ΕλληνικάDog adoption tips
Are you thinking about adopting a pet? Perhaps you already have a pet but are looking to adopt another one? Are your children persistently asking for a puppy? If any of the above apply to you, here are some tips about adopting a pet.
Reasons to have a pet
- Pets make the best companions. They have a natural sense of empathy and they will never judge you.
- A pet’s love is unconditional love. Need we really say more?
- Pets can help you get in shape and stay in shape: Walking your dog can be beneficial both for you and your furry pal.
- Pets are stress relievers: being with your pets and playing with them causes a decrease of cortisol levels (a.k.a the stress hormone).
- Animals can teach children about empathy and responsibility.
- Adopting (not buying) a pet means saving a life. Shelters are overcrowded with abandoned animals waiting to be rescued, to be welcomed into a family and feel loved.
Pets are adorable. We’ve established that. That being said, just because you want a pet, it doesn’t always mean you should have one. Intrigued? Keep reading.
Reasons why pets may not be for you
- Pets require a lot of maintenance. That means walking, feeding, playing with them, grooming them, taking them to the vet and loving them in general. All of that translates into a lot of required time.
- Owning a pet comes with expenses. Costs like food, veterinary bills, supplies, toys, habitats such as cages or tanks, grooming, obedience training are things to consider before becoming a pet parent.
- Your housing conditions. Unless you’re thinking about getting a fish, pets such as cats or dogs (especially large-sized ones) require their own space. If you live in a small studio or apartment, maybe your home is not suitable for a pet. Not to mention that whether trained or not, pets are bound to cause some damage to your house and property. For example, dogs are known for chewing everything. Whether it’s from playfulness, aggression, anxiety or loneliness, the result is the same.
- You like your freedom. Enjoy feeling carefree and independent? Never have a schedule and like to act ‘in the spur of the moment’? Well, maybe getting a pet is not for you. Having an animal comes with a lot of responsibility and a willingness to put their needs above your own. In many ways, having a pet is having a child, so you may want to think hard before becoming a (pet) parent.
- Your children keep asking for a pet. While it is definitely good for children to grow around pets, you should never jump into getting a pet as soon as they ask for one just to please them. Children may be enthusiastic, but they need to realize that having a pet means a lot of responsibilities. If you are willing to commit to all of them, then yes, go ahead and get a pet. If not, it is not OK to get a pet and then abandon them because you don’t have the time or money or energy. Would you abandon your children the same way?
- Shelters often have questionnaires for you to fill in before they allow you to rescue an animal because they want to make sure you are suitable and capable of taking good care of them.
So, while you love animals and you think you will be a good pet owner, you should think long and hard before committing to becoming a pet parent. We hope these tips helped to create a world that cares and respects animals!
Adopting a dog can be both rewarding and very challenging. Make sure you are up to the challenge.
