What to Consider Before Getting a Pet

Having a pet can be a wonderful experience; a pet can instill a sense of responsibility in children, provide companionship for the elderly, and even bring a sense of unity and happiness to an otherwise average household. However, many people will impulsively buy or adopt an animal companion without considering some key questions. Is the animal a good fit for your home environment? Do you have children, roommates, or other pets? If so, will the new animal be compatible with these other members of the household? Finally, are you responsible and up to the task of caring for this new family member? Before you make the decision to bring a pet into your home, you will need to consider whether or not you're ready for such a commitment.

The questions posed in the previous paragraph may seem like common sense questions, but after observing some pet owners I am forced to wonder how many of them actually stopped to think before bringing home a new pet. For example: in our old apartment we lived above some folks who owned two massive dogs. I am not sure about their breed- they could have been mutts- but I do know that they were highly energetic and eager to play. I also know that the apartments at this particular complex were very small and that the neighbors were not home for long periods throughout the day. I never saw the neighbors walking these dogs; the dogs used the porch as a bathroom, if necessary. In my opinion, this was a miserable life for a dog to lead. If these folks wanted a pet, they should have considered something more suited to an apartment lifestyle. Impulse will often win over common sense, unfortunately.

Harmony is an important element in determining household atmosphere. For example, an overly playful cat or dog may frighten or intimidate a small child. Young animals, particularly puppies and kittens, are prone to such playful displays of aggression. My family adopted a very frisky kitten back in June of 2007. She's a sweet cat but she tends to have periodic bursts of energy that sometimes startle our four year old daughter. If you have the time to explain the animal's behavior to the child, and to monitor any interaction between the animal and the child, then this may not be a big issue. For the most part, we're able to supervise our daughter's time with the cat. Once our daughter realized that the cat's behavior was simply her way of playing, things settled down. This is just one example of a point that I wanted to make: you can't bring a new animal into your household and expect instant harmony. Yes, you need to consider what sort of animal is most suited to your current living situation; however, your responsibility does not end with that. You will need to devote time and energy to help the animal and any other members of your household adapt to the new arrangements. It's not always an easy task, but you can't ignore it.

Another thing to consider is your ability to commit to the care of a new family member. A new pet is going to add another level of responsibility to your household. The animal will require regular checkups with their veterinarian, fresh food and water, discipline, and exercise. If you spend more time at the office than at home, an animal that requires a lot of attention and care is not the most practical companion. Dogs need to be walked and played with. Many birds thrive on human companionship and will resort to self-mutilation if they feel alone or depressed. This doesn't mean that you can't have any pets; rather, you just need to select something that won't need quite as much of your time. An aquarium might be an appropriate choice. Even better, watching your fish swim around the aquarium can help relieve stress. In this case, you'd find yourself in a win-win situation. Isn't this part of the goal when bringing home a new animal companion?

There is one final question that I would like to ask you: where will you obtain your new pet? As an advocate of animal adoption I would recommend that you consider your local shelter before anything else. Check their website or ask around- they may be having a special that you can take advantage of (a discounted adoption rate, for example). Some pet stores- such as Petsmart and Petco- have special adoption days, where animals from local shelters are brought to the store in order to gain more exposure and find a good home. Their websites should have a schedule posted for such events; if not, feel free to ask someone next time you're at the store. A knowledgeable associate should be able to assist you.

Pets make a wonderful addition to any household. Their love is unconditional and their companionship is something that you will truly treasure. For these reasons and more, it's imperative that you consider the points mentioned in this article. It's not fair to your or to your pet to rush into something without being aware of the consequences. Our cat seemed to have severe separation anxiety when we first brought her home- especially whenever she was forced into the car for a trip. I don't blame her, really; she spent her first months on this planet getting attached to her previous owners only to wind up dumped at the local shelter. I hope that anyone who reads this article will really consider the repercussions of bringing home an animal on impulse. A new addition to the family should be a positive experience for everyone involved- the adopted animal included.