Animal shelters across the country are experiencing a nationwide overcrowding crisis due to the drastic increase in pet owners looking to surrender their pets. One of the key ways to help the shelter overcrowding crisis and ensure that you never have to worry about surrendering your fur baby to a shelter is to make sure that you are a viable pet adoption candidate for that specific furry friend BEFORE you bring them home .
Integrative, Veterinarian, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM share’s tips on how to best welcome a new pet into your home and make them a lasting member of your family.
Important Points for Pet Adoption
- Before you adopt or buy a pet do your homework, be responsible and don’t buy on impulse.
- Be honest with yourself about the amount of time and work you are willing to put into a pet. For moms with kids, remember you are essentially adding another child to your family, who will be with you for the next 10 to 15 years. Don’t expect your children to take care of your pet. Read books, volunteer at a shelter. Consider fostering a pet if you decide pet ownership is not right for you.
- Profile your family: The 3 most important considerations in picking a pet are:
- Personality: The temperament of the breed is what is most important, especially when kids are concerned.
- Lifestyle: Questions to consider –
- Consider your climate and make sure your choice of breed is suitable to the weather in your area.
- Do you travel often? If so, you will need to consider a pet sitter or boarding kennel.
- Are there any other pets in your home? If so, think about introductions and whether or not the temperaments of your current pets will mesh well with your potential new one.
- Home and environment:
- Where do you live? Do you live in the city or country? An apartment or house? Do you have a yard? If so, how big is it? All of this will determine whether or not you have the facilities to properly house certain pets and can help you discern which breed will be the most suitable for your home.
- What about costs? In general, the bigger the pet and the longer the hair, the more they cost to feed and maintain.
- Food: You need to decide whether you will feed commercial or homemade diets. Homemade natural diets take more time and effort but are well worth it.
- Cat or small dog: $150-350/year
- b. Medium dog: $250-450/year
- c. Large dog: $350-550/year
- Veterinary Care:
- Shots for the first year: $60-$350
- Annual Checkup: $55-$350
- Remember today pets only need booster shots every 3 years
Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM.
Integrative Veterinarian
Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM, is a practicing integrative veterinarian and a nationally recognized leader, speaker, educator, and advocate in the field of functional medicine. She is the founder and director of the Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center and Pet Clinic and an Emmy-nominated television journalist. Her first two books, Naturally Healthy Dogs and Naturally Healthy Cats, hit the international best seller lists. She is a regular contributor to several television shows and networks including FOX & Friends, The Today Show, Discovery’s Animal Planet, and Good Day LA.
Dr. Carol is board certified in Anti-Aging Medicine and developed and patented PAAWS: Pet Anti-Aging Wellness System for dogs and cats. Today she has turned her passion for functional pet medicine, real food, nutrition, and wellness into activism. Dr. Osborne is leading a pet health revolution that challenges us to reimagine our pet’s biology and the process of aging to create and sustain your pet’s health for life. Learn more at http://www.chagrinfallspetclinic.com.
