Adopting a pet from an animal rescue organisation, shelter or SPCA is a life-changing experience. We recommend everyone becomes a hero to a pet at least once in their lives, but preferably as many times over as is viable and affordable! There’s just something so special about an adopted animal – it’s as if they know and are grateful that they’ve been given another chance at a good life with a family that loves and cares for them. Shelter managers and volunteers are also always happy to see their rescues go to amazing homes.
As with any major life decision, adopting a new pet does come with the proverbial caution label, but it’s for both your wellbeing and theirs.
Are you ready for the commitment?
Pet care has come a long way since the days of putting old Tyson in a kennel in the yard and feeding him twice a day, hoping he’ll bark when there’s an intruder. Adopted pets are not yard dogs. They are family members who need love, attention, good quality food, enrichment, daily exercise, appropriate training and a place to sleep indoors. And they will need this from you for an average of 10 to 15 years.
Adopting a pet takes a lot of what many people have in short supply: time, money and patience. If you’re sorted on all of the above, keep reading!
Do you have the money?
Your new adoptee will need their own bed, blankets, food bowl, collar and leash, toys, grooming products, some jerseys for winter, and of course a high quality food to meet their nutritional needs. Your pet will also need healthcare: starting with vaccinations (including the annual boosters), then being sterilised and microchipped, regular tick and flea treatments, regular deworming, dental care and any other immediate care if there are accidents or injuries. It’s also recommended to take your pet for regular training and socialisation, especially if they were once traumatised and need to improve their confidence in a controlled environment.
Fortunately, as a concession, many shelters will include shots, microchipping and sterilisation as part of their adoption package, but that’s just the beginning of pet care. Make sure you are financially ready for the long-term responsibility of a new pet – her health and wellbeing depends on it.
Do you have the time?
While it’s a real treat to walk in through the front door and be greeted by love, excitement and bright eyes, that’s not all your adopted pet will be good for. Whether cat or dog (or other four-legged or two-winged creature), your adopted pet will need time, attention and understanding from you.
Your adopted pet may have come from less-than-ideal circumstances, which got them into the shelter to begin with. They may need to learn to trust people again, which means you will need to be patient and give this precious soul as much time and space she needs to heal. Some adopted pets realise in a day or two that they have landed with their bum in the butter in their adoptive home. Some pets may take weeks or months to really feel like part of the family. Each adopted pet is an individual who needs to be understood and loved just as they are… and sometimes that takes more time, attention and understanding than expected.
Are you ready to have your heart broken?
Adopting a pet is a lifetime commitment – at least for their lifetime anyway. It is likely that you will outlive your adopted pet. It is likely that while your adopted pet is part of your family, you will love her with your whole heart – because that’s the kind of love that rescued animals inspire us to give. And when your adopted pet has crept under your skin and filled your life with pawsome experiences and surprise nose boops, she will slow down, get old and go white around the edges. She will let you know in her own way that it’s time to make one of the hardest decisions of your life.
And when she’s safely over the rainbow bridge, she will whisper quietly to your heart that there are many, many other animals in need of adoptive homes just like yours, because once a pet hero, always a pet hero.
