Not sure if you’ve ever been to an animal shelter, if you have, oh boy you will know exactly what I am about to say. You walk around and all you see are these huge puppy eyes staring at you, wishing, and hoping that they will be the ones to be picked. You just want to take them all home and shower them with love!

But before you do, let’s PAWS and think about it first.

Adopting a pet is a huge responsibility, are you ready for it?

Below are some questions you might consider answering before you jump into it:

  • Is your home situation stable?
  • Can you afford it?
  • Who will care for it daily?
  • Do you have room?
  • Will it fit in with your other pets?
  • Does its personality fit your lifestyle?
  • How will you deal with behavioural issues?
  • What kind of grooming does it require?

In addition to the above, you should also look into the history of the pet as adopted animals may need special love and care.

Adopting a pet from an animal shelter is much less expensive than buying a pet.

 

 

Asking the following questions could help you a great deal:

  • What is this pet’s story? How did it end up in a shelter/rescue?
  • How long has it been at the shelter/rescue?
  • Has the pet been adopted before, and why was he returned?
  • How old is this pet? Is the pet spayed or neutered, and if so, at what age was it done?
  • What, if any, illnesses or injuries has the pet had?
  • Is there any history of abuse?
  • What vaccines have been given? What are the dates of vaccinations, heartworm tests, heartworm prevention, flea/tick prevention, and other medications?
  • What other pets has this animal been exposed to, and how did they react?
  • Has this pet been around small children, and how did they react?
  • How does this pet react to men, women, and strangers?

 

There is indeed a lot to think about before adopting but being prepared and open-minded will certainly come in handy.

Something to be proud of is that by adopting a pet you are not only welcoming and offering love to a pet but also opening a space for another pet at the shelter that might be in desperate need of care.

You might think to yourself whether it is worth adopting or owning a pet. But in essence, pets promote both mental and physical health and that can significantly improve our lives.

Getting home to a bundle of joy each day can be a great stress reliever after a hard day at the office.

 

https://petkeen.com/animal-adoption-statistics-aus/

https://petcarehospital.net/blog/adopting-instead-of-buying-a-pet

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/top-reasons-adopt-pet