Pets are people, too. At least, that’s
way they should be treated by their owners. The sad reality, though, is that a lot people own pets when they’re really not ready to care properly for their little furry friends. Or they just don’t know how to love, clean, and treat a cat, dog, or other animal right and humane way. What happens to these poor animals? Many end up in shelters, lost and unwanted—to tune of 6 to 8 million every year according to Humane Society. At least half of those end up being “put to sleep,” to put it nicely.When they first start out looking to buy a pet, everyone says that they aren’t like that, that they won’t have their pet end up caged in a pound somewhere. If you want to be one of people who says this and means it, read on. Your commitment shows you are ready to learn how to own a pet. Once you are trained in following pet ownership basics, then you can take next step and find perfect pet for you.
But before you meet this furry companion, take these following tips to heart:
Go down list of required health-care needs. This is especially important for puppies and kittens, who need an arsenal of vaccinations when they’re little. But even older pets require regular checkups and occasional medication (such as for heartworms for dogs). Before you get a pet, locate a trusted veterinarian in your neighborhood and go over all of your soon-to-be pet’s health needs.
Neuter, neuter, neuter. Point blank, this is one of most crucial things you can do to protect your pet’s health. Remember that number above from Humane Society (6 to 8 million pets in cages)? Now consider that as many as 100 million other animals, mostly cats, live on streets. Why? Their mommies and daddies weren’t neutered.
Look into insurance. Believe it or not, pet health insurance is all craze in employer benefits packages. That’s because it comes in very handy nowadays, considering importance of pet health and how pet pills and operations seem to be getting just as pricy as people medicine. Even if you don’t get pet insurance through work, look into a package on your own. While you’re at it, consider third-party liability insurance, too, especially for instances such as dog bites.
Tabulate grocery tab. Perhaps number one thing people don’t realize when getting a pet is how expensive their food can be. Figure out just how much your pet will eat before you get it, planning always to provide your critter more than enough in proper and balanced meals. Ask yourself, “Can I afford this?”
