Here in America, we love our pets. Some of us unabashedly love our domesticated animals more than people. If a child doesn’t have a pet or even a pet to call “theirs” by a certain age, they will inevitably begin to beg for one. Before you give in to your own personal desire for a pet or your child’s tears, take a moment to mull over the realities of pet adoption and what it means for your family. Maybe it is the right time now, or ten years from now, or never. Here is what to know before adopting a dog as well as helpful questions to ask to help you be prepared.
What to Consider Before Adopting a Pet
Why are you hoping to adopt a pet?
You may think this is a rhetorical question. Why wouldn’t you want to adopt a pet? While pets are a great joy and fantastic companions (if you find one that fits well with your family,) if you do not have a solid or passionate enough drive for adopting a pet, the end results will not be pretty. Pets are a big responsibility. They come with the added expense of not just food but also vet bills, flea and tick prevention, and pet damages. They also come with the added worry of what to do with them when you go on vacation, and talking them for walks or cleaning kitty litter boxes. Yes, they are cute and so worth it but make sure you are prepared for the whole package.
Does everyone in your household agree?
Even if the entire family agrees to adopt a pet, if you don’t all share that solid or passionate drive for the adoption, it could cause tension in your human relationships farther down the road. Your child may love the idea of playing fetch with that adorable little pup, but will they love the idea of caring for it after school and before you get home from work? That’s a question you need to answer before making the big leap. Are both mom and dad on board before you bring home the animal? Do you both agree on the type of animal?
Do you have the stability required to care for a pet?
This one hits home even for me a little bit. I don’t regret rescuing my puppy child, but I will admit that I did not consider the consequences of apartment living with a large breed or how it would limit my budget every month. While these sacrifices were worth it, it would have been better to plan for them. If you don’t own your house, they can limit your rental options as well.
Questions To Ask Before Adopting A Dog?
- How old is the dog?
- What is the dog’s current energy level at this age?
- Is the dog potty trained?
- Does the dog have a chewing habit?
- Does the come when called?
- Does the dog like children?
- Dos the dog like other animals?
These types of questions will help you know what you are getting into and if the dog is a good match for you.
Conclusion
Josh Billings once said, “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Adopting a pet is well worth it but being prepared for the realities of the extra expenses and extra work are important so that you can make sure everyone in the family is onboard with helping out. Best Friends has a long list of useful pet adoption tips to help you be prepared for the realities that come with your new lovable four legged family member.
I hope this information on what to know before adopting a dog was helpful to you. What advice do you have for others considering adoption? Which of these pet adoption tips do you feel is most important and why?
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RKM says
That’s a great article! Thank you!