Animals are amazing but they can also be a handful. Here are some things to consider before taking the plunge into animal ownership:

Can you afford the cost?

 It has been said by various sources that cats and dogs alone can cost up to $2,000 and up a year! This cost includes regular checkups, shots, toys, food, possible sickness, collars, spaying, neutering, scratching posts, injury and so on. Even though it may seem unlikely that your pet may get injured, it’s never a bad idea to consider pet insurance or setting aside some money for those ‘just in case’ moments when your pet might need medical attention. Other random costs might include: obedience classes, declawing, putting up a fence, allergy treatment (for you or your family), grooming, teeth cleaning, carpet cleaning and costs of repairing/replacing damaged property.

Can you afford the time?

All animals require your attention but some will require more than others. Most dogs for instance, are very people oriented and will require lots of human interaction. Cats on the other hand are not as people-oriented and can handle being left alone for a few hours; that is if you provide enough toys and such to keep them occupied. If you’re planning on adopting a kitten, puppy or any baby animal for that matter, prepare to spend A LOT of your time caring, nurturing and keeping them out of trouble. Other species will vary so consult the appropriate professional on how much attention your potential pet may need.

Is your home appropriate for the animal?

Smaller animals are good in apartments while bigger animals are better in houses with backyards. Check with your pet provider to determine if the animal you intend to adopt is suitable for your living quarters.

Is your family ready for the animal?

Small children who are unfamiliar with an animal will naturally try to explore the animal by poking and prodding, so make sure to teach your children how to properly handle and respect an animal. This will greatly help in reducing the risk of injuries to both your pet and your child. Also note that your child should always be supervised by an adult when interacting with an animal.

If you’re planning on adopting an animal with fur and this is your family’s first ‘furry friend’, keep in mind the possibilities of allergens to pet dander. To determine if you or your family member is allergic to pet dander, contact your family doctor and ask if there are any tests they can run to help determine your family’s allergens. Some pet owners don’t mind the extra cost of getting treatment for their pet allergies, however this option is not for everyone or everyone’s budgets.

Are you ready for the animal?

 If you’re not too experienced with having responsibility, I do not recommend adopting an animal that requires a lot of attention. In fact, I’d suggest not adopting an animal at all and starting with a plant. Sure, some will say that puppy or a kitten is a good starting point for teaching responsibility however, if you’ve never taken care of another living thing, this ‘learning experience’ can be harmful to both you and the animal. In other words, don’t treat an animal as a ‘testing ground’ for responsibility. It’s not fair to the animal and a failure of that test is animal negligence and that’s a crime.

There are many other factors that I’m sure I’ve left out but I feel that the ones I’ve listed so far are definitely some of the most important. As always, it is important to do as much independent research as you can to educate yourself on the animal that you desire to adopt. Your local veterinarian is a great resource for finding out more about pet ownership, so don’t be afraid to give them a call! Pet shop workers are usually good resources as well, but be aware that some employees might leave out the not-so-cute details since they are trying to make a sale. The internet is also a good resource however it’s very important to make sure the sites you’re surfing are reliable. So, get out there and find out what being a pet owner is all about! Hopefully you’ll like what you find however if you don’t, you’ll at least know what you would (or wouldn’t) be missing!