Buying a pet is not like purchasing groceries at the supermarket. You have to plan for the introduction of a new living entity into your and your family’s life. Some pets are easier to maintain, while others could be a handful. So, as your child has been whining for the past 2 weeks for a pet, you must research before you run out to buy the pet to shut them up. Before you make that move, below are seven things you should have in mind or have in place before the pet comes to its new home.
- Have A Veterinarian In Mind
- Get Food, Housing And Toys
- Read A Guide Book About Your New Pet
- Consider A Tag Or Microchip
- Pet Proof Your Home
- Delegate The Responsibility Of Caring For The Pet
Have A Veterinarian In Mind
This is one of the first steps, especially if you are getting a puppy. A vet should be the first order of call. Ideally, the pet should have been taken care of shot-wise by the people you got it from; make sure you have the paperwork. But take the pet to a vet to check him out before bringing them home. If you do not know of any vets, ask for referrals from people you know who have a similar pet or call your local pet store. Other places to search are the internet or the Yellow Pages
Get Food, Housing And Toys
Always plan when it comes to housing and feeding. Make sure you have different types of pet food for your pet in the house before she gets home. Have toys ready for the pet and a cage if a pet usually lives in a cage. For cats, make sure the cat litter is in place, and for dogs, a sleeping bed specific to the dog should be in place.
Read A Guide About Your New Pet
Read a guide about the animal you are getting before investing time and money. Know something about the pet’s behaviour, what they eat, what they are all about. Their likes and dislikes, their feeding habits, how often they drink water and how close you should have them around you. The idea is to know something about your pet and learn more as you care for it.
Consider A Tag Or Microchip
Consider getting a collar, name tag or microchip inserted in your pet. This way, if your pet gets lost and it has a microchip, it could easily be found by GPS, or if it has a name tag with its name and a phone number to call, people who come across it can quickly contact you.
Pet Proof Your Home
Pet-proof your house or apartment before the pet gets home. This is especially important for pets like dogs sharing your living area. Puppies, especially, are curious and like to play with whatever is in sight. Tape up wires or have them out of sight. The puppy will chew through them for fun. Ensure toilet seats are covered; they will drink from it and lick your face later. Please get rid of potentially harmful stuff or lock them away, such as cleaning chemicals and broken pieces of furniture with sharp edges. Make sure your home is safe for the pet.
Delegate Responsibility Of Caring For The Pet
Taking care of your pet is a lot of work. If your kids ask for a pet, they must be ready to take care of it. I bet they had promised to do everything for the pet before the pet came and would walk the dog for miles on end. Enthusiasm does wane after the pet is no longer new and interesting. So, plan beforehand; as an adult, ensure you can step in when the kids do not fulfil their promises. The pet cannot be ignored because Junior forgot to feed or take her for a walk.
