Adopting a Pet

[Mel]

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 12 (June 2010).

Adopting a Pet
by Cheyenne (Desert)

Pet adoption can have many benefits. Not only can it allow you to give a home to an animal in need, but adopting a pet may also improve your own mood and give you the chance to care for something that will love you in return. If you’re considering adopting a pet and need a few tips, you’ve come to the right place!

Choosing a pet can be a challenge. Some people choose to adopt dogs or cats, while others prefer more exotic pets such as snakes. It all depends on your personal preference and how much time you’re willing to devote to your new pet. Here are a few key points to consider when choosing a pet:

Firstly, do you have the time needed to spend housebreaking or training your pet? If you work a lot or have a family, getting a new rambunctious puppy may not be the best idea for you. You have to make sure that your priorities are in order and that you aren’t abandoning anything important.

Secondly, you must also keep in mind how big your new animal will grow in the long run. Sure, every pet is cute and small when it’s young, but some pets can become much larger as they grow into adulthood. So will there be enough room in your house to accommodate your pet and keep the pet safe and happy? Remember, once you adopt a pet, it’s yours for life.

Don’t forget that there are also different costs attached to the care of different animals. If you’re adopting a fish, the costs of a tank and food may not seem very high. However, if you’re splurging on a new golden retriever puppy, there are the costs of vet bills in addition to the money spent acquiring the puppy. So be sure to take into consideration the amount of money that you can afford to spend on an animal.

Once you have chosen the type of animal and breed you want, it’s time to decide where you’re getting the pet from. There are many different options, each with its own pros and cons. One of the places that you may consider is The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). The SPCA is always a great choice for adopting pets. They treat their animals well and keep them healthy. Fees are inexpensive, and they have a wide range of animals to choose from, including gerbils, cats, dogs and rabbits. Additionally, their branches are widespread, which means that you most likely will have no trouble locating one. You could also consider talking to friends or other acquaintances and looking for any pets that have been given or sold from someone whose dog or cat has just had a litter. Keep in mind, however, that some of these pets can be malnourished or have other unhealthy attributes that will affect you if you choose to adopt. If you’re planning to adopt from a pet store, make sure that you know where the pets there came from and how they have been treated. Quite a few pet stores get their animals from puppy mills or similar places. Unfortunately these pets can also have health problems, so it's important to get all of the details.

These things should all be carefully considered while choosing the type of pet and breed that you’d like to adopt. Thoroughly research everything before making your decision. There are both positive and negative aspects of every breed of animal; each has different needs. Understand that you’ll need to be able to fulfill these needs in order to keep your new pet healthy and happy.

If you're going to adopt, we hope that everything goes well!