Should I Get A Pet?

This is a question that too few people ask themselves before bringing an animal into their home. I know I didn't. I also know that I got lucky.

As with the adoption of ANY pet, this requires thought, research and patience. There are a lot of questions you should ask yourself before becoming a first time pet owner.
1. Why do I want a pet?
2. Do I have the time to devote to the pet?
3. Do I have the money to devote to the pet?
4. What pet best suits my lifestyle?
5. Do I or any family member, friend or roommate have allergies?
6. Do I have a back-up care-giver for the pet should I need one?
7. How particular am I about disruption in my life, messes and routine changes?
8. Am I willing to do what is best for the pet?
9. Does where I live allow pets and is it the right size for the pet I want?
10. Are you ready to commit to a pet and all it entails?
So, you ask yourself these questions. Think about your answers. Research your answers. Talk to people you know that own pets, especially the type of pet you are thinking about adopting.
1. People get pets for a variety of reasons. The puppy or kitten was cute. The dog looked at me with such sad eyes I had to get it. I didn't want to come home to an empty house. Really think about the reason you want to get a pet. Is it because you love animals, you've done your research and you really want that companionship? Cool! What it should not be is a spur of the moment decision made because the puppy, kitten, dog or cat was cute, pretty, friendly...
2. Pets need attention. Plain and simple. A pet lacking in attention is liable to develop behavioral problems. Puppies tend to need the most time and attention followed by younger kittens, then dogs and finally cats. If you are a workaholic or have an active social life, consider getting a gold fish.
3. Pets are expensive. It's not simply about food and water. They need annual exams, vaccinations, sometimes emergency care (even when you are doing everything right), leashes, collars, tags, fencing (real or invisible), pest control, spaying/neutering, toys, carriers/crates, grooming, pet care services/boarding, pet insurance, licensing (depending on the pet and your state's regulations), training, treats, litter, litter box, pet beds and so on. Your landlord may charge more if you have a pet. Your homeowner's/renter's liability insurance may be greater depending on the type of pet. If you can only afford the food and water, you may want to reconsider. Be aware that many states require annual vaccinations for not only dogs, but also cats.
4. How much time are you away from home? Is it in small blocks or large blocks of time? How active are you? Do you like to take walks? Are you a couch potato? All of these things need to be considered when getting a pet. Puppies need you to have smaller chunks of time away from home as do young kittens. Dogs, older kittens and cats can be alone for longer periods of time. All dogs/puppies need exercise, but larger dogs tend to need a bigger commitment to exercise and stimulation. Cats and kittens can be easily entertained from your perch on the couch, but they do need some sort of stimulation and companionship each day. If you are gone for 14 or more hours each day and live alone, you may seriously want to consider that your lifestyle may not be fair for a pet. It's definitely not fair for a dog and bordering on unfair to a cat unless you have more than one cat so they have companionship and stimulation during the day, but then...aren't you getting a pet for your pet and not really contributing to the overall human/pet relationship? Expect them to bond to each other and not you in that situation.
5. Allergies are often a reason pets are surrendered. If you or someone living with you or someone that spends a lot of time with you has allergies, carefully consider the impact of a pet and research breeds that cause less of an issue for those with allergies.
6. A back-up caregiver needs to be someone that is reliable. It's something many don't think about when they get a pet, but what if you need to travel suddenly for any reason, need to go into the hospital for an extended stay, have to stay late at work one evening. It's important to make sure that someone can provide care for your pet (even if it is just checking their food and water dish) on short notice. If you don't have anyone like this, research services in your area and what they charge and revisit your finances before making a decision about a pet.
7. A pet is a step below a child most times as far as disruption in your life, messes and a change of routine. Typically, a dog is closer to having a child because they cannot be left for longer stretches of time and they need training, entertainment and attention similar to a child. Cats while they may cause less of a disruption in your life, they still can cause it with messes, fur and a change to your routine. If you like your life just so, maybe you should seriously think about waiting to get a pet until you are more easily able to deal with the unexpected.
8. Being a pet owner comes with many rewards, but it also comes with some downsides. Are you willing to go out in the cold/rain to walk your pet? Are you willing to get up in the middle of the night with your pet because they are feeling lonely, scared or sick? Are you willing to make the decision to let your pet go if they are too sick for their sake despite the fact you love them and want to keep them around forever?
9. Let's face it, if you live in a studio apartment or a cottage home with a postage stamp sized yard, a Great Dane is NOT the choice for you. A pet needs rooms just as you do. Think about this before you consider what kind of pet you want. If you rent, does your landlord even allow pets? Do you rent and move from year-to-years? If so, realize that it is often more difficult and more expensive to find a rental with pets than without. If you rent, research what your landlord allows and what additional fees/deposits they charge BEFORE you get a pet. If you own a home, is your yard fenced in? Are you will to spend what it would take for either a real fence or an invisible fence? If not, a dog may not be the right pet for you.
10. Yes. I said COMMIT! Pets are a commitment and while it doesn't require a lawyer to nullify a relationship with a pet, it does come with consequences. So PLEASE think carefully about your decision! Dogs can live anywhere from 10 to 15+ years. Cats can live as long and many times longer. It is not unusual to hear of a cat in its 20's. If you aren't sure, most goldfish only live for a few weeks/months (although, some of them have been said to live much longer). Give the goldfish a trial run and if it works out, move on to a hamster or a rat. Know that surrendering a pet to a shelter costs you money, not every shelter has room due to the economy these days and not every shelter is a no-kill shelter so you might be giving your pet a death sentence. Not to mention, if you've totally abidicated of your ownership responsibilities and created a dog or a cat with behavioral problems, you've made it that much more difficult for them to find a new home. If the dog or cat is totally anti-social, bites or scratches, you again, even in a no-kill shelter have given your pet a death sentence. And, YES, I said RESPONSIBILITY. :-) Pets are WORK! There is tremendous benefit from the relationship, but they are a responsibility and they are work. They require a commitment from you that you will care for them, love them, treat them well and deal with them with good graces when they mess up (and they will, especially if you have not been consistent in their training). A pet relies on you.
So....now after looking over the questions and thinking about them, researching the answers to these questions...are you ready to get a pet or do you need to wait a while and consider? After researching, do you know what kind of pet will be right for you and your lifestyle? But, WAIT! Before you rush out and get a pet, stop by your local shelter and talk to the staff/volunteers there. They can help give you direction on the type of pet that is best for you and act as a sanity check on your own answers. They might, after talking to you, even have a pet that matches you and your personality. They might, after hearing about your lifestyle or other factors in your life, recommend that you wait to get a pet or recommend a pet different than what you thought you wanted. Trust me. The staff/volunteers at most shelters are dedicated to doing what is right for the animals in their care. Don't want to stop by a shelter, afraid you will be drawn in by a pair of brown, blue, yellow or green eyes before you are ready? Talk to your local vet, groomer, trainer or pet care professional, they can help too.