DOES BEING A PET PARENT SUIT YOU?

To begin, don't have a pet until you are certain you are ready for the responsibility. Pets are like children: cute on the outside, mischievous on the inside. 

If you want a pet, learn about the various breeds of that pet (cat, dog etc.) and their requirements. You must be sure that you are ready for this new addition to your family and will not get overwhelmed by increased responsibilities.

Below are some questions to ask yourself to figure out if you should own a pet:

1. Money – It’s not just about the adoption fee or the cost of buying the pet, but cost of food, vet visits, grooming, accessories, training costs etc that become overwhelming if not planned for properly. To find out the costs relative to the breed of animal you are planning to get try doing following things:

• Research online – find out the dietary and grooming needs of the breed. Check for health issues and relative costs the breed may be prone to.

• Visit a few pet stores to get an idea about price of stuff like food, toys, accessories etc.

• Talk to a pet groomer to find out average grooming costs for the breed in your area.

• If possible, talk to vet who can advice you about any special needs of the particular breed, average vet fees and prices of medicines.

• Find out the costs for pet insurance for that particular breed.

• Pet license fees are also annual and may vary based on several factors.

2. Time – A pet needs time and attention just like a kid would. Some pets would need more attention than others. For example, a dog will need walks, social interactions, training, visits to dog parks or arranging play dates keeps it engaged and happy as well as healthy. Do you have time for these on daily, weekly or monthly basis?

• Find out how much exercise the breed needs on daily basis.

• Would you be able to fit training classes in your schedule?

• Are there any dog parks in your area?

3. Life adjustments – You will have to make a lot of adjustments to your daily schedule to fit a pet in your life. All pets normally have a routine and you will have make sure the routine sticks, otherwise it causes anxiety in pets.

• If you have kids, are you ready for added responsibilities?

• Planning vacations, spending a night out may become tricky with a pet in the picture.

• Your house and car may need adjustments to be safe and comfortable for a pet.

• You may have to clean your home more frequently and avoid certain chemical cleaners harmful for pets. 

4. Long term commitment – Getting a pet is not a small decision, it’s a commitment of around 5 to 15 years depending on the animal you choose. For example, dogs live on average for about 10 - 15 years.  It’s almost like raising a kid until their mid teen years. If you are not ready for this, try other ways to enjoy company of pets.

• House sit a friend’s pet 

• Volunteer at an animal shelter

• Discuss helping a family member with their pet's daily routine

5. Patience – Pets may be mischievous, especially at young age. A dog may chew things while teething, damage carpets while being house broken, dig up your yard or shred your mail. Cats may scratch your furniture and other objects or break housetraining rules. It’s all part of the package. You need a lot of patience to handle these situations and help the pet change its behavior. Punishments are not going to work; they are just going to confuse it more and may lead to heightened unruly behavior.