Holiday Pet Adoptions

At the top of many holiday gift lists each year is a new puppy, kitten or furry friend. One great way to celebrate the holidays is to help an animal in need. Pet adoption is affordable and will have an incredible impact on your family.

If you are thinking of adopting a pet during the holiday, animal shelters are a fantastic option. Before you adopt a pet, please remember that adopting and caring for a companion animal goes far beyond providing food, water and shelter – it is a lifelong commitment to provide exercise, healthy nourishment, attention, and, most importantly, love.

Before adopting a pet this holiday season, it is important to consider the following tips:

Do Your Research
Spend time researching what the best pet for you and your family is. Talk to your family members about what kind of pet they want. It is important to openly discuss everyone’s likes and dislikes, as well as their favorite activities, budget, and available time for pet care. If you have small children, large dogs may be too strong or active.

Consider Your Living Situation
Be sure to evaluate where you live. If you live in an apartment or a home with no yard, or in an area with busy traffic, factor these aspects when you consider making your pet choice decision. There are great online resources like petfinder or fetchdog, where you can research different breeds and sizes of dogs and cats in your local area, and find a pet that will fit well into your existing family and lifestyle.

Be Realistic About Responsibility
If you are getting a pet for your children, do not expect them to do all the work. Children, no matter how mature, need supervision and help handling the responsibility of a cat or dog. Ultimately, it is the adult or parent who is responsible.

Educate Your Children
Prior to adoption, teach your children about responsible pet ownership and make sure they are ready for the changes a new pet will bring into the household. Learn about pet care and explain to your children that some dog breeds need to be walked several times a day or that the daily cleaning of a cat’s litter box is expected.

Make Sure It’s The Right Fit
Make sure a pet suits not only your family dynamic, but the size of your home and your lifestyle. Your personality and lifestyle, along with challenges such as space restrictions and the amount of time your family spends at home, should be factors that determine which pet is right for you.

Make Them Feel At Home
Prior to bringing home an adopted pet , have items like food, bowls, leashes, a crate or bed, and all-natural meat treats or veggie treats on-hand. It will make the transition from the animal shelter much smoother for your new pet and your family.

You will discover that the reward of adoption this holiday season is the feeling you will get from knowing that you helped save a life and that your furry family member is eternally thankful.