If you feel the need to have a fur ball friend 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.
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 and cats and how they normally behave. This will impress people and you’ll know what to do in a sticky situation. This is especially important if you are walking many dogs at once. You don’t want any fights.
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.
- Is there enough space in your current house or apartment for an animal? Leaving a large dog in a small apartment all day isn’t a good idea—big dogs need to be able to exercise and run around indoors and out.
- 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.
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. You can decide if you want your cat to be an indoor cat or an outdoor cat, but make sure you learn about ticks and other outside issues. Should you adopt one?
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. Should you adopt one?
Other Pets
You should also think about other animals you might want to adopt. Research the behavior of birds, reptiles, ferrets or rabbits. Check out this link for some info (we know it is a little young, but it has a lot of info).
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.
Add your ideas and comments for adopting rescue animals!
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