Barton Heights Veterinary Hospital’s Blog
The More the Merrier: The Ins and Outs of Adopting a Pet
If your house is feeling a little too empty, and you often wonder what it would be like to have a furry pet companion, adoption may be for you! There’s nothing like adopting a pet to make a house feel more like a home. However, adopting a pet requires careful consideration. Follow our recommendations to ensure your match is a successful one.
Finding Your Perfect Pet
Species and breed are top considerations when it comes to adopting a pet. For many, it’s easy to get lured into believing that a cute or trendy pet is the right choice for them. Unfortunately, this doesn’t take into account whether it’s an appropriate match for your fur friend.
For example, a small backyard may be limiting for a large, energetic breed. If you have a desire for a mellow pet, a young puppy may not be the best choice.
Here are some questions to help you decide which is the perfect pet for you:
- How much space do you have?
- Do you have a backyard/doggie door?
- How much time can you devote to training (especially if you want a young animal)?
- Can you commit more time to helping your pet adjust during the first few weeks?
- Do you have young children? Other pets?
- How often are you at home?
- What’s your lifestyle like?
- How much are you able to invest financially?
Before Adopting a Pet
Because their goal is to find a pet a forever home, rescues often want to know a lot about you and your situation. Some things to consider asking beforehand include:
- The pet’s background
- Disposition and personality
- Behavioral problems that should be addressed
- How much training has been received
- Medical or health issues to be aware of
- What diet they’ve been fed
- Which vaccines have been given and what’s still needed
- Has the pet been spayed/neutered and screened for certain diseases
- Microchipping
You may also want to ask about transitioning a new pet into your home. Our team is happy to help! For every adoption, it’s important that your new pet be examined right away and given a clean bill of health. We offer great options for preventive care plans that can benefit your pet throughout life. Please call us to schedule an appointment!
We Our Clients
The people who work here care so very much about every animal that walks through their doors. We have brought our pets here for years, and every time they walk through the doors the people remember their names and come over to say hi to our babies. They take the time to explain what is happening and the various treatments available. They are sensitive to the financial strains a pet can put on a family, and always go the extra mile to help our pets in any way they can. WE LOVE THIS PLACE!