Thinking about expanding your family with a new pet? From companionship to health benefits, there are a number of reasons to consider adopting a furry friend. Adopting a pet has been proven to have several benefits for owners.

• Companionship: Having a loving pet to come home to can brighten your day.
• Stress: Petting an animal can help reduce stress, which is the cause of various health-related problems.
• Increased Fitness: Taking your dog for a walk helps you get exercise as well.
• Teaching Responsibility: Studies have shown that kids with pets grow up to be more responsible adults.
  
  WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE ADOPTING A PET

• Make sure you are committed to caring for a pet long-term and understand and can fulfill their needs. It is common for dogs to live 10 – 13 years and cats 12 -18 years. Animals bond with their owners. When owners surrender their animals to a shelter, the dog or cat can shut down almost completely. When this happens, they won’t let people pet them and even can show aggression toward staff members. They are often terrified. And angry.  And really confused as to why their humans left without them.
  
• If you are beginning your career, will it involve travel? Who will take care of your pet? Will long hours at the office mean your pet will be home alone in a crate for many hours daily? How does your significant other feel about adopting a pet? Under what circumstances would you consider surrendering a pet? Where would your pet go if you had to rehome them?
• What characteristics you are looking for in a pet?
• Ensure that you find a reputable shelter or rehoming organization that will give you lots of support and advice.
• Be prepared to invest in your pet – veterinary care, equipment, food, and training can be expensive. 
• Make sure that you and your chosen pet get to know each other and visit them more than once.
• Ensure that your other pets (e.g. dogs) get along well with your chosen pet by taking them to the shelter.
• Check that your home and your family are prepared for the arrival of your pet.
• Be aware that you need patience. When your pet arrives, everything is new for them, and they need time to settle in.
• Keep in mind that it’s worth waiting for the right pet to come along. Don’t give up if you don’t find the ‘perfect’ pet immediately.
• Know that you will definitely feel good about the fact that you’ve given a pet a much-needed home!
  
  SEVEN THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE GETTING A PET
• Getting your first family pet is a huge moment for everyone. You’re expanding the family and taking on another living being under your roof. With another life involved, however, you should take time to figure out if a family pet is indeed a good decision. There are many things that first-time pet owners fail to consider when they adopt a dog or cat. As a result, the shock of how difficult taking care of a pet can be leads them to surrender it back to a shelter.
  Cost
• The cost of owning and taking care of a pet can easily reach hundreds of dollars per year. In fact, according to ASPCA, first-year expenses can sum up to nearly $2,000. Adoption fees alone can cost you upwards of $500. Then there is the cost of food, insurance, toys, treats, bedding, vaccines, regular checkups, and grooming.
  Time
• Apart from monetary cost, you’ll also be spending time to raise your pet. Dogs will need to be let out at least twice a day so they can pee and poop. If you adopt a high-energy breed or a puppy, you’ll be doing longer walks or making visits to a nearby dog park, which can take you an hour or two each visit. For those with limited time on their hands, you can get pets that don’t require as much hands-on attention as a dog. Cats, lizards, and fish are all less time-consuming regarding maintenance and care.
  Space
• The larger the animal, the more space/territory he/she will need. For instance, a Mastiff or Great Dane will struggle to live in a 200-square foot studio apartment. Only adopt big breeds if you have the space to house them. And it’s not just the space meant for the pet. Their bedding, food, water bowl, toys, and supplies will also consume a considerable amount of space in your household
  Restrictions
• Your neighborhood might have legal restrictions when it comes to what animal you bring home. In some apartment buildings, certain dog breeds are not allowed, the most common of which are Akita and American Pit Bull. Health restrictions can also limit what types of pet you can adopt into your family, such as if you have a child who is allergic to fur or has asthma.
  Cleanliness
• As domesticated as they are, pets still have a lot to learn when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness. They may track mud inside the house, ruining your tiles and rugs, bring home pests, like ticks and fleas, accidentally pee and poop on your bed, and so on. Dogs and cats naturally shed their fur and can leave it sticking in furniture, clothing, etc. Consider investing in a vacuum specially designed for pet hair and other pet cleaning supplies to avoid accumulation indoors. For smaller critters, like rabbits and hamsters, you’ll need to change the bedding and clean the crate at least once a month.
  Temperament
• Different pets have different personalities. Some dogs will be aloof, while others are needy. Knowing what kind of pet behavior your family can handle is vital to maintaining a safe environment for both your family and the animal. Only take on a problematic pet if you have professional experience in animal behavioral training. That being said, some behavioral traits in pets develop later on and are unavoidable.
  Lifestyle
• Introducing a pet into your family can affect your lifestyle as a whole. Families who travel a lot may find it expensive and a hassle to book flights with their pets or find trustworthy boarding facilities. On the other hand, those who are homebodies and prefer to stay indoors when they aren’t working could find it challenging to care for a highly active dog who needs to go outside to dog parks and hiking trails every few hours.
  
  If you decide adoption isn’t the best option, there are other ways to spend time with a furry friend. Consider opening your home to foster a pet! Fostering opens up much-needed space in shelters to take in another needy pet.
  
  Volunteering at a shelter may be a great option if you don’t have the time or resources to commit to a pet. We always need volunteers to walk dogs, feed the animals, clean kennels, or hang out with the dogs and cats to familiarize them with different people. Socialization makes it easier for a shelter dog or cat to get adopted.
  

If you’re ready to take the next step with adoption, check out our adoptable animals!