Our Mommyhood

Bringing a pet into your life and the life of your children can be a wonderful experience. But rather than making an impulse purchase, selecting a pet should be a thoughtful decision that makes everyone happy and prevents the pet from possibly ending up back in a shelter.

Adopting a pet only to re-home it or trade it in soon after can cause the animal great stress. It also teaches children that relationships with their pets are expendable and don’t require responsibility. Below are 7 tips to help you and your family find the perfect furry, feathered or scaled friend so that you can get your pet adoption right the first time.

Consider Your Finances: People often underestimate pet care costs, not realizing that food, veterinary care, supplies and training can really add up. According to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the average cost for caring for a medium-sized dog is $1,580 annually while cats cost about $1,000 each.

Even small animals like birds and guinea pigs can cost a family $300 per year. To determine how much a pet might cost you and your family, check out the ASPCA’s Pet Care Costs webpage for a breakdown of pet-related expenses you can expect to incur (www.aspca.org/adoption/pet-care-costs.aspx).

Consider Your Lifestyle: When selecting a pet, take your lifestyle into consideration. If you have a quiet home with lots of delicate glassware a rambunctious cat may not be your best choice. Hoping to enjoy long walks for hikes with your pet? Then perhaps a dog that sleeps all day isn’t your best bet.

A great way to learn about good pet matches is through the ASPCA’s “Meet Your Match” program. Animal shelters across the country are now using this system that can both determine a prospective adopter’s interests, lifestyle and personality as well as a dog’s “canineality” and cat’s “felineality” to ensure a perfect family/pet match. (www.aspca.org/adoption/meet-your-match/)

Think About Your Future: Dogs have a lifespan of 12-15 years while our feline friends can live to be 20. If you are in your 30s, expect some pets to be with you until you are in your 50s. Make sure your that someone in your family is prepared to care for the animal for the long haul.

Understand Your Commitment: Pets require a tremendous amount of time, and sometimes an enormous amount of patience. That can sometimes be too much if you have children to care for and perhaps even a career outside of the home. Be honest with yourself about the amount of commitment you are prepared to take on.

Meet Your Pet: Lots of pets look awfully cute when you see their photos on pet adoption sites. Those big, sad eyes can really get you. But it’s important that you and everyone in your family meet the pet first and agree that he or she is the right one for you before actually making a commitment.

Check Your Prospective Pet’s Health: Even the healthiest pet can cost you several hundred dollars a year in veterinary costs. Prior to adoption, find out as much as you can about your pet’s health. Does he or she have any medical issues? Which vaccines, booster shots or preventative care is your pet going to require and how much will it all cost? Ask for a copy of the pet’s medical records and then ask a veterinarian to provide you with a cost estimate so that you are fully prepared for any future expenses.

Everyone Should Approve: Recognizing that pets are a part of the family, it is important that every family member has a say in which pet is selected. Once you’ve determined which type of pet you would like, all family members should visit with several different critters to see which animal is the best overall fit.

Exotic Pets: Many families don’t realize that animal shelters are often inundated with unwanted or abandoned exotic pets or farm animals like pot bellied pigs who were kept illegally. Find out if any special permitting or zoning restrictions may apply if you are thinking about getting an unusual animal.

Ultimately, the more thought that is put into choosing a pet, and the more realistic you are about how a pet will fit into your life, the better chance you will have of helping a needy animal find a loving and forever home. With some advance preparation and a commitment from all family members to help out, you’ll be certain to select the perfect animal companion.

Sarah Jefferies is an animal shelter placement counselor and also contributes content for playground equipment companies providing imaginative structures for kids, so they can spend more time outside in their backyards with those playful pets.

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