Are you ready to get a pet home? See our complete checklist here.

If you are considering getting a pet for your kid then don’t forget to come by at the Woofs and Hoofs Carnival on the 17th of Jan 2015 at the Turf Club. there will be interesting activities to share all that it needs to get a pet home, various NGO’s who work with animals and you could volunteer too. We worked with the BSPCA to put this exhaustive list just so you know what it needs to get a pet home. Dont encourage kids to keep animals at home as they are very young to take care of them. If they are really interested in keeping a companion animal (dog or cat), encourage them to adopt from an animal shelter instead of buying a pure bred from a pet shop. Talk to trainers about what it means to train a pet so that the animals behavior is positive. Whether puppy, dog, cat or kitten, animals (like people) take time to acclimatize. Kids Need To Treat Pets Right Too: If you have kids, will you be able to spend the time necessary to make sure that your kids are treating the pet the right way? Inefficient pet parents contribute to 1000’s of animals who end up in shelters every year and make a bee line to the euthanasia table. Yes, in today’s 2 Minute Culture, dumping anything, including pets, is a solution is one of the most acceptable solutions.

There’s always a certain age kids go through the phase of wanting to have a pet. I know it was on the daughter’s wishlist for Santa this year. It’s not only he kids but as adults I am sure even we feel that it’s so much fun, company, love and compassion. But what we all fail to anticipate is what it really means to get a pet home. If you are considering getting a pet for your kid then don’t forget to come by at the Woofs and Hoofs Carnival on the 17th of Jan 2015 at the Turf Club. Read more about it here. there will be interesting activities to share all that it needs to get a pet home, various NGO’s who work with animals and you could volunteer too. We worked with the BSPCA to put this exhaustive list just so you know what it needs to get a pet home.

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Checklist for Getting a pet home

1. Donâ€™t encourage kids to keep animals at home as they are very young to take care of them. Keeping a companion animal is a lifelong commitment.

2. If they are really interested in keeping a companion animal (dog or cat), encourage them to adopt from an animal shelter instead of buying a pure bred from a pet shop.

3.Â We must sterilize our dogs and cats.

4. Donâ€™t encourage kids to buy and keep birds in cages as it is against the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

5. Donâ€™t encourage kids to keep fish in tanks, and or keep rabbits and hamsters at home.

6. Talk to other pet owners about what it means to own a pet.

7. Talk to vets about what it costs to properly care for a pet.

8. Talk to trainers about what it means to train a pet so that the animalâ€™s behavior is positive.

Go into this decision armed with the knowledge and the resources to make pet ownership a mutually rewarding experience for you and the animal you select.Â Donâ€™t be one of these people. Think through this decision thoroughly.

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BEFORE Â ADOPTING / ACQUIRING A PET

1. Are you ready?: Acquiring a pet is equal to having a baby. One who does not speak your language, so you need to be a bit more kinder to understand him / her.

2.Â Medical Costs: Â Are you ready to bear medical costs in case your pet becomes sick and injured?

3. Â A Solid Home: Are you willing to give the animal you bring home a solid 4-6 weeks to settle into your life and household? Whether puppy, dog, cat or kitten, animals (like people) take time to acclimatize.Â Do NOT expect miracles overnight. Do NOT add to an animalâ€™s problems by taking them in and giving them back too quickly because you are not willing to really give them a chance!

4. Trainer: Are you willing to pay and work with a trainer in case of need?

5. Â Puppies Grow Up To Be Dogs: Â Decide what size dog (not puppy) will fit best into your family. Keep in mind that with mixed breed puppies, it can sometimes be difficult to predict their full-grown size with 100% accuracy.

6. Â Training is Not Easy: Kittens and puppies require hours and hours of attention as they grow. They often donâ€™t sleep through the night. They chew. They bark. They climb. They nip. And they grow! Do you have the schedule to care for a puppy or kitten? Will you be able to part with your favorite shoes that one time you forget to put them away and arrive home to find them chewed to pieces? Will you have the time to properly train a puppy or kitten? The untrained pup/kit grows into an untrained dog/cat â€“ and the longer you wait to train, the harder it gets!

7. Â Medical: Puppies/kittens are expensive! They require at least 3-4 vet visits for shots in the first 3 months on top of the cost of spaying/neutering, food, toys,supplies, a crate and training. Not cheap!8. Can you have/tolerate a dog that barks? A cat that meows a lot? Can you have/tolerate a dog that sheds and a cat that sheds?

9. Dont Abandon: Are you likely to be transferred in your job the near future? Will you be able to take your pet? If not, please DO NOT bring home a pet.

10. Arrival of a Child: Are you considering having kids in the near future? Are you willing to research the necessary steps for preparing a pet for a new child? Too many animals are dumped when people do not plan adequately for the arrival of a new child.

11. Kids Need To Treat Pets Right Too: Â If you have kids, will you be able to spend the time necessary to make sure that your kids are treating the pet the right way?

12. Exercise & Attention: If you work during the day, are you willing to arrange and pay for a dog walker? Dogs left alone and/or crated for too long are often hyper when you finally arrive home. They jump, bark and chew on things. After a long day at work, it is usually not what most people enjoy. Too often, animals are dumped at shelters because their owners realize they simply do not have the time to give them. So instead, the animals end up euthanize. You must make sure your animal will have/get adequate exercise and attention.

13. Grieving: If you’ve recently lost a pet and are considering getting another, have you had enough time to grieve for your lost pet? Please understand that the next animal you adopt will have different habits and personality?

14. Damage: Are you prepared to have you new cat/kitten scratch the furniture? Will you be able to work with your cat/kitten and provide alternative scratching objects while teaching the cat not to scratch your furniture?

15. Long Term Care: Â Are you prepared to be bonded for the next 15-20 years of your life?

If you can say yes to all these questions above, then go ahead and take a step to bring in a new member.

Adoption

While you may opt to buy a pet, the option of adopting is better.Â Adopting / acquiring a pet is as serious a commitment as starting a family or getting married. Inefficient pet parents contribute to 1000’s of animals who end up in shelters every year and make a bee line to the euthanasia table. Yes, in today’s 2 Minute Culture, dumping anything, including pets, is a solution is one of the most acceptable solutions.