For many people, pets are not only animals but also family members who need to be cared for and loved. Owning or adopting pets are significant as they provide companionship and teach pet owners, particularly first-time owners, to be more responsible.
Pets provide more activities, interests and love to any family. And this is seen by millions of happy and light videos on various social media sites, where a dog or cat do the most outrageous things in front of their family or owners. Many of these videos are just outrageously cute and funny.
The fun and companionship that these pets give their family and owners are significantly needed more than ever. With the continued lockdowns and ongoing pandemic, either owning or adopting a pet has become more prevalent. Owning or adopting a pet is a big life decision and responsibility. Prospective owners must consider these three things before getting one.
Capability to Take Care of an Animal
As mentioned previously, to have a pet is to make a big life decision. If the day comes and you decide to either own or adopt a pet, you should take a breather once more.
Take a look at your overall capability to take care of an animal. It would be best if you asked yourself these questions:
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Do I have enough space?
Consider your living area. Know the animal restrictions of your community or your building superintended if there are any.
Naturally, if you have a small space, you should get a small pet. It would be best if you also considered the effect of owning a pet on your neighbors.
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Am I responsible enough?
This question is one of the most crucial things that you need to answer. Assess yourself if you are ready to take on more responsibilities.
Having a pet is not always enjoyable. You will definitely spend most of the time cleaning after your pet, training it, and helping it have a proper diet or exercise.
Part of being responsible also entails cash spending. You should be ready to spend on your pet’s health and nutrition. Regular veterinary visits, vaccinations, and regular grooming are just some of the many things owning a pet entail.
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Am I emotionally capable of taking care of a pet?
Pets are obviously animals that will not be able to understand human language. Many owners, especially those who impulsively decided to own a pet, abuse their pets out of frustration. Unfortunately, despite not harming their pets, some owners decide to leave these loving animals on the side of the road. Answer these questions first before you look for a pet that will be your companion for a long time.
Finding Your Pet
Despite recent reports that there had been a significant increase in pet ownership during the pandemic, the numbers of pet abandonment also increased. The reported increase in pet abandonment was mostly due to economic problems generated by the government’s strict economic and social restrictions. Many people decided to abandon their pets or give their pets to others to minimize expenditures after losing their jobs.
And because of these unfortunate circumstances, adopting or rescuing a pet is a more preferred way to own a pet. Several local shelters and groups can be found easily on various social media sites. Many of these groups even announce online if certain pets need to be adopted or taken to a temporary foster family.
Be Ready for Any Possibility
Being ready for any possibility in owning a pet is a recall to being a responsible and capable pet owner. Apart from ensuring your pet’s health, it would be best if you also considered the possibility that your pet may someday get sick and, unfortunately, die.
This may sound dark, but many owners prefer to either cremate or preserve their pets. But for some, they like pet aquamation. Los Angeles pet owners, for example, decided to use water instead of flame in cremating their deceased pets. For them, aquamation is more environmentally sustainable than traditional cremation.
