5 Important Things To Consider When Owning A Pet

You come home tired from work and you see your pet excitedly welcoming you and giving you that unconditional love and loyalty. Truly, having a pet can be rewarding. Some people even say a house is not complete without Fido or a feline at home. But even with the great rewards, there is also a big responsibility attached to owning a pet.

So before you rush to the nearest pet store, consider these 5 important factors which may help you decide if you really are capable of owning one.

1. Own a pet for the right reason

Ask yourself why you want to have a pet. A lot of people wants to get a pet for the wrong reasons such as, make a money off of them or giving the animal as a gift. Dogs and cats are living beings. They are not toys you just play with and then disregard after you’re tired with them. Also, it is not good to get a pet just because your child wants one, unless they are old and mature enough to help care for the pet.

Committing yourself to give an animal a loving and caring home is the perfect reason for owning a pet.

2. Devoting Quality Time

As in every relationship, having quality time for your pet is important. They also need your attention. Evaluate your schedule if you can devote the much-needed time for your pet or if you are too busy to even feed it. Dogs, for instance, need their regular walk and exercise. Perhaps you can look at it this way, now you have more motivation to have a good exercise outside.

3. Financial Consideration

Not a lot of people are aware of the real cost involved in owning a pet. Regular check ups at a veterinary clinic, vaccinations, food and grooming are the regular expenses you need to shell out for your pet. Add to that the extra expenses like toys, treats and training. The average cost of owning a dog or a cat is estimated to be more than $1,000. With the prices of goods rising, evaluate your budget if you are capable of financially supporting a pet.

4. Providing a Good Place

Pets are family members, thus, they are also entitled to have a comfortable and appropriate place to stay in. They also need a good place to move around or a venue to jump and play. Chaining a dog outside the house is NEVER the proper place.

Also, if you are renting, make sure that the pet you want to own is in compliance with the guidelines of your landlord. I love big dogs and would like to own one. But since we are not allowed to have pets in our apartment (not even a fish!), we can’t have one yet.

5. Consider Adoption
   

What better way to find a pet than in an animal shelter. Visit an animal shelter and you might find a diamond in the “ruff.” Animals in the shelter can make good pets too. Plus, you can be sure that they have been vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and even microchipped. Talk to an adoption counselor who would be happy to help you find the perfect pet for you.

Also, check out several websites that provide listings of animal shelters and rescue groups and animals that are ready for adoption. Some of these websites are Petfinder.com, 1-800-Save-a-Pet, and Pets911.

Being aware of these factors is the first step to becoming a responsible pet owner. If you think you are not yet ready for such responsibilities, then you shouldn't be bringing an animal home, lest they might end up neglected or being surrendered to an animal shelter. Please remember that no matter what type of animal you want to get, animals also deserve love and respect from us humans.