Irresistible dogs. Holiday pet adoption drives. This time of year it is tempting to adopt a dog to give as a gift. Please don't if you have any, any, question about what to expect from the experience. We adopted our dog the two weeks before Thanksgiving, and even with our preparation, it made for a pretty stressful holiday.
If you are considering adopting or you already did, stop by Petfinder, and check out their checklist for New Adopters from Petfinder.com Their director of Shelter Outreach goes through a long list of questions, and you will find all sort of things to consider involving cost, size and time.
Can you train and handle a pet with behavior issues or are you looking for an easy-going friend?
What size pet would suit the other people who live in or visit your home regularly?
Example of questions all adopters should ask themselves:
- Do you have any other pets and how will they react to a new pet?
- Is your current residence suited to the pet you're considering?
- How will your social life or work obligations affect your ability to care for a pet?
- Do you have a plan for your new pet during vacations and/or work travel?
- How do the people you live with feel about having a pet in the house?
And unlike us, get more of what you will need for your new family member, ahead of time. You'll likely need most or all of these items:
- Food and water bowls
- Food (canned and/or dry)
- Collar
- Four to six-foot leash
- ID tag with your phone number
- Hard plastic carrier or foldable metal crate
- Dog bed
- Doggy shampoo and conditioner
- Canine toothbrush and toothpaste
- Brush or comb (depends on your pet's coat length and type)
- Non-toxic cleanser
- Enzymatic odor neutralizer
- Plastic poop baggies (biodegradable ones are best) or pooper scooper
- Variety of toys (a ball, rope, chew toy and puzzle toy are good starts)
- Variety of treats
- First-aid supplies
- Baby gate(s)
Great tips, love your Blog.
Madi and Abi
Posted by: Madison and Abigail | December 09, 2011 at 03:07 PM