3 Things You Should Know Before Adopting A Pet
3 Things You Should Know Before Adopting A Pet
Before you pick out your pet, read these tips from Lena C. France, DVM, the ALL YOU veterinary expert.
1. Get to know the breeds
Do research to figure out which breeds or mixes would be good fits for your family—and your home. Australian shepherds, for example, are smart, work-oriented and full of energy, so if you have a small apartment and a 9-to-5 job, you probably cannot give that kind of dog the space or people-time it needs.
2. Conduct a personality test
Many shelters have private rooms where you can interact one-on-one with a cat or dog. Take advantage of that, so you choose one that jibes with what you're looking for. If you have young kids, you'll ideally want an animal that seems pretty relaxed—anxious dogs might nip out of fear. But do keep in mind that it's stressful to live at a shelter, so timid animals could turn out to be social.
3. Look out for health issues
Sick pets need to find good homes, too. But if you think you won't be able to pay big vet bills right off the bat, check to see that the animal doesn't have watery eyes or discharge from the nose. In dogs, those symptoms can indicate canine distemper; in cats, they could signal feline herpes.
1. Get to know the breeds
Do research to figure out which breeds or mixes would be good fits for your family—and your home. Australian shepherds, for example, are smart, work-oriented and full of energy, so if you have a small apartment and a 9-to-5 job, you probably cannot give that kind of dog the space or people-time it needs.
2. Conduct a personality test
Many shelters have private rooms where you can interact one-on-one with a cat or dog. Take advantage of that, so you choose one that jibes with what you're looking for. If you have young kids, you'll ideally want an animal that seems pretty relaxed—anxious dogs might nip out of fear. But do keep in mind that it's stressful to live at a shelter, so timid animals could turn out to be social.
3. Look out for health issues
Sick pets need to find good homes, too. But if you think you won't be able to pay big vet bills right off the bat, check to see that the animal doesn't have watery eyes or discharge from the nose. In dogs, those symptoms can indicate canine distemper; in cats, they could signal feline herpes.
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