7 Things to Consider before Choosing a New Pet ...

Before choosing a new pet, you should consider the amount of time you have to spend on your pet. Do you have a couple spare hours a day? If you can’t spare much extra time, you may want to consider a low-maintenance pet like a cat. Otherwise you may end up overloading yourself and pushing your pet to the back burner, resulting in a neglected and lonely pet.

Having the funds to support a pet is essential. When purchasing your pet, consider more than just the initial price. There will be vet bills, pet supplies, food, and pet medications, just to name a few costs. Some pets will cost more than others, but any pet is going to cost you a little bit of money.

If your family of four is living in a two-bedroom apartment, it may not be the opportune time to choose a Great Dane as your pet of choice! You don’t need a 3-acre backyard in order to provide for your pet, but make sure you have adequate space to provide room for you and your pets to live comfortably. If you want a pet, but don’t have much space, consider something like goldfish or a ferret!

When choosing a pet for your family, it’s important that you remember other members in your family and any other household pets. Will the new pet fit in? Will the already-present household pets accept him or her? Something else important to think about is a pet allergy. Make sure that you or your children and spouse don’t have allergies to pet hair before you make the plunge!

Some pets may not be the best fit for you. If you’re not a runner, you might need to steer clear of dogs that enjoy running and need lots of exercise. If you can’t tolerate shedding, look for a pet that doesn’t shed. Do you have a lot of time and love to give? You might consider a special needs pet!

Your stage of life will come into play when choosing a family pet. If you just had a brand new baby, it might not be the best time to buy a puppy. If you’re in the middle of moving across country, it’s probably best to wait on re-homing those two sweet kittens. Accepting a pet into your family is a big step; so make sure it’s the right timing.

Before you make a final decision on your new pet, ask yourself what your commitment level is. Are you willing to clean out a cage or fishbowl? Do you have time to take a dog out for a walk? Do you want to house train a puppy? Is changing kitty litter on your schedule? If you’re ready to be committed to your pet, then you are probably ready to choose a new pet!

Choosing a pet is an important job! You will be living with this new member of your family, so it’s important that you choose a pet that requires the amount of time and energy you are willing to put out. Are you considering a new pet for your family? Please comment below with any and all advice you may have on experience with family pets!