Cats and dogs have a lifespan of up to 20 years. An impulsive adoption could be harmful to the pet in the long run if the owner has not carefully considered the implications of this commitment. Pets that are given away go through considerable trauma and grief, in the absence of the human family they have grown emotionally attached to.
The first factor to be considered before bringing home a pet is permission. This includes the green signal from all members of the family, to ensure that conflict does not seep in later. Also check the contract you signed with your landlord to ensure that you haven't signed a no-pet clause.
Secondly, there must be friends or relatives who can pet-sit for the family if everyone is going out of town. An alternative is a reputed commercial kennel service that can be trusted with the care of your best buddy while you're on vacation. Another important factor is affordability. Get a rough estimate from a friend who owns a pet (or a vet) as regards pet food, litter boxes (for cats), annual vaccinations and medical care, leashes and collars, toys etc.
Finally, consider if you're ready to spend time on a daily basis with your pet — for dogs this includes at least two walks a day, and for all pets, this means taking the occasional day off to go to the vet for an emergency. Dogs that are constantly tied (while at home) get lonely as they need attention and love. Cats too are social, intelligent animals that need human love.
If you lead a busy lifestyle and feel there might not be enough time in your day to toilet-train a baby animal, adopt an adult dog.
Says Mehul Kamdar who adopted a three-year-old dog from a shelter, “Adult dogs can easily adapt to new homes if they are shown affection.”
Says Sathya R of Blue Cross, “Adopting an adult is also a chance to give abandoned dogs a new life. There are several healthy pedigree adult dogs in our shelter ready to find permanent, caring owners”.
If you've checked ‘yes' for everything, go for it knowing that time spent with a furry friend is time well spent!
(To adopt an Indian puppy, call AWPT at 9962968265. To adopt an adult pedigree dog, call 9176927917)
HOLD MY PAW Hi! We're rescued, super-playful kitten siblings who are being fostered by a family who has to leave town soon. To adopt us, call 98404 74942.
TAKE ME HOME Adopt a rescued ginger kitten (or two) - they're healthy and are affectionate and friendly. Call 9176563279
TAKE ME HOME Pixie is an extremely friendly, affectionate puppy who's three months old. She's vaccinated and dewormed. To adopt her, call 9025389033
HERO OF THE WEEK Alfred Lawrence nominates Pramod Wilson of Anna Nagar for nursing a dying mongrel back to health by consulting a vet and then mixing the prescribed medicines in the homeless dog's food till it recovered.
