Ready to Adopt?

So many dogs and cats end up in rescue because their owners were not prepared for pet ownership or did not think ahead.  Is you life settled enough that you can feel confident you’ll be able to make a 14-20 year commitment to your adopted pet?  That’s how long many dogs and cats live.  Some live shorter lives, some live longer.

Dog Time offers a survey to see if you’re ready to adopt a dog.  Go here and try it!

Do you have the time needed for a pet?

Are you prepared for the financial obligations of pet guardianship?

Have you educated yourself about the pet you are interested in adopting?

Are you prepared to include a pet in your home?

Is it possible you may have children during the lifetime of your pet?

Do you have the time needed for a pet?

Puppies and kittens require daily play and training.  Puppies must be socialized with other dogs and people, situations and environments.  They take an extensive amount of time and must go outside no matter what the weather.  Kittens must be handled daily and must be socialized with people.  They must have play time each day to keep them healthy and must be taught where they may scratch to sharpen their claws- and where they may not scratch!

• Adult dogs must be walked daily to relieve themselves and for health.  It is beneficial to a dog if, periodically, they get to explore a new neighborhood, walkway, or park.  Dogs are social animals and need interaction with their family every day.  They want to be with you and it is important to give them that time.
• Puppies must go out every two to four hours, depending on age.  They must also go out after they eat, after they play, and after they sleep.
• Puppies MUST BE TRAINED!  You may think that all labs, Chihuahuas, Cocker Spaniels, and Great Danes are the same- that this one will be just like little Fluffy was when you were growing up.  Are you just like your siblings?  Your cousins?  No, you are not and your puppy isn’t the same, either.  Nor are you the same person you were the last time you trained a dog (you did train your last dog, right)?  Puppies are an open book.  They will become what you make them.  If you do not train your puppy (new dog) from the minute you bring him home, if you wait until you have a problem to start training, then you are not being a good parent.  Rescue groups do not have the time and resources to fix a problem you created because you chose not to do the work, to listen to your trainer.  Training can be the difference between fourteen years of a great relationship and you calling the shelter in four years because the loving puppy you adopted has become an aggressive monster.  You are in charge of your dog’s education!  Just do it!
• Cats benefit from environmental enrichment.  Are you willing to provide your cat with various resting spots at different heights?  Will you provide her with numerous scratching posts?  Will you play with her daily so she can remain healthy?  How about hiding treats throughout the house so she can hunt while you are away?

Are you prepared for the financial obligations of pet guardianship?

• Do you know how much the pet in which you are interested eats a month?  Do you know how much that food will cost
• How much do vet visits, vaccinations, and preventative medications cost?  Which ones must be given monthly?  How much must you budget per month?
• Do you know how much it will cost to get your pet her annual vaccinations and wellness check-up?
• How often will your selected pet need a dental exam and cleaning?  How much will it cost?
• If you are not prepared to groom your pet yourself, how often will you need to have the pet groomed and how much will it cost?
• If you are adopting a kitten/cat, how much does it cost per month for kitty litter?
• Cats and dogs need to have a carrier.  In North Carolina it is important to be prepared for hurricanes and their aftermath.  A crate (carrier) is a safe way to transport a frightened animal to a safe location or to and from the vet.  Do you know how much a properly sized crate will cost?
• How much money can you spend on environmental enrichment such as toys and treats?
• If you live in an apartment, do you know how much the pet deposit is?  Is it refundable?  Is there a monthly pet fee?

Have you educated yourself about the pet you are interested in adopting?

