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First-time pet owners have a lot of decisions to make before owning a pet. If you’ve made the decision to get one, here’s what you need to know.
Why Do You Want A Pet?
Before jumping into pet ownership, ask yourself why you want a pet. There are plenty of good reasons, like wanting companionship. Don’t get a pet for someone else. If you want to get a pet for your child, keep in mind that you will be the default person to take care of it if he or she does not live up to the responsibility.
You should also consider how you are getting a pet: pet shop, breeder or adoption. Adoption is the best way to save a life. Here are 10 reasons to adopt a pet by the Humane Society.
What Kind Of Pet Is Best For Me?
Next, you need to determine the right pet for you. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What is my personality and how will that mesh with the personality of a particular animal or breed?
- What kind of activities will we do together: active or more passive?
- How big a pet can my home and yard accommodate? Do I need to make sure my pet remains indoors?
- Do my housemates or neighbors have allergies or other issues with certain pets?
- How much time will I invest daily in caring for my pet? For how many years do I want to commit? (This will help you consider the life span of a pet, which can vary greatly, from fish to dogs to exotic birds.)
- Who will care for my pet when I’m away or when I can’t get home on time?
- What is my annual budget for pet care?
With these answers in mind, research pets by the space they will need, daily maintenance and feeding, training if it’s a dog, care, and interaction you can provide. Start researching pets and breeds, as well as temperaments.
If you need more help, visit Pet Choice for guidance.
Special Pets
Perhaps you’d like a pet for your needs. There are two kinds of pets you can investigate:
- Service Animals: These animals are mainly dogs that are trained to assist people with specific tasks related to a disability, be it physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. For example, a guide dog helps visually impaired people get around.
- Therapy or Companion Pets: Therapy dogs or companion animals are not specifically trained but can provide comfort to patients who are in recovery or suffer from depression. Often therapists or psychiatrists will bring them to patients. If this is what you need, you may want to talk to your health care provider or treatment center about interacting with a therapy pet before getting one of your own.
Therapy pets are also beneficial to someone in substance abuse recovery. According to Puppy Education, a companion animal can “be used as a coping mechanism during recovery and sobriety.” Petting or hugging a therapy dog can be calming and reduce aggression, too.
Preparing Your Home
Before bringing your pet home, be sure do the following:
**Make sure there is nothing unsafe that your pet can get into.
- Create a plan to safely introduce housemates and neighbors. Instruct them on how to treat your pet.
- Have food, water, habitat and any supplies you need in place before bringing your pet home.
- Help your new pet acclimate to his new home. If you have a rescue pet, you’ll need to tread carefully because they may be nervous or fearful at first. Learn what to do in this article from Woof.
- Find your nearest veterinarian and bring your pet in for a visit to make sure he’s healthy.
Getting a pet for the first time is exciting and with proper planning, you can make the best choice possible. You’ll be able to enjoy him for a long time if you do.
By Jessica Brody