10 Jul 5 Things To Do Before You Adopt a Pet

5 Things To Do Before You Adopt a Pet

So you’ve decided to adopt a puppy or cat. Hooray! Pets may be wonderful cuddle companions and are a lot of fun to play with. In summary, they make wonderful friends and even provide amazing support when we’re feeling down or scared (looking at you, 2020…).

A dog or cat need care for a number of years, including making sure they are secure, providing them with food and shelter, and insuring their health. Indeed, there is a lot to learn. In order to prepare you for bringing home your new furry family member, read on.

Before you take an action and start the adoption process follow these rules if you live in California.

1. Prepare Yourself and Your Family

Consider fostering a dog or cat from your neighborhood shelter before making the commitment to adopt one. In order to learn more about fostering and to discover a new family member to adopt, our partners at PetFinder make it simple to locate regional animal shelters.

Choose a pet that complements your family and way of life. How will a dog or cat fit into our lives is a question you need to ask yourself (and the people you live with!)

Do you enjoy spending time outside and wish to bring your favorite pet friend along? Find a dog that can go on lengthy excursions, spend the night in a tent, and relax in a canoe. Although occasionally you can teach a cat to perform these tasks as well, we don’t suggest it as a starting point!

Do you reside in a compact area, such as an apartment? Perhaps it would be simpler to live with a smaller breed of dog or cat.

Do you spend the day away from home? Some dog breeds, particularly those that wind up in shelters, have separation anxiety. You definitely don’t want to find out from your neighbors that your dogs are always howling and barking while you are away.

Do you enjoy quiet time a lot? Perhaps the ideal new friend would be a cat, which is likely to be highly independent.

Consider your current lifestyle, how your new dog or cat will fit into it, and what adjustments you will need to make to make room for this new family member. When selecting a new pet, keep the following points in mind:

Energy Level – for both the owner and the animal Size when fully grown

pertaining to children and other animals

Pet’s level of noise

Make sure everyone is aware of who is in charge of looking after your pet. Make sure you are prepared to manage everything on your own if it is just the two of you.

What will they eat?

Who will do the cleanup afterward?

Who will keep an eye on them during the day?

Who will make sure they exercise frequently each day?

2. Get to know them well before bringing them home

Meet the dog or cat you wish to adopt at the breeder or shelter. Although animal shelters can now provide a lot of information on the animals, nothing can beat spending time with them in person. Plan a time to visit the breeder or the shelter and interact with the dog or cat you learned about online. It’s a good idea to inquire about the animals you are meeting from the shelter workers as well. They will be better knowledgeable about their character, temperament, and any relevant past.

You can gauge if they will warm up to you by spending time with them beforehand. Do not forget that this will be a multi-year relationship that develops from this initial meeting into a strong, loving bond. It’s important to give it some thought to make sure you two are a good fit.

3. Set Up a Space Just For Them

It’s time to prepare to bring your new four-legged family member home once you’ve decided to adopt them and located them. Make a special area for them because your house will be utterly unfamiliar to them. Puppy checklist is one more task for you as a new owner. Create a dog’s own area in their crate, complete with a bed, blanket, and toys.

4. Pet Proof Your Home

This is just a temporary measure as you acclimate your new pet to your surroundings. Puppies have a reputation for gnawing on whatever they can get their mouths on. Cats also enjoy exploring and, um, knocking things off counters. Decide which area of your home you DO NOT want them to access, then block that area off. Once they’ve settled in, you may expose them to these locations.

Put poisons and cleaning products away where others can’t get to them. And take out any valuables and little objects you don’t want them to eat or choke on. Your new fuzzy friend will happily consume your slippers, shoes, socks, eyeglasses, and anything else that smells like you.

Purchase them their own dog chew toys and catnip stuffed animals so they have something to chew on, and teach them not to chew on your socks or pens.

5. Find a Local Veterinarian

The initial appointment for your pet has to be scheduled straight soon. You can ask the shelter for information on the animals’ vaccination history and immunization schedule. Additionally, they’ll be able to let you know if they have any health problems. Like choosing your doctor, choosing a veterinarian is a very personal decision. Consider the type of experience you desire for both you and your pet friend. It can be simpler for you to get an appointment if you prefer a larger veterinary facility with a more recognizable brand, but you might not be familiar with the veterinarian who will see you. Find a smaller clinic nearby if you’d want to develop a relationship with one veterinarian.

Ask your loved ones about their favorite veterinarians. Like human parents, pet parents have strong feelings about how to care for their children and are likely to be open and honest about their experiences.

Check our web and start an adoption!