Want To Get A Pet?

Here are some guidelines for people who are thinking of getting a pet.  It mostly concerns cats and dogs, but can be applied to all animals.

First of all you need to decide why you want a pet.  Will the animal be better off living with you?

If you are buying an animal for a child, make sure YOU are prepared to look after it's needs including cleaning, walks, feeding, playing and cuddling.  You as the adult are responsible for the animal, not the child.

Never, never give an animal as a present!!

If you have a friend or family member who has a cat/dog/hamster/rabbit etc and you are thinking of getting one too, why not offer to look after their pet for a few weeks first?  Ask them questions like any problems they have had with their animal, how much time they need to look after them, and how much they pay in vets bills each month/year.

If you are thinking of a kitten or a puppy, who will look after it during the day? Animals, especially young ones, do not like being left alone.  They may become destructive if left alone.  This is not their fault!  They cannot speak and let you know they are unhappy in other ways!  What would your reaction be if you came home and found your new puppy had chewed the leg of your antique dining room table?  Or your kitten had messed in the potplant in the hall, scattering dirt everywhere?  These things happen with young animals so you must be prepared to deal with it in a calm manner.  

Never, never hit your pet!  No matter what they have done, there will be a reason for it, and usually the reason is lack of care for their needs.

If you intend for your animal to be outdoors for ANY length of time you must make sure they are safe!  If you are getting a rabbit or such, buy a professionally made hutch to make sure they are secure and safe from attack.  Make sure neighbourhood dogs and such cannot get to them.  If you are getting a puppy and intend leaving it outdoors, you must make sure that your yard is completely fenced off (ideally with 6 foot fences, or high enough that your dog when it is fully grown cannot jump over them).  You must also provide shelter from wind, rain and sun as well as clean fresh water available at all times.  If you do all this and decide to leave your puppy out while you are at work, how will you deal with complaints that the puppy has been barking all day?  What will you do if the puppy digs up your row of prized rhododendrons?

If someone is available during the day to look after your pet and you have researched the animal you want to get and decide to go ahead, please, please check out your local animals shelter first!!  There you will find a multitude of loving pets in all shapes and sizes just waiting for someone like you to love them!  Many will be put to sleep if they are not given new homes.  Thousands and thousands of HEALTHY animals die each year because they were not given a second chance!!  Many animals at shelters have been through 'rehab'.  This means that any problems they may have had, such as wetting inside, have been dealt with.  If you talk to the staff they will be able to tell you if the animal is suitable for a home with children, or if they get on with other pets.  You will usually be able to hold the animal, or even take it for a walk.  Believe me, once you see the animal for you, you will know instantly.  We did with our rescue cats.  You may need to pay a nominal fee or give a donation to the shelter, and they may require that you agree to a home check either before or after you take your animal.  This means that one of the staff will visit your home and make sure it is suitable for the animal you want and you have all the right equipment such as shelter and bedding.

Assuming you have done all this, the next step is to have your animal spayed or neutered if it hasn't already been done by the shelter.  This is so important.  'Accidents' can happen to even the most responsible pet owner.  Eliminate the chances of your thoughtlessness adding to the population problem by having this done straight away.  If your animal is too young your vet will be able to advise when he/she will be old enough and will schedule the operation in for you.

One thing I can strongly recommend is having insurance for your pet.  We have it for all ours and it is a small price to pay for peace of mind!  About a year ago Harley had an accident which resulted in him having copious amounts of blood in his urine.  We took him straight to the vet where he underwent a number of tests and a course of treatment including a hospital stay.  It came to over £300 which we would not have been able to afford, but the insurance paid for it all. 

Have a plan in case of emergency.  Who will you take your animal to for treatment?  Visit local vets that you can get to easily.  If you don't like their surroundings or attitude, go somewhere else!  Sometimes the cheapest is not the best.  If you have insurance this is not an issue.  The vet should be happy to talk to you about your pet.  When Harley was sick my vet phoned me out of hours and spoke to me on the phone for 2 hours explaining exactly what tests they were doing and why, answering any questions I had.  I know that they also sleep in the surgery if they have a case that requires round the clock attention such as a car accident case. 

The next step is to have your animal immunised against any infectious diseases.  This is really important to your animal's health!!  So many cats and dogs die because they have not had their shots.  It's a simple process that could save your animal's life.  If you have a young animal you may need to go back for two or three visits of different injections.  During this time, until your vet gives you the okay, you must not let your cat/dog outdoors where they may come into contact with other animals, or areas that other animals have been.  Even sniffing other animal's urine or scent will pass on a disease to an animal that isn't fully protected.  You may want to show off your new puppy by taking him/her for a walk around the block, but you mustn't do this until the vet advises that your animal is completely immunised!  You will need to take them back to the vet once a year for the rest of their life to have a booster shot.  Bear in mind that any insurance you have will normally not cover things such as spaying/neutering or yearly shots as these are things you must take responsibility for financially as a pet owner.

If you have got this far, and still want to adopt an animal into your life, and you are prepared to take full responsibility for their life and happiness, then you will be rewarded 1000 fold with love and joy!  It is all worth it in the end when your dog snuggles up to you, or your kitten falls asleep contented on your lap.

There is nothing like coming home and being greeted with total and unconditional love.

If you adopt a pet from a shelter, he/she will be grateful for the rest of his/her life, and will show it in hundreds of little ways unique only to them.  They will never take you for granted or forget the sound of your voice, nor will they forget to love you each and every day.

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