How do you know if having a pet is right for you? You’ve read the brochures on how to prepare for a dog or cat, you may have even bought all the supplies you’ll need, and you think it’s going to be fun and rewarding to walk the dog or have a purring cat. in your lap every day.
Pets, in fact, provide us with these and other expected rewards; however, there may be a few surprises once you bring the little ones home. How you deal with this can tell you if you’re really fit for a pet. There is probably no such thing as a completely surprise-free pet.
Possibly the best way to determine if you truly are a pet owner is to “test the waters” by becoming a foster home. Given the desperate need for homes, overburdened shelters are often only too happy to find willing foster homes. And it gives you a perfect opportunity to find out if you’ll be able to handle the variety of problems that may arise.
Here are the most common reasons pets may be returned to a shelter or abandoned by frustrated owners:
Behavioral issues often top the list, especially anything related to the animal’s need to evacuate. Cats can pee in all the wrong places, and sometimes even an adult dog will need to be house trained. Suddenly you’re struggling to figure out what’s wrong and how to fix it, not to mention on your knees cleaning things you didn’t expect.
Time can also become more of an issue than expected. Do you have time to walk a dog? Do you have time to work with a cat? Do you have time to keep your areas clean? If not, you can’t expect good behavior from them. Bored pets can sometimes cause more damage.
Finances can also become a bigger responsibility than planned. Not only can pets get into something that could require an expensive trip to the vet, but they can also damage things in your home, leading to untimely repairs or replacements. Preventing these things requires some preparation, such as restricting a pet’s access to your possessions. Setting up a separate area for them in your home often solves this problem. Make sure you have the space to do this.
Fortunately, most foster arrangements include financial help if the pet needs veterinary care. After all, it is still your animal. However, you are expected to buy food, garbage, and most accessories, as a general rule. But if you find yourself in a bind, most shelters will also provide you with food. Although, if you find you can’t handle the expenses, pet ownership may not be for you after all.
Keeping the animal safe (cats indoors, dogs in a secure yard or in the house) is also essential to avoid potential dangers of being outdoors, such as poisoning, injury, and theft. (Yes, there are people who snatch pets from yards.) While losing your special companion can break your heart, you should ask the shelter what the consequences of losing your animal are.
Another problem that arises is the issue of family agreement. It’s amazing how many pets are returned because a family member doesn’t like animals or wasn’t expecting one. Never give someone a pet as a gift unless you’re sure they’re really ready for one. Bringing an animal into the house is a family affair, so make sure everyone is happy about it. Adopting a pet can help those who are unsure about it figure out how they will get along with one.
Finally, becoming a permanent foster home can have great advantages: you get to work with many animals over time (it offers variety, so you can decide which type of animal is the best fit for you), and it will help the shelter socialize your animals to make them suitable for adoption (as well as helping the mental well-being of a pet that might run amok in a cage). In addition, it gives you the freedom to leave home without having to find a kennel or a pet sitter, since you can bring them back to the shelter for a few days or weeks. Just be sure to let them know so they can set up a space.
Check with a local shelter or humane organization to explore this great way to prove your desire to become a pet parent. And who knows? If all goes well, it is possible for you to adopt that animal yourself.
