Bringing any animal into your home is a huge decision and, is something that should be done with the future in mind. Too often, pets are adopted only to be returned to rescue or otherwise "dumped" because a family finds themselves overwhelmed by the reality of pet parenthood.
Granted, life happens and sometimes there are circumstances that leave some families no other choice but to re-home much loved pets. However, when a Rescuer hears the phrase "get rid of the dog" as a result of humans not doing their due diligence and adequately preparing themselves for all aspects of animal guardianship, our hackles might rise just a teeny bit.
Because we want every family and every pet to succeed and thrive, The Pack Project has put together a little list of tips, tricks & pointers to help you all get settled in and adjust to your new family dynamic.
Granted, life happens and sometimes there are circumstances that leave some families no other choice but to re-home much loved pets. However, when a Rescuer hears the phrase "get rid of the dog" as a result of humans not doing their due diligence and adequately preparing themselves for all aspects of animal guardianship, our hackles might rise just a teeny bit.
Because we want every family and every pet to succeed and thrive, The Pack Project has put together a little list of tips, tricks & pointers to help you all get settled in and adjust to your new family dynamic.
- Plan to adopt from a Rescue or Shelter.
- Shop accordingly in advance of bringing home your new family member;
- Food, bowls, bed, collar, leash, treats, chew toys, kennel
- Choose a Vet you are comfortable with and, can afford.
- Have a training method selected.
- Be prepared for an adjustment period, for all of you.
- Consider your work schedule and have a back up plan for days that you work late.
- Have a feeding and exercise schedule in place.
- Be aware of how much exercise your chosen breed requires.
- Research licensing and insurance costs, can you afford little unexpected expenses like tick testing and treatment, grooms and, nail trims?
- Where will your pet go when you go on Holiday?
- Renters, is your residence pet friendly? If you have to move will you insist on a pet friendly place to live or is giving the dog away an option? (NOTE: a yes to this question is a huge red flag)
- Is everyone in the residence 100% on board with getting a pet? Talking someone into bringing an animal into the home against their will is a breeding ground for intolerance.
- Are you positioned to do the clean-up required when you share your home with an animal? Hair gets into absolutely everything and, there is the yard and/or litter box maintenance to manage.
- If adding a second (or third) pet, has a pre-adoption meet and greet between the animals been arranged? Animals are just like people, they pick and choose who they love, tolerate and unfortunately, can't stand to share space with.
- Does someone in the home have allergies? Are you sure? Allergies is a big reason why many animals get returned to rescues and shelters. Find a way to check this out. Visit a shelter or the home of someone with the kind of animal you plan on adopting. Allergies make themselves known pretty quickly!
- Be prepared to take an animal through its senior years through to its passing.
A really good question to ask yourself when considering adding a pet to the family mix is, am I prepared to completely provide and care for a being who will rely wholly on me for it's day to day needs for the next 10 plus years?
A pet can and should add to the joy and happiness of any household, whether it be a single person or a bustling family. Because they are so innocent and huge hearted, make sure the decision to provide an animal a forever home is the right choice for everyone.
A pet can and should add to the joy and happiness of any household, whether it be a single person or a bustling family. Because they are so innocent and huge hearted, make sure the decision to provide an animal a forever home is the right choice for everyone.
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