•  Different breeds of dog have different needs and behavioral traits.  Are you familiar with the common traits of the pet you are interested in adopting?  Environmental enrichment geared towards the breed can enhance a dog’s life greatly.  For instance, if you are adopting a Labrador Retriever mix, you might want to explore teaching him to swim, since swimming is an activity that most retrievers enjoy.  A Cockapoo would enjoy playing fetch (poodles are retrievers)  and”hide and seek” (Cocker Spaniels are scenting dogs).
• If you are adopting a dog, have you read at least one training book?  We suggest reading at least three books and choosing the training techniques that feel right for you and which also work for the dog.
• Have you contacted a trainer to find out what a class will cost?  Raising a dog today is not like it was even 15 years ago.  Society has higher expectations today for pets.  We do not allow our dogs to run free as we used to.  We take our dogs more places with us than we once did.  For this reason, it is vital a dog be trained to behave as a welcome member of society from the minute you take her home.
• Have you explored the various training options available today?  In addition to basic obedience training, you can now train your dog as a therapy dog or a search and rescue dog.  He can learn and compete in flyball or agility.  Or teach your dog to dance with you in freestyle competitions!  The sky is the limit on what you can enjoy with your dog!
• Cats can enjoy training as well.  One of our adopters taught both their cats to play dead when a hand was held up like a gun and they said “bang, bang”.  Cats can learn to leap hurdles, run through tunnels, walk on a narrow ledge and jump from one landing to another!  Cats love and thrive on interactive games!
• If you are adopting a dog, have you discussed any known behavior issues with our volunteers?  If the dog in question will require specific training, are you prepared to work with a trainer and continue working with the dog?  Are you committed to making it work “no matter what”?

Are you prepared to include a pet in your home?

• Dogs and cats are a part of the family and want to be a part of your lives.  Are you prepared to include them in your day to day life?
• Dogs cannot guard your home from the backyard.  People who are going to break into your home are not going to go through your back yard to get in!  A dog that is in your home is a deterrent.  A dog outside is only able to watch the action!
• Cats are not safe outdoors.  Our world has become too busy for cats and too dangerous.  They are prey to roaming dogs, to vehicular accidents, and to environmental hazards.  While we’d all love to allow our cats to experience the great outdoors, their safest location is indoors.  Having said that, we do know a few folks who have successfully trained their cats to invisible fences.  This is only safe if the invisible fence is used in conjunction with a physical fence, since an invisible fence does not protect pets from roaming animals entering the yard. There are even specially designed fencing options for cats that help to keep your cat within the confines of your fenced yard!

Is it possible you may have children during the lifetime of your pet?

• If you are of an age that it would be reasonable to expect children in the next fifteen years, you need to prepare BEFORE you get your dog or cat.  So many people surrender their pets because they are uninformed about pet guardianship and children. There are also many myths about pets and children out there that prompt people to give up their animals.  Become informed BEFORE you get a pet so you will not be tempted to give it up when you become pregnant or have young children.
• A good choice for a dog is one that is over 15 pounds.  Toddlers can seriously injure or kill a tiny dog if they fall on them or drop them.  A larger dog can tolerate more and withstand a little more rough handling.  Tiny dogs are often traumatized by the normal activity and noise of a toddler.  While you may always have wanted a toy breed of dog, getting one when you may have babies and toddlers in the house shortly is not fair to the dog.
• You need to socialize your new dog with children.  Find all your friends that have kids and take your puppy/friendly adult to visit.  Read up on the rules for children around dogs before you visit and make certain the parents are willing to require the children respect the dog’s space before the visit.
• One of the advantages of adopting an older dog is that many have already been socialized with children, so you’re already ahead of the game!
• You do not need to get rid of your cat because you are pregnant, or because you’ve had a child!  Your spouse can take care of the cat litter, or you can wear gloves and a mask.  Once your child is born, include your cat in the new activities of the home!  Your cat is quite capable of avoiding contact with a toddler!  You, as a parent, can teach your child how to pet your cat nicely so your cat will enjoy your child and their touch.
• In addition to training your pets to play nicely with children, it is vital that you teach your children how to play nicely with pets!  We do not pull, pinch, scratch, yank, grab or beat our pets.  We do not place our faces in the pet’s face.  Please read up on pets and children to learn what rules are safest for you, your child, and your pet!