With the holidays frequently comes a new furry family friend. Here’s some pointers.
1) Don’t buy…adopt. The local shelters have many pets in need of homes. Rescue groups are also good sources for anew friend. Petfinder.com has thousands of listed pets in need of homes. Pets can range from very young to older, with most in the 3-5 range. With rescues, medical and behavioral history can sometimes be provided, helping you pick the perfect pet. When rescuing a pet, you are also helping vs pet overpopulation. As a FYI, we also have dogs and cats for adoption, even kittens (Annie, Shirley, Baby Monster, Rani, and Jackie’s kittens) .
2) Find the pet to fit your lifestyle. Huskies aren’t very good sedentary dogs. Mastiffs aren’t good distance running partners. Pit bulls may not be a good choice with multiple dogs or cats. A chow is not ideal for inexperienced owners unless they commit to get themselves trained (yes the owners and not the dogs).
3) Be committed for health care needs. Food, grooming, and veterinary care have to be factored into a budget. You will need to either buy insurance or put money away monthly for veterinary care. Costs are only going up (I wish our vendors didn’t increase costs…but they do and this year is outrageous). Getting insurance will make a monthly hit but not catastrophic.
4) Remember your children. Kids can and should be given pet responsibilities But it will fall on parents to supervise, and frequently give 90% of daily care (especially once the novelty wears off). Also, remember that pets are not allowed in dormitories Pets live typically 12-16 years depending on species and breed and many childhood pets last into the college years and beyond. Make sure you are comfortable being 100% caretakers when the kids leave home.
5) Training is crucial. Behavior issues are preventable with proper training. Most pets are relinquished due to a behavioral and not a medical issue. Start on the correct path with basic training skills (dogs and cats). Use praise, petting, and food rewards to teach expectations. Be consistent and make sure that there are more praises than reprimands. Seek professional training, like our trainer, Margo, to assist. If your new friend has a problem, seek treatment right away. The longer an issue lasts, the harder to correct and the more resentment against a pet builds. Too often, I first hear of a problem months to years after it started and my advise is asked when the owners are so fed up with the behavior they are considering giving the pet away or worse.
Remember that a pet is therapeutic. Many of studies have proven that pets make us happier, more active, and live more enriched lives. Open up your homes and hearts this holiday season to a new friend. Make their holidays happy too.