Peace of Mind Organizing

Things to consider before adopting a pet

14 June 2012

This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Saint Louis PetLover Coalition is sponsoring a regional pet adoption event at over 20 locations across the metropolitan area.

If you’ve been thinking about adopting a four-legged family member, this is a great opportunity to meet all sorts of pets. While you’re there, you can pick up a Places for Pets map that shows pet-friendly destinations around St. Louis. (You can also download one.)

But I advise you to give that decision some careful consideration. Adopting a pet should not be an impulsive decision. My husband and I have a friend who is looking to rehome a dog, whom she adopted when he tugged on her heartstrings a few years ago. She’s fond of him, but her travel-heavy lifestyle is not amenable to pets.

So here are some questions to ask yourself before adopting a pet:

• Am I away from home more than nine hours a day? (If yes, a dog might not be right for you)
• Do I have disposable income to spend on a pet? (Even a healthy pet can be expensive to feed and care for. And if the pet becomes sick, watch out.)
• Do I travel a lot—more than a couple of weeks a year? (If yes, boarding is expensive and extensive boarding may not be fair to the pet. Of course, perhaps you can take your pet with you!)
• Do I want to be responsible for an(other) absolutely dependent being?
• Am I ready for my household to be disrupted, at least for a little while?
• Do I have the patience to train (and, potentially, housetrain) a new pet?
• Am I okay with handling animal feces? (No matter what species of animal you have, dealing with poop is part of the job.)

If you’re ready for a pet, by all means do your research and get one that will fit in with your lifestyle. Please don’t adopt a pet because you feel sorry for the animal at an adoption event.

In case I’m coming across as anti-pet, I want to make it clear that I am huge pet lover. My pets have brought me some of my dearest friends, including Shannon Wilkinson and Sally Brown. My first poodle, Kramer, inspired a new career (as a pet writer, which I did for ten years). I think pets are a great thing. I just also think they’re huge responsibility, not to be taken lightly.

Kudos to the Saint Louis Pet Lover Coalition, which works hard to promote responsible pet ownership and decrease euthanasia.

Tagged with: pets, sally brown, shannon wilkinson

Comments