PLAN AHEAD

Plan Ahead for adopting a pet

Thinking of expanding your family? What better way to extend your family than by adopting a pet who is also in search of a home! It’s one of the most rewarding experiences and can bring years of joy to both you and your new pet.

By Elizabeth Parker

There are, however, some key points to think about before making such a decision. It isn’t always easy and it is definitely a very long commitment!

Before adopting, here are some things you may want to ask yourself when you start looking at the rescue sites.

If adopting a dog, have you researched the breed?

While each dog is unique, each breed has its own typical temperament. You wouldn’t want to adopt a working dog such as a golden retriever or a Labrador retriever if you don’t have the time (or energy) to give them plenty of exercise. They are very active dogs and need to have “chores” to do otherwise they can make your life a bit hectic! Other breeds are content just sitting on the couch and relaxing. It’s important to know which type of dog would fit into your family dynamics.

Do you have other pets already living in the home?

Will your pet be happy with a new addition? Will the new pet be happy with your resident furry friend? A meet and greet is definitely helpful before taking the plunge and adopting a new pet. You may want to make sure they get along so that there are no drastic issues in the future!

Have you created a budget to make sure your

finances are in order for a new pet? While hopefully no major issues arise, we just never know. Animals can be healthy and then out of nowhere develop an illness (or have an incident) that can be very costly. Sometimes it costs thousands! Should the unthinkable happen, will you be financially prepared? Will this animal need training? Do you or someone you know have experience in training an animal? It’s not always easy to detect at first glance what little quirks your new pet will have. Sometimes they can be quite sneaky as they ease into the home for a few weeks before their bad habits reveal themselves.

Have you thought about pet sitters? If your family needs to go out of town either on vacation or for an emergency, is there someone you trust who can watch your pet? Or, do you know of a reputable boarding facility?

Also, you may want to ask yourself why adopt?

During the pandemic, it’s easy to get bored and think it might be a good idea to adopt a pet. While this might seem like a good idea at the time, what about when the pandemic is over and life as we knew it becomes normal again? Will you still have time for your new pet and will someone still be able to devote the time to train, play, feed, walk, etc.

To many, these points may seem like common sense, but for someone who has never adopted an animal before, they’re light guidelines of situations to think about. Better to be prepared, than to be caught off-guard later on!

Elizabeth Parker – Author of Finally Home, Final Journey, My Dog Does That!, Bark Out Loud!, Paw Prints in the Sand, Paw Prints in the Sand: Mission Accomplished, Unwanted Dreams, Phobia, Evil’s Door and Faces of Deception. Available on Amazon.com!

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Las Vegas Pet Scene Magazine • January/February 2021 29

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We realize that you cannot adopt every animal that pulls on your heartstrings, but you can make a huge difference for animals in need. For a monthly donation, you can sponsor a dog or cat. Upon your request, we are happy to send you any updates we receive on the animals you sponsor so you can learn about your impact firsthand!

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