From alpacas to insects, you will find pets in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Many families feel incomplete without a little critter to love and care for. In fact, most households now have some sort of pet, and of those, many have more than one. If you are considering adopting or buying a new pet, it is important to make sure that you are ready to take on the role of a responsible pet owner.
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Here are a few things you need to keep in mind before you get a new pet to ensure that you will be responsible for your new friend at all times.
Type of Pet – This is one of the first things you need to consider when deciding to buy or adopt a pet. Most people think of cats, dogs or domestic rodents when they think of family pets. While these are the most common ones, there are a number of other options such as birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and even insects – they all make wonderful pets for a loving family. You need to choose a pet that suits your current lifestyle so that you can make sure that you can take care of it properly at all times.
Time – How much time will you have to dedicate to your pet’s care? Take dogs, for instance – they need exercise and grooming every day. Will you be able to provide that? If your lifestyle is a busy one and you do not spend much time at home, you should get a pet that does not demand too much of your time to care for it. A low-maintenance pet, such as a guinea pig, mouse, reptile or insect, is a great option for those who have a busy life.
Living Arrangements – What are our living arrangements? Are you renting or do you have your own home? If you are renting, are pets allowed in your building? You also need to think about whether you have enough space for the pet and breed that you are thinking about buying or adopting. Also, keep in mind that frequent moving can cause a lot of stress to pets.
Costs – Owning a pet is not easy or cheap. You need to think about whether you can afford the costs of pet care. According to the Calgary Human Society, the annual average cost for dogs is $1,550. This does not include one-time costs such as adoption fees, micro-chipping, spaying, etc. while the average cost for cats is $850 a year. These are things that you need to keep in mind before deciding to take in a pet.
Allergies – Last but not least, you need to consider any allergies that members of your family and extended family may have. For instance, owning a pet rabbit may be fine for your immediate family, but if grandma has an allergy to the bunny’s fur, the kids at home will never be able to enjoy a visit from their grandmother. If a loved one is allergic to a particular animal, make sure that you choose another animal to take home as a pet.
Exercise – Pets, especially dogs, get bored. They need to be taken on walks or played with each day. Many dogs act out by constant barking, digging holes or damaging their surrounds when they get bored. Just like you and I we need things to do and places to go. You can not buy an active pet and just leave it all day to do nothing.
As you can see, there are quite a few things you need to keep in mind before you choose a pet to take home. You need to make sure that you consider everything before making a decision so that you can be a responsible pet owner. As mentioned earlier, owning and taking care of a pet is not an easy job so you must think things through properly before adopting or buying one. Be a responsible pet owner and always make sure that you take proper care of the newest addition to your family.
