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Is Your Family Ready For The Responsibility Of A Pet?

Post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

1385799_10151632473961721_408005902_nHave your children been begging for a new puppy, kitten or other small housepet? How can you tell if your children are ready for the responsiblity of pet ownership? If you don't have children but are considering getting a pet of your own, how do you know that you're ready for the responsibility?

It's an unfortunate fact that many pets end up in shelters because they were bought on a whim (many puppies were purchased because of 101 Dalmations, sales of Jack Russell terriers soared because of the popularity of Eddie on the television show Frasier, bunnies and baby chicks are routinely given as pets at Easter) If the novelty wears out or the cute puppy grows into a large dog, or the tiny kitten becomes a full grown cat, you need to be able to make the commitment to that pet to raise him from the time you adopt him until he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. 

Here are some questions you should ask to determine whether you're ready for the responsibility of pet ownership: 

  • Do you have the time to commit to owning a pet?
    Keep in mind that puppies take more time and effort than do older dogs and they
    also take more time than do kittens. In addition to needing to be kept occupied
    so she becomes a good member of the family, you will need to housebreak your
    puppy and leaving her alone for hours at a time will lead to poor socialization.
    Kittens, while they may require less overall training and maintenance still
    need company. Other pets such as rodents or reptiles are pretty happy being
    left to their own devices, but spending time with them when they’re young may lead
    to them being happier to be picked up and handled when they’re older.
  • Who is responsible for the new pet? If it’s a
    child, is he really ready for all that is involved with owning and caring for a
    pet? Are you, as the adult ready to step in if necessary? Consider that
    bringing a new puppy home is like bringing a baby into the house – it needs to
    be cared for and loved. How long will your pet be home alone during the day?
    What kind of work schedule do you have? Are you able to get up in the middle of
    the night to take your puppy out to do his business? All dogs/puppies depending
    on their size need exercise on a daily basis. Do you have time for that?
  • New puppies are cuddly, squirmy masses of joy
    and comfort but they can try your patience. Do you have the patience to deal
    with yet another puddle on your living room floor? What if she chews up your
    favorite pair of shoes? You need to be willing to take the time to housebreak
    your puppy, show her that it’s not all right to chew shoes by offering alternatives
    and puppy friendly toys. Patience truly is a necessary virtue when it comes to training
    a puppy.
  • Before you make the investment in adoption of a
    pet, ask a vet how much you can plan to spend for XYZ type of puppy or cat for
    veterinary care, spaying or neutering, annual check ups, vaccines, licensing
    and other pet care costs. Also, you need to figure the cost of food into your
    weekly budget. Again, the type and size of your pet will determine how much you
    will spend on food. If you have a kitten that will be using a litter box, don’t
    forget to figure in the costs of litter into your expenses.
  • Will you be bringing your new pet home to be an “only
    child” or do you have other pets in the house? Have you considered how the
    other pets will feel about a newcomer? Some older pets have very little
    tolerance for the antics of puppies and kittens while other older pets are more
    than patient with them. You need to know your pet’s personality to know whether
    she will be welcoming of a new addition to the family.

Shelters are filled with adoptable pets of all
ages, shapes and sizes but before you go looking for a new
BP_OCTOBER_TRANS family member make
sure you are ready for the decades long responsibility that comes with it.
While we can’t stress enough how satisfying it is to have a pet in your life
and in your home (they are proven stress relievers!) you need to be prepared
for the good, the bad and the occasional chewed up shoe!

We’d love
to hear your adoption success stories and how you prepared for a new addition. 

(photo: Ryker in his turtle costume from the BlogPaws Facebook page)

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2 Comments

  1. I think so many people underestimate the work and cost of a new puppy. We know how it is and love it but there are days where Mom really wonders why she decided to get a new puppy. In one month she has also run up a couple nice vet bills for checkups, shots and some extra items. We can see why people that don’t understand would return a pet and that should just not be an option. People need to know what pet fits into their family and truly commit to keeping the pet no matter how trying it can be!

  2. I agree, Emma.I think about how I am dealing with Henrietta and her torn ACL and wondering whether she will need surgery, etc. It is a big commitment in both time and money that not many people think of or plan for. A pet is a life long commitment!

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