Articles of Interest (off site):
Choosing The Right Cat
Choosing The Right Pet For Your Lifestyle
Things To Consider Before You adopt

Links Of Interest:
General Pet Care And Adoption

Links of Interest:
Dogs:
Choosing The Right Dog
Bringing Your New Dog Home
 

The topics below offer a brief summery of important information that should be looked up by new, soon to be and even current pet owners. For more extended information on these topics, check the offered links on the left side of this page.

Before Adopting A Pet:
Before considering adopting a pet, you should accept these basic principles :
Pets are not disposable.
Pet ownership is a privilege, not right.
Pets are not a status symbol.
Pets are not a fad.
Pets will be what they are, not what you want them to be.



Choosing The Right Pet For You:
They look so sweet and so much want your attention, how can you not want to take them home from the shelter/adoption centers NOW!!!
 
But stop and take a deep breath and consider what responsibilities bringing a new pet into your heart and home entails.
Too often people bring home pets for just that reason without thought as to what such ownership
will require of them and the animal is usually the one who pays the price for a compulsive decision.

What needs to be considered:
The most important thing in pet ownership/guardianship is education.
Especially if you have never had the pleasure of sharing your home with a particular animal before.
Do your research. Read related websites. Talk to current owners of the pet you have in mind. Talk to your vet.
Join pet forums and talk to people who already have the type of pet you are interested in and ask questions.
It is really not a good idea to ask questions to pet shop owners as they are trying to sell you the animal and the information they give will be geared towards getting you to make the purchase.

Questions that should be addressed:
Is this pet appropriate for children? Some pets do not make for a good child's pet.. When considering a pet for a child take into account the age of the child and the child's attitude and experience about animals. A child must know/ be taught respect and proper handling of animals and be made well aware that these are living breathing creatures and should not be handled as if they were toys. This will ensure not only the safety of the animal but also the safety of the child. A lot of child and pet  injuries can be avoided by teaching children how to properly handle and care for family pets.
What am I looking for in a pet?...Loyalty, affection, companionship, independence, do you have time for a high-maintenance pet or do you require a low maintenance pet or somewhere in between? Consider the specific needs not just of the various different pets but also the specific needs of the individual breeds in dogs and cats. Different ailments can affect individual breeds, i.e. ...larger breeds of dogs are prone to joint ailments that require veterinarian care and can become costly over time, so if finances are a consideration for you, you may want to check into breed specific health issues before deciding what pet is right for you.


Am I ready for a lifelong commitment?
Financially and emotionally?
Before bringing any pet home, realize that it is indeed a lifelong commitment.
Life-spans differ greatly from animal to animal so you should be aware of the amount of time your pet will be with you. As you will be as responsible for the health and well being of your new pet as you would raising a human child.
Remember the decision was yours to bring your new pet home...not the animals.

Check pet Age Chart for the average life expectancies of some pets.

Don't overlook the financial issues involved with pet ownership. There is the initial investment of adoption fees, food, and other necessary supplies. Then there are yearly vet check ups and vaccinations, monthly heartworm meds for dogs, ect. Then there is the emergency factor of sudden illness or injury which could result in high vet bills from x-rays, blood tests, hospitalizations, medications, ect.

Be Prepared For The Unexpected:
Although we tend to deny it and believe things like that only happen to others, the unexpected does sometimes happen. It is especially true where our pets are concerned. Illness, injuries, and natural disasters happen, though they should not be dwelled upon, one should be prepared. It is a good idea to have a first aid kit, plans made in case of evacuation from natural disaster or fire. Also have a "vet fund" put aside for emergencies, because unfortunately it seems illness and accidents happen when we are least prepared.



Bringing Home Your New Pet:
(This is a brief outline of what needs to be done before you bring your pet home,
more information will be added to each specific pet page.)

Making your house ready for the new arrival:
Make sure you have thoroughly checked your house and made it pet proof. (more pet proofing info will be listed in various pet pages)

Prepare a "safe" room for the new pet, this is especially necessary if you are bringing home a new cat.
Change is very stressful for many animals and they need time for to adjust to their new surroundings.
For more info on "Safe Room" check in "Cats" section

Keep your new pet separated from current resident pets until a veterinarian check up can be done which should be as soon as possible after your pet arrives to check for any disease/illness which may be passed to current resident pets. Then make introductions slowly.


Necessary Supplies:
Make a list of all you will be needing and stock up before your new pet arrives.
Make sure you get in a supply of the food he/she was getting at the shelter/breeder as a sudden change in
foods can cause stomach ailments/distress.