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What Should You Consider Before Adopting Pet? 2023

by Suzie Cyrenne July 05, 2023 4 min read

2 Comments

What Should You Consider Before Adopting Pet? 2023

So you really want to adopt a pet or an animal companion? Congratulations! You’ll be in for an exciting and fun time which can change your life for better (or for worse!). We bet that you can’t wait to have another family member and we salute you for considering opening your home to another creature; however, are you truly prepared and ready to adopt a pet?

ALSO : 👉 Read the ultimate guide to pet adoption: 13 blog post articles to help you make the right choice with pet adoption 🐶🐱

Adoption can also fail because of unrealistic expectations and a lack of research. If you're really interested in taking in a furry friend from animal shelters and rescues through adoption events, we've put together a list of considerations to help you in your search for the ideal four-legged companion:

Reason for Your Search of Adoptable Pets

Many people go for the adoption of dogs and cats because they're cute. Some individuals adopt a pet for foster or to have some companionship, but it turns out they don't have the means to do so (like to spay or neuter or provide the right food). You basically save a life when you foster a cat, dog, or some other pet.

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While your heart may be in the right place when you search for on-site pet adoption through ASPCA or a similar adoption group, you've also got to have the right reasons. The adoption of pets is having a new family member.

Time Available

When you adopt a pet like a puppy or a kitten, you have to share a part of your day to keep them happy and healthy. Once you've got an adoption furry pal from shelters and rescues, your overall schedule will be significantly affected. When you have an animal depending on you for his needs, your priorities will change. You can't even visit friends and family on impulse!

Reality Vs. Fantasy (Includes the Pet Adoption Process)

Man with his dog

Whatever your expectations for pets that are up for adoption from ASPCA or similar groups, you should know that some things may be far from what you expect them to be like once you adopt an animal from ASPCA or other groups. Janet Winikoff of The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County shares: “I would suggest that a person not get hung up on breeds or the age of a dog, cats or other pets. Animals aren't mass-produced.”

Adoption Maturity and Responsibility (A Big Requirement of Local Shelters!)

There will be times when the puppy, kitten, or older cat may not be as cooperative or as nice as you'd want it to be. Once you adopt a pet, whether through shelters or via ASPCA, Petsmart charities, or Happy Tails in your community, you have to be always responsible for it.

Type of Pet to Adopt in an Animal Shelter

There are so many lovable dogs, cats and other adoptable animals out there that are up for adoption. Of course, your preparation depends on what type or breed you’ve chosen to be your new family member. You also have to assess your personality and lifestyle, too.

If you’re a loner and don’t have time for walks, dogs are not ideal pets unless you choose very low-energy pedigrees, as pointed out by Catherine Naber of Cats Canine Academy.

The Need for Training

When you find loving homes for dogs and cats like in the case of adoptions, you also have to factor in training in your search. This is a big concern before adopting a pet. Training puppies and kittens early can help you save a lot on (unexpected) future costs like ruined couches and destroyed drapes!

Search for Space and Location

As regards rescue and shelter adoption, the right amount of space and the proper location is essential. Regardless of the age of your four-legged friend, he'll need room not just to stay in, but also to move around. Like in the case of cats and dogs, you cannot just put them in a tiny area and expect them to stay happy. Remember this during your search for the ideal adopted furry friend!

You can reach out to Eugenia from the Animal Defense League of Texas and a few other animal care volunteers on this topic as well.

Your Financial Situation

How financially-prepared are you to adopt an animal? If we're being honest, having pets can cost a lot of money (like when you spay or neuter). Eric McCune of The Bella Foundation shares, “People are often unaware of the overall cost of owning a pet. None of us plan for an emergency but emergencies do happen.”

It's a Lifetime Commitment

Why do you think some pet owners call themselves animal parents? Once you have a cat or dog, he will already be a part of your decision-making in the household. This is why pet adoption isn't something you just do on a whim wherever you are in the country.

Chris Bedell of For Pet’s Sake Animal Rescue says: “We try to help people realize that adopting a pet like kittens and puppies, is much like adopting a child. It's a LONG-TERM commitment that's not to be done on a whim.”

Do Your Research

Not doing enough information digging is one of the top reasons why pets and animals are surrendered or given up by their owners. But what are the things you need to research on? Here is a great tip about doing proper research from Melissa of Daisy’s Animal Rescue League:

“Research the pros and cons about the pet you are getting. Research the breed's needs like grooming, common health issues, temperament with dogs, small animals and children. Energy level. Likes and dislikes. Spay or not? Is it at risk of rabies? Ask these questions when you visit an adoption facility in your community."

