There comes a time in almost everyone’s life where they consider if they should adopt a pet. Pets bring a new perspective to the world and highly enrich human’s lives. Dogs got the nickname “man’s best friend” for a reason. We seek companionship in other humans, as well as other animals. If you have been thinking about adopting a pet, here are some important factors to consider

How to Decide If It Is Time

Bringing a new pet into the home requires time and long-term commitment. Your home will need to be dog and/or cat “proofed” and may require some lifestyle changes. You will have to ensure human food is kept picked up and away from your pet, as well as chemicals and cleaning products need to be put away where an animal cannot smell, lick, touch things that may make them sick. Several species of house plants can cause illness in cats and dogs, so it will be important to remove any toxic plants from your home too.

When thinking of adopting a dog, consider what your current freetime looks like.

  • Is there time in your schedule for daily walks and playtime?
  • Do you have time to let your dog out to the bathroom every 4 to 6 hours?
  • Do you have time before and after work for feeding? If not, do you have room in your budget for doggy daycare or for a dog walker?

There are many necessary enrichment requirements for dogs that need to be met in order for
them to have a happy, healthy life.

A lot of times, owners who do not have time for a dog will opt to adopt a cat. However, cats need daily enrichment too. They need stimulating toys and climbing structures, as well as attention from their owners. Cats need scratching posts and pads to release their natural instinct to scratch. If they are not able to relieve their urge to scratch and climb, they may be destructive to furniture that you do not want them scratching and climbing on. Unlike dogs, you will need to provide an indoor litter box for cats to eliminate in. This can take trials of different litter texture, different style boxes, and you will need to provide one litter box per cat you own, plus one. For example, if you adopt one cat, you will need two litter boxes. Two cats would need three boxes, and so on. Be sure you have room for this, and that the litter boxes can reside in common, quiet areas where your cat will feel comfortable using them.

In both cases, the most important piece to consider is medical care.

  • Are you in a place financially to pay for exams, vaccines, bloodwork, spay/neuter?
  • Are you able to medicate and care for a pet who has an injury or illness?
  • Can you recognize the signs and symptoms that something is wrong with your pet?

Maintaining good healthcare is a necessity for pet parents and it will be your responsibility to provide these things for an animal if you adopt one. Animals can face the same emotions of being sad, lonely, or bored when not provided with an enriched life, full of the activities they enjoy and feel the urge to do instinctually. Dogs and cats may experience behavioral changes if their physical, nutritional, medical, and emotional needs are not being met.

Pick a Pet For YOUR Lifestyle

Just like humans, different dogs have different preferred lifestyles. People who enjoy hiking, traveling, or camping may want a higher energy dog, while someone who spends a majority of their time indoors may want a lazier dog. Oftentimes it depends on the breed. Certain breeds are more active or social, while some breeds are low energy or shy. Breed is also going to determine the size of your new pet. If you live in a smaller home or apartment, you may want a small to medium size dog, or a cat. While a person with a large home and yard may want a large dog AND a cat. Size and temperament help determine if your pet should coexist with other cats and dogs. You will need adequate space for the pets living in your environment, and each addition of an animal takes space away from another. It is common for dogs and cats to coexist with each other, or the same species, but it is important that your home provides them with room to explore, grow, and hide without the impact of another pet affecting them.

When deciding on breed, consider more than just their personality and size, but also their upkeep. If you want a long haired animal, or a curly coated one, they will require grooming. If you are someone who does not want to plan for monthly haircuts to maintain a healthy coat, it may be best to get a short haired animal. However, long or short hair – the animal will shed. Keep this in mind, as it may require you to sweep or vacuum your house more often, as well as the furniture the pet is allowed to be on.

Local Resources for Adoption

Adopt local! We can guarantee that there are animals in your community that need homes, residing at animal shelters, humane societies, and rescues. These animals often get overlooked, in lew of buying a puppy or kitten directly from a breeder. If you are going to shop with a breeder, here are some criteria we recommend following:

  • Ask to be provided with lot numbers and serial numbers for all vaccines administered while in the breeders care. Ask for any record of deworming or other medical procedures performed.
  • Do not sign an agreement with the breeder to only see veterinarians recommended by them, or to only administer certain vaccines. This is your pet and you will be providing care based on your own decisions with a veterinarian that YOU trust.

If you are local to our area, The Prince William Animal Services Bureau is likely your local
animal shelter. On their website, they explain the adoption process (by species) and inform you
on the cost to adopt, what is included in the cost, and the legally required follow-ups with a
veterinarian after adoption.

Adopting from your local shelter makes a significant impact on the community. When you adopt
a pet versus buying from a breeder:

  • You save the life of the animal you rescue, as well as the life of another homeless animal
    that can now take the place of the pet you adopted. Pet overpopulation and limited kennel space makes it difficult to help all of the pets in need in our community.
  • You can rescue an adult or senior animal. The highest volume of animals in shelters are older in age. The benefit of adopting a mature animal over a baby is that you have a good idea of the size, energy level, and personality of your new pet, and you do not have to wait for them to grow-up to tell how they will behave.
  • Your adoption fee goes to replenishing the supplies that your new pet used while at the shelter, and allows them to continue caring for new homeless animals. Also, the adoption fee is significantly cheaper than adopting a pet directly from a breeder.

Other local shelters that we recommend reaching out to for adoption include: Fairfax Animal Shelter, Loudoun County Animal Services, City of Manassas Animal Adoption Center, and Margaret’s Saving Grace Bully Rescue.