Are You Ready for a Pet?

It seems like a lot of fun seeing friend's pet is so obedient and cute!

Your boy friend says want to give you a pet as a gift, so touching!

Having a pet to welcome you everyday when you are back from work is so warm and lovely!

But, are you ready for a pet?

Here are some questions to ask yourself before you get a pet.

Do you have time?

You need time to feed them, play with them, walk them, train them and clean them. Do you travel often? Is your work need overtime unexpectedly? Are you willing to wake up earlier to manage them? Do you have time to bring them to a vet when is due for their health check or sick. “I don't have time to bring my pet to vet” should not be your excuse when you decide to have a pet.. By the time you have “time” to bring them to a vet, your pet may be critically ill already. Bare in mind that when you have a pet, part of your time will be given to them. Some types of pets require a lot of attention such as dogs, demand a lot from their owners. Even lower-maintenance animals still require dedication and regular care.

Are you ready to make a lifetime commitment?

Puppies and kittens are irresistible, they are cute and cuddly. However, pet will grow, they may grow bigger and less cuddly and cute as before. What if they get sick especially having chronic skin disease, they smell and shed fur. They will get old with bad eye sight, bad leg, less shinning fur coat and sometime urine incontinent. Dogs can live up to 20 years, and cats have been known to live 25 and more years. Are you ready for that?

What is your future plan?

We have come across a lot of cases where the owner given up their pet because owner has baby, because the couple break up or because they are moving and etc. So, is your life stable? Is there a new baby on the way, or planned? Will you be moving or forced to relocate? The more stable your environment, the more you are ready to have a pet.

Do you have the patience and toleration?

Can you tolerate some damage to your furniture and floors? Can you tolerate the noise of attention. Can you tolerate the smell of their urine and bowel? Can you tolerate your favorite garden end up mess up by your pet. Puppy or kitten just like toddlers, they will test their limits, they need time to learn. Do you have the patient to teach with kindness and treats.

Do you have a suitable and safe living arrangement?

Do you have a fenced yard? Can your pets get loose and end up injuring themselves? Do you have a safe place for your pet when everyone gone to work and nobody at home? We have seen dog destroyed and swallowed something in the house when the owner was not at home, ended up foreign body obstruction in the gastrointestinal track that needed surgical intervention. Are there children in your household and how old are they? Children need to be taught how to approach and handle a pet to prevent injuries. Does anyone in your household have allergies? Are all the members of the family agree to have pets and willing to take care of them? When you go out station or sick, who will take care of your pet? If the pet is taken care by only one person in the house, when that particular person is not around such as moved, will the pet be neglected?

Can you truly afford and willing to shoulder the cost of ownership?

The costs of ownership is far exceed the adoption fee and initial veterinary visit. Adoption fees are usually minimal but the cost of quality food, grooming, license, obedient training lesson, preventive medicine and medical care can be significant. Are you financially prepared if your pet gets sick, injured or diseased? 

So, are you sure you are ready for a pet?