Whether you want to adopt a dog or cat, the factors to consider are the same. Although cats require less maintenance than dogs, adopting pets means spending on their training and veterinary needs. You also have to put in the work to make your pet feel loved. Before bringing a new pet to your home, ask yourself some questions first. Remember that these are not toys you can throw away when you’re tired of them.
There are a lot of things that come with adopting pets. You even have to consider pet insurance. Some reviews from Lemonade pet insurance could help you decide which to get. Don’t believe some “experts” who said you don’t need pet insurance when your pets are still young. The early years are the best time to buy pet insurance.
Picking the Right Breed
Visiting an animal shelter will break your heart. You might want to adopt the first pet that made you teary-eyed. However, it’s important to be unemotional when picking a dog or cat. Emotions might get you in trouble. You might end up choosing a breed that does not fit your lifestyle or your family dynamics.
If you have small kids in the house, choose a family-friendly breed. Golden Retrievers and Labradors are the perfect dogs for kids. Many people think that larger breeds are not kid-friendly. However, the smaller breeds require a lot of time and attention and may be prone to defensive behavior. Larger breeds are also friendlier and more patient.
Evaluating Your Lifestyle
Not all lifestyles are a good fit for pet adoption. If you are constantly traveling for work, how will you take care of a dog or cat? Should you leave them every time you have to travel for work? How much are you going to spend on their boarding? If you do not have time for pets, adopting them might not be the best choice right now.
Affording the Maintenance
You cannot expect the pets to live forever if you don’t take care of them. That includes taking them to the veterinary for routine checkups, vaccines, boosters, and many other procedures. If you’re thinking about relying on Google to treat your pets, rethink your decision of getting one. Responsible pet ownership means allocating money for pet insurance and other veterinary needs.
When adopting a pet, money, time, effort, and lifestyle come into play. The goal is for pets to live long, healthy, and fruitful lives. They are not toys you put in cages and play with when you want to. Some people might even say that taking care of pets is akin to having kids. As such, it’s best you make sure you can properly care for a pet before deciding to adopt one.