You’re interested in adopting? That’s great! Adopting is one of the best things to do for the homeless pet communities around the country because you have saved two lives: one pet to be in your care and one can have space from your adopted pet. And adopting will be such a rewarding experience for you and your adopted pet.

However, adopting a pet is not as simple as it may sound. Adopting requires research and planning to get the right preparation and to make sure your lifestyle is the right one for your pet. Before adopting a pet, there are a number of questions you should ask yourself and answer to make a right decision for your pet and you.

Are your family and you ready to adopt pet?

Deciding to adopt a pet means that you are getting a long-time commitment. Cats and dogs may be with you for 10, 15 or 20 years. And during time of being with your furry friends, you have a number of responsibilities to take proper care of them. You should ask yourself and your family members or partners whether you and they are ready for this long commitment. Taking your family members’ feelings into consideration is the first step to do before deciding to adopt pet. Think about yourself in the next 10 years or 15 years with the same responsibilities. Will you happily take all that responsibilities to take care of your buddy? If you find that you’re not ready yet, you can consider fostering a pet instead in order to learn more about yourself.

Besides, you have to make sure everyone in your family is on board about adopting a pet, and who is going take main responsibilities for the dogs/cats. Who is the one main one to feed the dog, walk him or take him to the vets etc.? These questions need to be addressed before bringing the pet home. Pets are smart; they can sense the resentment in your house. If all members in your family are honestly happy about the pets, this will help you easily create a welcoming, and friendly environment for your new pet.

Can you have pets where you live or in future house?

According to recent study conducted by National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), the most common reasons people give away their dogs or cats is because their place of residence doesn’t allow pets. You have to verify with your landlords or rental communities whether you’re allowed to have pets in the place you are residing in. Besides, even when pets are allowed in your place of residence, there could be some restrictions. Certain types of dogs such as pit bulls, Rottweiler, Doberman pinschers and other imposing breeds may be restricted because these types of dogs are often excluded from homeowner insurance policies, or the owners are not allowed to renew or continue their coverage. Make sure you check thoroughly on the house-related policies before you decide to bring home a four-legged friend. Or else, if you want to adopt that pet, you can consider moving to another place with more animal-friendly policies.

Time and resource, can you afford both for your pet?

Time is essential to your decision of adopting pet or not. If you are a student, in military services or your work requires frequent travels, it is recommended to wait till you settle down. Or, if you’re pregnant or having a small baby, you have to make sure that you have discussed with your doctors before adopting. You should seek for specific advices from your doctors and conduct necessary tests to ensure that adopting a cat (a dog poses a much lower risk in illness transmission) will do no harm to your pregnancy and baby. You have to make sure you have quality downtime to spend with your pet. Dogs need several hours of exercises and companionships everyday, while cats love to be treated to play sessions and close interactions with their humane families.

Another issue you should address is about your financial resource to take care of your dog. Owning a dog/ cat costs more than the initial adoption fee. Besides having enough downtime to take care of your pet, you have to afford resources to provide for your pet in veterinary care, microchipping, food, toys and other fees may add up. Check out Pet Ownership Costs Chart to have a better understanding about what you are expected to pay annually for your pet.

Enjoy adopting pet

Although all the points above may make the adopting process sound terrifying, what you gain back from adopting a pet is always a rewarding experience. The loved pets will bring you calm, peace, and joy, as much as what you bring them. So, have an honest talk with yourself and get started with a lifetime of happiness with your four-legged friends.