before adopting a pet. Your work schedule, home, medical issues with family members like allergies or asthma, age of your children, your social life, involvement in sports, church or other activities should be considered before you adopt a pet. Dogs need to be trained, groomed, walked and exercised daily. Cats may seem to be more independent than dogs, but they need to have your attention just as much as a dog.

Think about what kind of pet would fit into your home. If you're a low energy person, you need a low energy pet that's happy snuggling next to you on the couch and doesn't require a lot of exercise. On the other hand, if you enjoy hiking, jogging and being outside, a dog that can keep up with you would be perfect. A Border Collie is a very smart dog, but requires daily exercise to stay out of trouble. Huskies are great dogs, but shed heavily twice a year and love to wander if they get the chance. Beagles are the cutest things around, but they have a tendency to bark a lot. Jack Russell terriers are small and loving, but they like to dig and are excellent escape artists. Consider your children's age, a pet's age, size, energy level and whether a dog or cat would be the best companion for your lifestyle and family.

Make sure you're allowed to have a pet if you rent or belong to a homeowners association before adopting a pet. Many rental homes or apartments require a deposit if you want to have a pet. Homeowners associations may have specific rules on acceptable dog breeds allowed and size restrictions of a pet as well as other pet related rules you will need to abide by.

Check to see if your home and yard is pet safe. Dogs and cats will find things we don't want them to have. Anything that's important to you should be put away where your pet can't get to them. Electrical chords, opened windows (with or without screens), human medication, people food, clothes and houseplants/garden plants can all pose a danger to pets. Treat you home just like you would if you have a toddler in the house and keep small items picked up and out of the reach of pets. Toxins like antifreeze, rat or mouse poison, motor oil, drain cleaner and even some household cleaners can poison pets. If you're thinking about adopting a dog; he needs a safe and proper shelter when he's outside. A fenced in area is the best solution. Small dogs and outside cats need protection from wildlife attacks that may come from the ground or from the air.

Consider your neighbors. No one wants to listen to a barking dog all day or all night. Know what the pet related laws are in your community. Some cities don't allow specific dog breeds and some towns ban large dog breeds that are over a certain weight.

Make sure you can afford a pet. Caring for a pet is an additional expense. Pets need a quality food that can help keep them healthy. A healthy pet requires fewer vet visits and saves money. Dogs need to be licensed. Cats and dogs need regular vaccinations, vet care, toys, beds and cat litter. Consider all of the additional costs a pet will require to help keep him/her happy, safe and healthy.

Be patient and give a new pet time to adjust. There is no set deadline for how long it takes for a pet to adjust to their new home. Your dog or cat will adjust faster when you spend time with him/her and once you've developed a solid bond with your pet, he/she will never break their bond with you. Animals don't do things on purpose to make us angry. Everything they do is natural to them. We are the ones that don't always understand. It's your job as the pet's owner to teach them what you want them to learn.

Never adopt a pet as a gift unless you are absolutely sure the pet you select is wanted by the person receiving your gift and they are capable of caring for a dog or cat. If the pet isn't really wanted, he will most likely end up neglected or surrendered to an animal shelter. Adopting a pet is a personal experience for everyone and each person has their own preference in what kind of companion animal they're looking for.

If you are considering adopting a pet; visit your local animal shelter before you adopt. Ask yourself why the pets are there. Animal shelters are full of pets turned into to them for valid reasons, but far too often, pets are given up because their owner didn't take the time to consider important things before adopting them. Every animal in a shelter has their own story. Pets get old and have accidents in the house, puppies need to be housebroken and trained, dogs can develop behavior issues because their owner didn't treat them with respect or didn't know how to correct a behavior problem that was created by the owner. Cats may not use their litter pan because of health reasons. Give them a break and make sure you're ready for a lifetime commitment because the pet you adopt is ready to give you a lifetime of love.

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