What to do before you get yourself a new pet as an individual or family can be very interesting, life changing, and the relationship should be lifelong. With pets, the snuggles they give, the limitless playtimes, the support and emotional connection can be so strong that they are considered a part of your life and family.
But before you go ahead…
- WHY DO YOU WANT A PET?
This seems like an easy and maybe even unnecessary question but anybody intending to get a pet for the first time must ask themselves WHY? Why do I want a pet? Identifying the answer to this question will help you identify your readiness, the right pet and defining your relationship with them. Some people want to get a pet for guard purpose, some for other reasons.
Here are other reasons why people want to get a new pet.
- Companionship
- Exercise and stress reduction
- Improving social skills (for shy and socially averse people)
- Mental, physical and emotional health and support
- Elderly support
- Once you’ve determined why you want a pet, you are one step closer to being ready to get your first pet. Yay!
So, the next thing to do is to carefully consider the pros and cons of getting that pet.
HERE ARE 5 THINGS TO CONSIDER:
- BREED PECULIARITIES
Breeds exist not just for aesthetic reasons but because certain animal species are unique, there may be similarities, but every breed is uniquely different and this includes temperament, size, genetic conditions (if any), others like feeding habits, coat maintenance
For instance, some breeds of cats are more family friendly while some are more independent and don’t need as much attention as others. Determine if a particular breed will be suitable for your surroundings, lifestyle and whether they will fit into your family structure.
- FINANCIAL INVESTMENT
Before you go ahead to get that pet of your dreams, make sure to count the financial cost.
Being a pawrent will involve financial investments. The journey is a lot easier when you have done due diligence and have a good idea of what it takes monetarily to care for your pet.
Primarily, this includes feeding, numerous vet visits and other medical bills, grooming, dental care and pet house.
TIME REQUIREMENT
Apart from monetary investment, you’ll also be spending ample time to raise and take care of your pet especially in the developmental stages as with dogs and cats. Some other pets don’t require as much time as others.
Here are some things that will require the bulk of your time:
- Potty training: this requires you to take your pet especially dogs to visit the toilet very frequently and consistently.
- Feeding: young pets are required to be feed more frequently than adults
- Cleaning and grooming: Dogs for instance need to be groomed once a week and you will need to comb their fur at least every other day
- Vet visits and appointment: your pet will need to visit the vet at least once a month till they become adults to undergo routine treatment.
- Walks and play time depending on your pet’s energy level especially with dogs; cats are less time consuming when it comes to maintenance, care and playtime.
- If you have less time on your hands because you work a very demanding job, you should consider getting a pet that doesn’t require so much time and attention such as cats, parrots.
CHILD(REN) FRIENDLY
Not all nicely looking pets are child friendly and some fiercely looking pets are child friendly.
You should consider this carefully if you have little kids and have decided to get a dog or cat. While all dogs, cats can be trained in such a way that they are suitable to live around your children, some breeds are better adapted to living and even caring for kids than others. For example, the Golden retrievers relate better with kids than most other dogs while for cats Persians, American short hair deal better with kids.
- The last step but not the least is to SELECT A VET and schedule a visit with them even before you adopt your pet to consult with them.
Here are things to consider in choosing your vet:
- Ask your friends and family for recommendations on licensed vets.
- Make sure the cost and location are suitable. You are more likely to visit your vets when you should if they are stationed close to you. Proximity is especially important in cases of emergencies.
- Truth is vets are there for you and your pet and you both should feel comfortable with their environment.
Fun facts
- Did you know that dogs are not the only animals used for guard purposes? (Name any other animal used for guard purposes and why)
- Did you know that having a dog can help reduce blood pressure and can help in detecting certain medical conditions?
Photo credit: Australian dog lover, Adobe stock.
