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So you’ve just been to the animal shelter and seen the sweetest dog,or you’ve just finished watching the cutest kittens on YouTube again and you think you’re ready for a pet. Adopting or purchasing a new pet should not be done on a whim. Pets require a lot of work and can suffer if the proper care is not provided. Many pets are relinquished daily because the person who acquired them did not thoroughly think it through first. Use the following questions to help guide you in your pursuit of a new pet:
Once you have answered these questions, you will need to know a lot about the particular pet you are considering. If you are gone a lot during the day, don’t have a high energy dog or you may come home to destruction of your property because the dog has nothing better to do. Don’t get a nocturnal pet if you really need your sleep or you want a pet that will interact with you in the daytime. Make sure you are prepared for the special needs of your pet. Don’t assume that pocket pets (i.e. rabbits, rodents, etc.), birds, reptiles, or even fish are “easy.” Most of them have very specific housing and dietary needs and can easily become sick if these needs aren’t met. Please do your research BEFORE adopting these pets. Remember, the pet store employee is not always the best source of accurate information. Spending the time to properly train and socialize your pet when it is young will be much easier than trying to retrain it when it has already developed problem behaviors. Remember, dogs live more than 10 years, some cats live more than 15-20 years and some birds can live 50 years or more. A new pet is no small commitment. Do the research BEFORE you commit.
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Arlington South Veterinary Hospital