Author: Jessica Brody
You’ve decided to get a pet? Congratulations! That’s great news. Whether you’re doing so for
your own
You’ve decided to get a pet? Congratulations! That’s great news. Whether you’re doing so for
your own personal benefit
or because you want to help an animal in need, you’re about to enter a companionship with a
miniature family member who will provide you with unconditional love. Of course, there’s more
to pet ownership than that. A whole lot more…
Pet ownership is time-consuming and is a lot of responsibility – decades of it, in fact. If you’ve
never owned a pet before, there are a few things you should be aware of:
- Think carefully about how you will acquire your pet
When you decide to bring an animal into your home, it’s a good idea to consider
adopting an animal from a shelter or rescue organization. According to the ASPCA,
“animal shelters take in 7.6 million dogs and cats each year. Unfortunately, only 2.7
million animals are adopted each year.” Shelters are often the end of the line for these
animals, too, as these organizations run on limited budgets. Adoptions are a major win
for these groups, as they help an animal find a forever home and they are able to make
room for another animal in need. - Know how much of your life you’re devoting to pet care
Pet life spans vary greatly – between species, breeds, and individual pets. It helps to do
your homework and pick the pet that best suits your needs. If you’re looking for a long-
term companion, dogs are a great choice. The average lifespan of a dog might range
from 6 to 8 years for larger breeds, to upwards of 15 to 18 years for smaller breeds. The
two oldest dogs ever recorded both lived to be nearly 30 years old (by pure coincidence,
they both also lived in Victoria, Australia).Cats typically have even longer life spans than
dogs, while fish, rabbits and most rodents only live a few years. Consider your pet’s
lifespan and whether it’s a reasonable amount of time that you can commit to caring for
this pet. - Be prepared to spend lots of money
Pet ownership may not be as expensive as having a baby, but it’s not cheap either. Each
year, Americans spend between $50 – $60 billion on their pets. Most of this goes
towards better food options for our beloved companions, but a lot of it goes towards
veterinary bills, grooming, toys, boarding, and the list goes on. As a pet owner, be
prepared to spend money – and be sure to have a nest egg saved up for those
unexpected expenses. Emergencies do happen. - It’s hard to be spontaneous when you have a pet.
Okay, for most adult these days, it’s hard to be spontaneous – period. With a pet, you’ll
have a few extra considerations. If you want to take a vacation, will you bring your
beloved dog with you? Or will you need to board your furry friend? Can you find
someone to come over and feed your critters while you’re gone? These are all things
you’ll need to think about, plan and coordinate long before you leave.
Bringing home a new pet is a wonderful experience. Of course, in addition to that joy and
excitement, there are some very real things that you’ll need to consider. By preparing yourself
ahead of time, getting into the right mindset, and devoting yourself to caring for the life and well-
being of another living creature, you’ll be on your way to becoming an excellent pet owner.
personal benefit
or because you want to help an animal in need, you’re about to enter a companionship with a
miniature family member who will provide you with unconditional love. Of course, there’s more
to pet ownership than that. A whole lot more…
Pet ownership is time-consuming and is a lot of responsibility – decades of it, in fact. If you’ve
never owned a pet before, there are a few things you should be aware of:
- Think carefully about how you will acquire your pet
When you decide to bring an animal into your home, it’s a good idea to consider
adopting an animal from a shelter or rescue organization. According to the ASPCA,
“animal shelters take in 7.6 million dogs and cats each year. Unfortunately, only 2.7
million animals are adopted each year.” Shelters are often the end of the line for these
animals, too, as these organizations run on limited budgets. Adoptions are a major win
for these groups, as they help an animal find a forever home and they are able to make
room for another animal in need. - Know how much of your life you’re devoting to pet care
Pet life spans vary greatly – between species, breeds, and individual pets. It helps to do
your homework and pick the pet that best suits your needs. If you’re looking for a long-
term companion, dogs are a great choice. The average lifespan of a dog might range
from 6 to 8 years for larger breeds, to upwards of 15 to 18 years for smaller breeds. The
two oldest dogs ever recorded both lived to be nearly 30 years old (by pure coincidence,
they both also lived in Victoria, Australia).Cats typically have even longer life spans than
dogs, while fish, rabbits and most rodents only live a few years. Consider your pet’s
lifespan and whether it’s a reasonable amount of time that you can commit to caring for
this pet. - Be prepared to spend lots of money
Pet ownership may not be as expensive as having a baby, but it’s not cheap either. Each
year, Americans spend between $50 – $60 billion on their pets. Most of this goes
towards better food options for our beloved companions, but a lot of it goes towards
veterinary bills, grooming, toys, boarding, and the list goes on. As a pet owner, be
prepared to spend money – and be sure to have a nest egg saved up for those
unexpected expenses. Emergencies do happen. - It’s hard to be spontaneous when you have a pet.
Okay, for most adult these days, it’s hard to be spontaneous – period. With a pet, you’ll
have a few extra considerations. If you want to take a vacation, will you bring your
beloved dog with you? Or will you need to board your furry friend? Can you find
someone to come over and feed your critters while you’re gone? These are all things
you’ll need to think about, plan and coordinate long before you leave.
Bringing home a new pet is a wonderful experience. Of course, in addition to that joy and
excitement, there are some very real things that you’ll need to consider. By preparing yourself
ahead of time, getting into the right mindset, and devoting yourself to caring for the life and well-
being of another living creature, you’ll be on your way to becoming an excellent pet owner.