New animals make wonderful additions to the household, filling each day with excitement and fun. Adopting a new furry friend also comes with a new list of obstacles and care requirements to consider. Keep these things in mind to prepare your home for a new animal companion.
1. Household routine
Factor in the time a new animal will take up during your regular schedule. Puppies need to be walked and exercised frequently and even cats will need to be entertained unless you want to risk your furniture. Ensure you have enough time during the day and week to properly love, care for and entertain a new animal on top of your regular duties.
2. Monthly costs
Pets have constant food, medicine, and care needs just like children and adults. These costs can rack up depending on your animal’s dietary needs, necessary toys, bedding, and medicine as well as countless other smaller charges depending on the animal. Grabbing food, litter, and water bowls aren’t enough to provide long-term, appropriate care for any animal.
3. Grooming needs
Pets require constant grooming if they’re long-haired breeds. Frequent nail trimmings, baths, and haircuts are a necessary part of keeping an animal-free from harm and infections. Even if you choose to take care of their needs yourself rather than at a professional groomer, you’ll still need to provide the supplies, soaps, and tools. This is a constant cost and requires time out of your week or month.
4. Veterinary care
Medical needs for animals can cost a lot if you’re not insured, especially during an emergency. Older animals often develop illnesses that require long-term care like medications and frequent vet visits. These costs can wear down your budget and your emotional health while dealing with your animal’s failing body. It’s essential to be prepared for these changes and costs before adopting an animal so you can provide the best care possible for the duration of their life.
5. Teaching children
If you’re bringing an animal into a household that already has kids, you’ll have to take the extra time and consideration to teach your children how to safely handle pets. Bringing a new pet companion into the home gives kids the opportunity to learn responsibility and empathy, but these essential traits will have to be modeled by your first. The safety of both your children and your pets is completely your responsibility. No one wants to give away an animal after already bonding.
6. Pet daycare
Your full-time job likely pulls you away from your home for hours each day. Just as your children require daycare, your new animals may also need to be watched to keep them safe and cared for when alone. You’ll also need somewhere safe to put your animal while going on vacation or out of town. This cost can arise suddenly, taking money out of the budget that might be needed for other monthly necessities.
7. End-of-life care
Every owner should consider the mortality of a new animal before adopting. Your furry friend will likely only live between 10 to 20 years at most, which can vary based on breed and size. An animal may need to be put down due to an extreme sickness or die peacefully in its sleep one day. You may have to consider at home euthanasia, which can be a terribly hard choice that wears down the whole family. Consider the emotional and mental labor needed to care for a new animal for its entire life in your family.
8. Reason to adopt
Animals are adopted every day for a variety of personal reasons. You may feel lonely living alone or want to try taking care of another living being for the first time. You may have recently been given the option to adopt a pet from a friend or want to rescue an animal that’s been wandering around your neighborhood. Whatever your reason for getting a new companion, ensure you have the resources, time, and capabilities to fully care for a furry friend.
Conclusion
Expand your household to include a loving pet companion now. Take the time and effort to properly prepare your home and family members to live with a new animal.