Learn more about How to Be a Responsible Owner in our Ultimate Guide to Pet Adoption Series.

Suzie Cyrenne

HOMEOPATH & CO-FOUNDER OF ZUMALKA

Suzie Cyrenne is a certified Homeopath with over ten years of experience creating natural products for cats and dogs. She co-founded eCommerce brand, Zumalka in 2013 with her husband Matt and is on a mission to help thousands of animals naturally improve their quality of life and shares her experience on their popular YouTube show. Hence, she created a line of high-performance natural pet supplements to target the root cause of common health issues. Suzie was influenced by her mother-in-law, who practiced homeopathy and made natural remedies from home. After being on prescriptions for many years for a skin issue without resolution, she wanted to try something new. Her problems were cleared up within a few months of dedication to a better diet supplemented by homeopathic remedies. That's when she knew that homeopathy worked! During this process, she wondered why there weren't better options for pets and soon created a popular line of natural remedies that have helped thousands of pets across the USA. When she’s not traveling or reading the next personal development book, you can find Suzie snowboarding, working out, or enjoying a daily hike.

2 Responses

Zoe Campos

November 23, 2020

It really helped when you said that I should check the person’s capacity to look after an animal before giving them a pet as a gift. I’m thinking of looking for organizations that promote adoption so I can give a puppy to my sister but I’m not sure yet if she’s ready for the responsibility. Maybe I should check her current living condition first before making any decision.

https://www.happylifeanimalrescue.org/adopt/

Come To The Rescue

December 09, 2015

People need to consider themselves, their life styles and IF they are educated ENOUGH to know if it’s even fair to bring a pet into their world. They should KNOW that pets in the shelters and rescues are projects. They have been neglected and abused and that is WHY they will better appreciate being adopted into a well educated on pets, adopters home. They should know that because they have been done wrong. These rescued pets will appreciate them all the more for saving their lives. People have to be smart enough to take in a pet that’s needs match their needs. Never to take one in according to looks or what their breed says they are. They are all individuals just like people are. People should know that God makes PERFECT pets and when you add in a human who has little or not well educated info into their world, there in lies the beginning of the pets problems which spreads like wildfire back to the humans. People have to know that pets think and feel exactly the way we do, nothing more, nothing less. Therefore to adopt one means to totally take their needs into consideration when it comes to EVERYTHING that will affect the pet, which is everything in the house in which they live. People need to know that to own a healthy cat costs approx $1000 a year per cat, and a dog depending on size can run no less than $1400 per dog to keep and have a healthy dog. That a dog will need no less than two hours a day of their time per dog to have a happy one in their life and a cat will need at least a hour a day per cat to have a happy cat. Happy equals healthy. If they can’t commit to that, they SHOULD NOT have a pet.

Pets are not accessories, not something to own so when you have two or four hours a week to donate to them, they are there in waiting. Pets should not be waiting, they should be inclusive family members. You don’t have a child and plan that they will only need a tiny bit of your time. That children will only need a little care and attention four hours a week. Pets are no different.

Humans shouldn’t be taking on a responsibility if they like their time free and unplanned. People shouldn’t come to feel that the pet is a in convenience, they should crave to spend one on one time with a pet. If a person can’t do that, a living pet is not for them. And more than that, people shouldn’t feel bad if they don’t have the time or can make a commitment to a pet full time. They can foster if they want to try it on for size or just have a pet some of the time. They can offer to a friend or family member who doesn’t have the time or ability to walk or play with their dog, to take their dog a few days a week or on the weekend to go enjoy some time with a pet they don’t own. Or they can offer to babysit a cat for a friend going out of town so they don’t have to board it in a kennel. It’s like being the uncle or aunt who takes the nieces or nephews occasionally to give their parents a little break.

It used to be that some people have pets, now a days, it seems like everyone feels it’s necessary to show how great you are, that you care for a pet. It’s a lie, not everyone should be a parent or a boss or a doctor, or have a pet. There is nothing wrong with admitting you don’t have the ability to make a 15 or 20 year commitment to just one particular cat or dog or bird or guinea pig. There are plenty of places to volunteer to help a friend with their pet if you want that pet time without owning one. Don’t consider your feelings about ownership first. Consider your lifestyle and what time you are willing to give up, donate to the well being of the soul of a living breathing, needing pet for life, many, many years. Consider adopting or fostering a older pet so it’s not such a long, long commitment. A senior pet is the BEST kind of pet to rescue. They are trained already, not going through potty training or chewing up things. There is SO much to be learned from adopting or fostering a old soul.

Marla from Come To The Rescue, Rescue in Michigan

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