Smarties Neuter...Dummies Don't!

Sunmart Animal Rescue Team

Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family
A pet is a long term commitment which should not be taken lightly.  If you are not prepared to care for the animal through it’s full life span, you should not adopt a pet.  Some cats and dogs can live over 20 years.  Ask yourself if you are ready to care for a pet that long.

A family should take many factors into account when selecting a pet.  Each of the following should be considered when deciding what type of pet is right for you:

1.  How much time do you have to dedicate to a pet?  Do you travel frequently?

If you do not have much time to spend with a pet, you should not adopt a puppy.  Puppies take up a lot of time in training and they need a lot of attention.  Adopting an adult dog or a cat would be more ideal for someone with little time.  If you travel frequently, cats tend to be better pets.  Consider the cost of boarding a dog opposed to getting someone to look in on a cat daily.  Dogs need exercise, training, grooming, and socialization.  If you do travel or are not at home much, consider adopting 2 cats.  Cats do need attention and it can be good if they have a friend around for company.

2.  Do you have small children?

Large breed dogs should never be left alone with small children for any reason.  Adopting a large breed puppy can be very dangerous.  Some large breeds can be 60 pounds at only 6 months of age.  They are still puppies and forget themselves by jumping up and biting—not a good combination with a small child.  Cats will scratch or bite if someone pulls a tail or ears.  Children must be old enough understand this fact or parents need to be tolerant that the cat may scratch or bite.

3.  Where do you live?  Do you have a house or an apartment?  How big is your yard?

Many people make the mistake of adopting a puppy not realizing how big the dog will become.  Make sure you know the size dog you are adopting.  It can be very stressful to have a large breed dog in a small living habitat.  You want to make sure you have enough room for whatever pet you decide to adopt.

4.  Are you prepared for the cost of a pet?

Pets require all kinds of basic care.  The type of food you feed your pet is probably the most important thing you should consider.  Good cat and dog food is more pricy than the food which is bad for your pet’s health.  We recommend Nutro, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Wellness, Iams, or Old Mother Hubbard.  Animals on poor quality food will end up costing you much more in veterinary expense than you will pay for the food.  Other costs which should be considered are flea preventative, heartworm preventative, leashes, toys, vaccines, worming, collars, treats, and possibly major healthcare expenses should the animal come down with a serious illness.

5.  What personality traits are you looking for in a pet?

Remember, beauty is only skin deep.  Many people will look at the appearance of the animal rather than the animal’s personality.  Meet several animals and look for the traits you want in a pet rather than the fur color.  Consider size, temperament, energy level, long hair versus short hair, etc.