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Adopt a rescue pet
If you want a pet of your own and you have some experience with animals under your belt, look into adopting a pet. Caring for your own animal can take a lot of time and hard work, but the reward of having a new friend forever makes it all worthwhile. Remember, this is an important decision that every family member needs to support.
A Good Home
There are many reasons why you should adopt a pet vs. buying one from your local pet store. First, there are tons of great pets that have had difficult lives and need loving homes. These animals usually live in shelters while they wait for loving friends to take them home.
To find great animals and read all about their personalities, go to Pets911 or PetFinder. (They have rescue pets for Canada too!)
Look it up
It’s also great if you know about certain types of dogs, cats and other companion animals and how they normally behave. This will impress people and will help you determine which type of animal you can adopt – the fact is that some breeds are more challenging to handle than others.
Questions?
Before you make a serious commitment to a pet, there are a few questions you should ask yourself.
- Are you going to be moving any time soon? Moving can be hard on pets and some buildings don’t allow animals. It's best to wait until you're settled before looking for a new pet.
- Is there enough space in your current house or apartment for an animal? Certain animal breeds have a lot of energy and aren't suited for a small home or apartment. Make sure to learn as much about the breed of your new pet as possible.
- Will someone always be around to walk the dog or feed the cat? Pets can be a lot of responsibility and you want them to be happy. Make sure you can take care of your pet before you get one!
- Is anyone in your house or apartment allergic to the pet you want to get? There are treatments available for them, but make sure to talk about adopting and all your options first.
- Is this a commitment you're ready for? Many dogs can live for 15 years and cats may live up to 20. Make sure your family is ready to have a pet be a part of their lives for this long.
- And don't forget about the financial and medical responsibilities. There's the cost to spay or neuter the animal, food, supplies, toys, vet visits, etc. It can add up! Check out this online Flash tool to help estimate the costs.
What Kind?
Think about all the different types of animals out there that are available as pets. Think about what you want in a pet and remember that all pets have different personalities.
The truth about...
Cats
Cats tend to be more independent and need less affection, but when they’re kittens, they love to play and want you to entertain them. Cats don’t need to be walked, but you need to clip their nails and play with them a bunch.
Dogs
Dogs need to be walked (usually 2 or more times a day) and you need to clean up after them when they make a mess. But they are usually the greatest companions (they love to be around their owners, love to pet and love to play catch). Puppies need training and can chew holes in clothing and other tasty treats.
A Challenge
There is a chance that the pet you met and loved at the shelter is not the same once you bring him/her home. Have patience and try different ways of calming your pet down and making him/her feel better. Interact with your pet a lot and soon you will get some affection back.
Take Action
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HOW TO SAVE (AND ADOPT) A STRAY CAT OR KITTEN
I recently rescued a cat, and it was so rewarding.
I'm an absolute animal lover,
A friend and I were just walking past Hollywood High in LA when we came across a stray kitten -- an orange tabby. When I looked down and saw this little guy look up at me, I just knew I had to "do something." The white parts of his tom cat face were dirty from living on the street, but I didn't hold it against him. I looked around but saw no relatives: no other kittens, no mommy or daddy. And then he meowed . . . and I melted.
So I picked him up, and immediately I could tell he was a flea bag. But that's not his fault, I thought. Since I was just visiting LA, I called up my cat-loving friend Shirley and asked her if I could bring him over. She was very hesitant because there had been a breakout out of a feline illness called pan leuk in her hood, and a number of cats died -- strays she knew and also her own year-old white pet, Yoko.
I figured Hollywood (that's what I called him almost immediately) wouldn't have that great of a chance living on such a busy boulevard, so I took him to my friend's and we quarantined him in her shed so he'd have no contact with the other cats. The next day, I gave him a bath using a special kitten shampoo that we got at a pet store -- but any shampoo will do (though I recommend No More Tears, since cats do tend to wriggle around when you wash them -- although Hollywood was totally chilled at first in the water. But then it was as if he suddenly realized that, "Hey, cats aren't supposed to like getting wet!" and stopped fully cooperating).
After that, we brought Hollywood to a vet in Santa Monica. Thanks to the help of L.A.'s Molly's Mutts and Meows, the $211 bill for the first round of shots was totally taken care of -- so if you are hurting for cash, I highly recommend you search the web for similar orgs in your area that help cover the cost of stray animals' medical bills. The shots that Hollywood received prevented him from getting the dreaded pan leuk, but also feline leukemia and feline AIDS; later, Hollywood returned to the vet for a second injection to fully protect him from pan leuk, and also to be neutered (female cats get spayed).
I had to fly home that evening, and I cannot tell you how hard it was to say good-bye to Hollywood (the cat, not the city). But this story has a happy ending: My friend fell in love with Hollywood too, and she's since adopted him!
I adopted my cat Sonny from the Wisconsin Humane Society and saved him from being put down.
Cat are great company and everything they do can be so funny.