Are you thinking about adopting or buying a pet for yourself and/or your family?Owning a pet is a great way to relieve stress and feel a deep sense of love and satisfaction. Many people own pets because they help them feel less anxious, and some people even enjoy the exercise of walking them and being active with them. (If you want to be more active but decide against adopting an animal, you could always check out a gym like 24 Hour Fitness.) Whatever your reasons for considering getting a pet, here are some questions you should ask yourself before you take the leap.
First, where do you live? Is it a house, apartment, trailer, or some other abode? Are you renting, or do you own your own space? It is important to remember that cats and dogs need space to move around and be active. Usually, the larger the animal, the more space it’ll need. Dogs especially do better in a space with a yard or outdoor option, since they prefer to urinate on grass outside. If you don’t have a grassy area, you’ll need to walk your dog in the park OFTEN. The ideal situation to adopt a pet is if you own a house and yard, though there are plenty of options for you if you don’t. Say if you are renting an apartment, a cat might work well for you, since they are smaller and require less space. This does not mean that they don’t need any space or outdoor time–each cat is different and has different needs. Basically, it’s important to be aware of the kind of space you have, and how much space the animal you’re considering adopting will need.
Secondly, do you have the means to support an animal and its needs? It will need to eat pet food every day, and depending what kind of food you choose this can be very expensive. Your animal will also need regular medical maintenance like shots, deworming, and flea medication. On top of this your animal will require emergency medical attention sometimes, if it gets hit by a car or in a fight with another pet in the neighborhood. You will need to check your budget and decide if a pet is a financial option for you. Generally, the bigger the animal, the more money it will cost per annum.